The April 17 finale of Matlock ended with a shock for Madeline “Matty” Matlocokay (Kathy Bates)and her household when a person claiming to be her grandson Alfie’s (Aaron D. Harris) long-lost dad confirmed up on their posh residence’s entrance door. Tech-savvy junior sleuth Alfie, whose mom’s dying from an opioid overdose was the impetus for Matty’s undercover work within the authorized drama’s freshman season, had tracked down his maybe-daddy and invited him over. Matty and her husband Edwin (Sam Anderson) couldn’t imagine their eyes. The face on the door was much less of a shock for Bates.
“He‘s performed by Niko Nicotera, who was in Richard Jewell with me. I instructed [Matlock creator Jennie Snyder Urman] ‘You’ve acquired to make use of this man,‘” Bates says.
Confirms Urman, “She instructed me immediately she knew who might play him and the way great he was. I belief her style in appearing and actors, so all I needed to do was say ‘sure.‘ He’s great. I had seen Richard Jewell, and I’m actually excited for the place we’re going to go.”
Richard Jewell (Claire Folger / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Assortment)
The 2019 movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, relies on the true story of a safety guard who was wrongly accused of planting a bomb on the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, though he really discovered the machine and saved lives. Bates performed his mom, Bobi Jewell, and obtained an Academy Award nomination for the position. Nicotera portrayed one in all Richard’s buddies, and he rapidly left an enormous mark on the actress.
“They go to the firing vary. We met and I used to be so knocked out by him,” Bates says. “He’s so great as a result of he’s acquired this harmful look about him.”
Nicotera used that darkish edge as George “Ratboy” Skogstrom on motorbike drama Sons of Anarchy, becoming a member of in the fourth season as a loyal recruit. It stays to be seen whether or not Nicotera will lean into his menacing aspect on Matlock. We solely glimpsed him for a second. And it’s not constructive he’s Alfie’s dad. (Positive, the child is a hacking prodigy, however there are many scammers on-line!) Both method, the very last thing the Kingstons want of their lives is any extra hazard.
Prashant Gupta/©FX/courtesy Everett Assortment
Urman says that by the tip of the primary episode of the second season, a DNA check will affirm if he’s Alfie’s dad. “Whether it’s him, whether or not it’s not, he is now going to be within the combine and of their lives,” Urman reveals. “That’s going to destabilize Matty’s complete residence life. This character, who has management over every part, all of a sudden finds herself uncontrolled. Our present is constructed round her management. She’s the mastermind. Her residence life can also be put underneath stress and doubtlessly rather more chaotic than it’s ever been earlier than. That’s going to be fascinating to observe and see how she behaves, and the brand new areas for drama and comedy that come from that.”
Matlock, Season 2 Premiere, 2025-2026, CBS
— Extra reporting by Kelli Boyle