Leah Lewis Returns to Filming "Matlock" After David Del Rio's Dismissal: Production Resumes

Leah Lewis has resumed work on the CBS legal drama Matlock after her former co-star, David Del Rio, was removed from the series amid sexual assault allegations. The 28-year-old actress shared the news on her Instagram Stories on Monday, December 1, celebrating her return to the set.

Lewis was photographed in front of a trailer dressed as her character, lawyer Sarah Franklin, wearing a button-up blouse and tie. She captioned the post: "@matlockcbs And we back up and running."

Del Rio, 38, was accused of sexually assaulting Lewis in late September and was dismissed from the show on October 2, the same day a report was filed, according to Deadline. An investigation was promptly conducted, and the network decided to part ways with the actor.

Following the incident, Lewis posted a message on Instagram Stories, expressing gratitude for support while highlighting resilience. She shared a photo with her mother on set and wrote, "Mom is here, we're moving forward in love and strength. I'm in good hands. Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we're moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway."

In the first season of Matlock, Del Rio portrayed Billy Martinez, frequently appearing alongside Lewis Sarah Franklin. Both characters were young lawyers collaborating with Madeline "Matty" Matlock (Kathy Bates) and Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall).

The series is a gender-swapped reboot of the classic 1980s legal drama. Production on season 2, which premiered on October 12, had briefly paused for a pre-planned hiatus through Thanksgiving following the incident. Del Rio's character will be removed from future episodes.

Matlock airs on CBS on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. For those affected by sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or at rainn.org.

Author: Sophia Brooks