(Brian Bowen Smith / FOX)
As previously reported, Clayne Crawford, who starred as Martin Riggs on the first two seasons of the Lethal Weapon TV show on FOX, was let go from the production. Subsequently, Lethal Weapon was renewed for season three, and a new actor, Seann William Scott, has been tapped to star in a new role opposite Damon Wayans’ Roger Murtaugh. During the Upfronts, a FOX exec addressed the recent firing of one of the show’s two leads.
A FOX TV series adaptation of the buddy-cop film franchise, Lethal Weapon also stars Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Jordana Brewster, Johnathan Fernandez, Dante Brown, Chandler Kinney, and Michelle Mitchenor. FOX Chair and CEO Dana Walden made it clear that firing Crawford wasn’t the network’s call.
On Crawford’s ouster and bringing back Lethal Weapon with a new co-star, Scott, playing a new character, Fox chairman Dana Walden said, “It wasn’t our choice. Our partners at Warner Bros. came to us and said that they could not deliver the show as it was.”
She noted that it was a difficult decision on both the part of the studio and the network. After the studio presented Fox with Scott as a replacement, the network signed off on a third season.
“I think we made the right choice,” she said, noting that Scott’s addition brings “good new dynamic to the show with a lot of its original dynamic intact.”
Newman added that “90 percent of the cast is coming back,” including the Murtaugh family, which is an important focal point of the show.
“We will be making sure to let the audience know there is something new” on the series this fall, he added regarding Fox’s marketing plans for Season 3 and noted that another cop drama, ABC’s NYPD Blue, had to replace one of its two leads after the first season after David Caruso’s exit, but went on to have a long and successful run.
What do you think? Are you a Clayne Crawford fan? Will you check out the third season of the Lethal Weapon TV series, to see how you like the new actor and character?
Without Clayne Crawford The series loses its veracidade, he is the true protagonist that gave life to the character Riggs, is irreplaceable!!! You can not compare other serals with other actors that have bebendo subtituted. If they really did not want to dispense it, they would not have done it!!! They will repent for failure!!! I will not watch the 3 season!!! Did not respect the will of the audience from the audience to the show!!!
Of course it was your choice.I will not be watching season three if Clayne Crawford is not in it. Now the whole family agree so good luck.
Clayne Crawford was Lethal Weapon. Will never watch additional seasons without him as Martin Riggs. The rest of the cast was great for sure; but Clayne was the genius, magical, essential actor who imbued this series with extraordinary life and lifted it far above all the mundane TV series currently found.
Do appreciate there were problems with the behaviour of Clayne Crawford; felt they were resolvable and as he is left the show I will not be watching.
I don’t care who made the choice. I WILL NOT WATCH WITHOUT CLAYNE!!!! Stupid decision and I hope it fails miserably!!!!!
Only reason I watched was Martin riggs character
No will not be watching the show…change its name no riggs how can it be lethal weapon…just call it the damon wayans show
It’s a miss fortune that Crawford will be replace, he make such a good performance in that character. I would love to see him get a comeback on the show. I’m a fan of Mr. CrawCrawford I wish him well and I hope the new season brings the same excitement as the last two seasons.
I do think that they are mis-directing Damon Wayans, because he is coming across as not too smart, egotistical and just plain silly. I hope they steer his character closer to the movie Murtaugh. Right now, he’s just irritating. BTW, I loved the movie, and wish to see this show suceed
Still willNOT watch. NCIS on same time
Nope I’m done. I’m allergic to stupid.
Nope. Without that character, it is NOT “Lethal Weapon”. I am done.
Taking Clayne Crawford off Lethal Weapon is TV series suicide. The show will not be the same without him because he plays the role of Martin Riggs even better than Mel Gibson played in a very popular to this day movies. There is no way I will continue to watch the show and this is the only show I watch on Fox. My husband and I do not like the channel and we hate the news because it’s different from every other station. Your choice to fire him is by far the worst decision you could make for this show,… Read more »
KOh they do exist! It was his partner, Mr Wayans, that filed the complaints!
Noooooo….replacing Clayne Crawford.. not a good idea at all!!! It won’t be the same…but good luck.
Bad move he was the show