Lethal Weapon is the youngest and highest rated of the three Warner Bros TV drama series for Fox, so its renewal had been considered a no-brainer. But a behind-the scene issue involving one of the two leads, Clayne Crawford, is making a third season a rather complex proposition.
I have learned that Crawford has had a history of bad behavior on the
show, and that he has been disciplined several times over complaints of
emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment. I hear the issue
has escalated to a point where other actors as well as crew on Lethal Weapon
would feel uncomfortable being on set with him. The problem is
threatening the future of the show, with a recasting — a rare and
dramatic move when involving a lead of an established series — being
explored. Fox and Warner Bros TV declined comment.
While Damon Wayans, who plays Roger Murtaugh, had been a key auspice
on the series from the start — his casting helped Matt Miller’s pilot
script land a green light in February 2016 — Crawford was a relatively
late addition. The Rectify alum was tapped for the role
of Martin Riggs a month later after a lengthy search. (Crawford has
since parted ways with the talent agency that repped him when he landed
the pilot.)
In Lethal Weapon, produced by Warner Bros TV and Lin
Pictures, when Texas cop and former Navy SEAL Riggs suffers the loss of
his wife and baby, he moves to Los Angeles to start anew. There, he is
partnered with LAPD Detective Roger Murtaugh, who, having recently
suffered a “minor” heart attack, must avoid stress in his life. The
roles are played by Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in the original movie
franchise, which had been exploring a fifth installment.
Season-to-date, Lethal Weapon is averaging a 1.7 most current rating among adults 18-49 and 6.9 million total viewers. In multi-platform average audience, Lethal Weapon averages 8.7 million (+105% vs. Live+Same Day), and is Fox’s No. 2 returning drama behind Empire.