If FOX orders a third season of Lethal Weapon, it will do so with a new actor playing the lethal weapon himself.
Following multiple reports of lead cast member Clayne Crawford acting out on set, behaving poorly and mistreating crew members, producers have decided to replace the actor.
In news broken by TV Line, Crawford is out as police officer Martin Riggs.
The series may very well go in search of a new actor to take on the role and a decision on Season 3 will likely depend on who, if anyone, is selected.
This surprising development comes about two weeks after Deadline reported complaints of “emotional abuse and [Crawford] creating a hostile environment” on the Lethal Weapon set.
The star has reportedly been disciplined numerous times due to these kinds of complaints, although specifics were not written about at the time of this initial article.
In a lengthy statement soon after this report went viral, Crawford described two incidents on set for which he admits to being reprimanded.
He said last month that he “reacted with anger” when he thought working conditions were unsafe…
… and also took responsibility for an incident during an episode he directed when an actor was hit by a piece of shrapnel while cameras rolled.
“I am incredibly sorry if my passion for doing good work has ever made anyone feel less than comfortable on our set, or feel less than celebrated for their efforts,” Crawford’s Instagram statement said, adding back then:
“Furthermore, I apologize to all the crew and cast for any negative attention Lethal Weapon is receiving because of these incidents.”
It sounded pretty sincere and the issue pretty much went away.
Or so we thought.
However, Crawford didn’t exactly sound apologetic or even affected upon learning his fate this afternoon.
“Wait, wait, wait……you can’t fire me on my day off!” he Tweeted not very long ago.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, multiple actors have already passed on taking over the role of Riggs, alongside Damon Wayans as Roger Murtaugh.
The role is based on a character portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie series on which the television show is based.
Perhaps not many actors out there want to be associated in any way, shape or form with anything connected to Gibson.
Lethal Weapon‘s Season 2 finale, meanwhile, airs tonight at at 8/7c on Fox.
The network will likely decide the show’s Season 3 fate in time for its May 14 Upfronts, which doesn’t exactly give it much time.
Would you even tune in for a Lethal Weapon with a different actor as Riggs?
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