Moviefone Editorial

Tag: lethal-weapon

  • Every Shane Black Written Or Directed Movie Ranked

    Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Filmmaker Shane Black is one of the most successful screenwriters turned directors of all time!

    Black began his career writing screenplays for such beloved movies as ‘Lethal Weapon‘, ‘The Monster Squad‘, ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ and ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight‘, as well as playing the role of Hawkins in 1987’s ‘Predator‘ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    He made his directorial debut in 2005 with ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘ starring Robert Downey Jr. and would go on to direct Downey in Marvel Studios‘ ‘Iron Man 3‘, as well as the action comedy ‘The Nice Guys‘ and ‘The Predator‘, which was the forth film in that franchise.

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    Black’s latest movie, ‘Play Dirty‘, which is based on the ‘Parker’ books by author Donald E, Westlake and stars Mark Wahlberg, is currently available to watch on Prime Video.

    In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every film Shane Black has either written or directed.

    NOTE: For this list we are only including films where Black has a writing or directing credit, and not films where he only has a Story By credit or an acting credit.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Play Dirty’

    10. ‘The Predator‘ (2018)

    2018's 'The Predator.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2018’s ‘The Predator.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    When a young boy (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers the universe’s most lethal hunters’ return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled scientist (Olivia Munn) can prevent the end of the human race.

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    9. ‘Last Action Hero‘ (1993)

    Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Last Action Hero'. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Last Action Hero’. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.

    After his father’s death, a young boy (Austin O’Brien) finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Given a magic ticket by a theater manager, he is transported into the film and teams up with the cop to stop a villain who escapes into the real world.

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    8. ‘The Monster Squad‘ (1987)

    1987's 'The Monster Squad.' Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
    1987’s ‘The Monster Squad.’ Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.

    Count Dracula (Duncan Regehr) adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein’s Monster (Tom Noonan), the Wolfman (Carl Thibault), the Mummy (Michael Reid MacKay), and the Gillman (Tom Woodruff Jr.). The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes – the Monster Squad are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

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    7. ‘Play Dirty‘ (2025)

    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Expert thief Parker (Mark Wahlberg) gets a shot at a major heist, but to pull it off he and his team must outsmart a South American dictator, the New York mob, and the world’s richest man.

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    6. ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight‘ (1996)

    (L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Long Kiss Goodnight'. Photo: New Line Cinema.
    (L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

    Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a small-town schoolteacher and mom with no memory of her life before washing up on a beach eight years ago. After a car accident and a violent home invasion trigger flashes of her past, she discovers she used to be a deadly CIA assassin. Teaming up with a wisecracking private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson), Samantha must return to her old ways to take down the people who tried to erase her.

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    5. ‘Iron Man 3‘ (2013)

    Robert Downey Jr. in 'Iron Man 3'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man 3’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

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    4. ‘The Nice Guys‘ (2016)

    (L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in 'The Nice Guys'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in ‘The Nice Guys’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and an enforcer (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star (Margaret Qualley) in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

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    3. ‘Lethal Weapon‘ (1987)

    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    A veteran cop (Danny Glover) and an unstable detective (Mel Gibson) become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

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    2. ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)

    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in ‘The Last Boy Scout’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.

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    1. ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘ (2005)

    (L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.' Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    A petty thief posing as an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role.

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  • ‘Monster Summer’ Interview: Mel Gibson and Mason Thames

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    Opening in theaters on October 4th is the new spooky family adventure film ‘Monster Summer’, which was directed by actor David Henrie (‘Reagan’).

    The film stars Mason Thames (‘The Black Phone’), Kevin James (‘Grown Ups’), Lorraine Bracco (‘Goodfellas’), and Oscar-winner Mel Gibson (‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Braveheart’).

    Related Article: Ethan Hawke Talks New Horror Film ‘The Black Phone’

    (L to R) Mason Thames and Mel Gibson star in 'Monster Summer'.
    (L to R) Mason Thames and Mel Gibson star in ‘Monster Summer’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Mel Gibson and Mason Thames to talk about their work on ‘Monster Summer’, Thames’ first reaction to the screenplay, Noah’s friendship with Gene, Gibson’s approach to his character, and his experience working with the young cast and actor-turned-director David Henrie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Mason, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and joining this spooky family adventure?

    Mason Thames: Yeah, the way you just described it is so perfect, but it was just something that you don’t really see very often, and especially getting to work with Mel. I was like, “Oh, this is just a no-brainer,” so I just jumped at it. Especially, David, the director, he was the nicest person I think I’ve ever met in my life, and he had a vision for it, and getting to be a part of that was a lot of fun.

    MF: Mel, can you talk about your approach to playing Gene, the great loss he has suffered and the friendship he forms with Noah?

    Mel Gibson: Well, he’s lived life and he’s in the third act. So, he’s retired, and he’s obviously got a lot of stuff behind him, pain and stories and experience, and some of the experiences he’s had, he’s forgotten. I think meeting this kid fills a gap that was missing in his life. He was just some old guy with a hat that lived alone. Everyone thinks he buried his wife in the garden, and a lot of stories going around about the guy. Then, of course, he gets to do what he’s good at. He has a talent because he’s an old detective, and so there’s a mystery and they solve this mystery together, and it’s really a buddy movie.

    (L to R) Mel Gibson and Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    (L to R) Mel Gibson and Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Mason, how would you describe the friendship Noah forms with Gene?

    MT: Noah’s father, he died, and he was a journalist. He was missing that father figure, and in a weird way, I don’t think he was seeking it, but he found one with Gene and solving this mystery, and the weird adventure they went on. I really love that dynamic they have. It was fun to do.

    MF: What was your experience like working with Mel and creating that relationship with him?

    MT: It was a lot of fun. It was easy, especially working with him. We didn’t have much time, but we clicked easily, so it was a lot of fun.

    Mel Gibson in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mel Gibson in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Mel, in addition to being an actor you are also an Oscar-winning director. What was it like working with David Henrie, who is also an actor-turned-director?

    MG: I had a lot of empathy, and ditto what Mason said. David’s the nicest guy in the world, honestly. He truly is. So, it was so good to work with him. He’s humble, so that if I had a suggestion, he was like, “Oh yeah, let’s hear that,” or whatever. It’s a no-brainer, also. I had coffee with the guy, and I said, “Let’s go to work, man.” That’s usually what it takes, and then if there’s wrinkles in the script or story points or any of that stuff, you say, “Well, we’re going to be able to take care of that because you and I are on the same page.”

    MF: Were there any changes you needed made to the script to play the character?

    MG: I don’t know. I’m sure I had a say in what was happening. I even invented a whole backstory for the guy, and then spat it out on camera and it seemed to work. We’ll see.

    Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Finally, what was it like working with Mason and the younger cast members?

    MG: It’s great. It’s fantastic. I love working with young actors because I think that they’ve got this raw material, this diamond in the rough kind of thing, and you just watch them do it, and there’s a sense of truth in it that you can’t pretend really. It comes from a youthful innocence and exuberance and everything. It’s like, “Hey, that makes me feel younger,” when I work with young people.

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    What is the plot of ‘Monster Summer’?

    When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah (Mason Thames) and his friends, team up with a retired police detective (Mel Gibson) to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Monster Summer’?

    'Monster Summer' opens in theaters on October 4th. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    ‘Monster Summer’ opens in theaters on October 4th. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    List of Mel Gibson Movies:

    Buy Mel Gibson Movies on Amazon

  • Beyond Fest Announces Full 2024 Line Up

    Beyond Fest runs September 25th - October 9th, 2024.
    Beyond Fest runs September 25th – October 9th, 2024.

    Preview:

    • Beyond Fest is back in Los Angeles for its 12 year later this month.
    • ‘Salem’s Lot,’ ‘The Brutalist’ and more will receive premieres.
    • Filmmakers including Sam Raimi, Shane Black and more will present retrospectives.

    Now entering its 12th year, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, Beyond Fest is back offering even more exciting screenings and talks with filmmakers.

    The event, which has brought first looks at new movies and more to fans for years, is back this month, boasting 82 features, including 16 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 1 North American Premiere, 3 US Premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres.

    Related Article: Beyond Fest’s Full 2023 Line Up Includes ‘The Creator’, ‘The Toxic Avenger’ and More

    When and where is Beyond Fest 2024 happening?

    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    This year’s event runs between September 25th – October 9th.

    In partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by distributor NEON, Beyond Fest will screen at the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, and Vista Theatre.

    Here’s what Head of Programming Evrim Ersoy has to say about this year’s fest:

    “Combining a celebration of cinema whilst firmly focusing our gaze on the next generation of filmmakers has always been at the heart of the Beyond Fest. And this year we have even more opportunity to bring together the full spectrum of genre filmmaking to the community that is at the core of everything we do: from Kiyoshi Kurosawa to Brady Corbet, Jennifer Kent to Sam Raimi, we have created a program that embraces all corners of the cinematic spectrum.”

    What could I see at the 2024 Beyond Fest?

    2024's Salem's Lot. Photo: Warners Bros.
    2024’s Salem’s Lot. Photo: Warners Bros.

    In its inimitable style, Beyond Fest is blending exciting new movies with the chance to experience old favorites and listen to the people who made them.

    Among the new movies on offer are ‘Salem’s Lot,’ the Stephen King adaptation directed by ‘It’ scribe Gary Dauberman (which opens this year’s event), Brady Corbet’s latest audacious indie ‘The Brutalist,’ the 35mm debut of Palme D’or Winner ‘Anora’ with writer/director Sean Baker and Mikey Madison in person and Marielle Heller’s scathing ‘Nightbitch’ starring Amy Adams hosted by Caitlin Durante and Jamie Loftus of The Bechdel Cast.

    Guy Maddin launches a special retrospective with his new film, ‘Rumours,’ Jesse Eisenberg brings road trip pic ‘A Real Pain’ and there is the Los Angeles Premiere of Ali Abbasi’s cutthroat origin story ‘The Apprentice,’ starring Sebastian Stan (as Donald Trump), Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova.

    (L to R) Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliffe.
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliffe.

    Closing the event will be Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Cloud‘ with the legendary Japanese auteur joining in-person to launch a 7-film retrospective.

    And for those craving a look back? Get a load of the retrospective screenings boasting more great filmmakers… Sam Raimi returns with a 35mm triple feature of ‘Darkman,’ ‘The Quick and the Dead,’ and ‘Drag Me to Hell,’ Shane Black showcases his pugilistic excellence with a quadruple bill including ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘The Nice Guys’, while Australian genre expert Jennifer Kent makes a rare U.S. appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ‘The Babadook,’ paired with ‘The Nightingale.’

    Walter Hill revisits the murderous swamps of ‘Southern Comfort,’ Paul W.S. Anderson attends for a rare showing of his cosmic-cult-space-horror, ‘Event Horizon,’ and Indian auteur Tarsem Singh joins to showcase two stunning restorations: the World Premiere of ‘The Cell’ and the West Coast Premiere of ‘The Fall’.

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    That’s just a small sampling of what’s on offer. Visit beyondfest.com and americancinematheque.com for more details.

    How can I get tickets for the 2024 Beyond Fest?

    Tickets will be on sale via americancinematheque.com on Friday, September 13th at 10AM PST.

    Al Pacino in 'Scarface'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Al Pacino in ‘Scarface’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Some of the Movies Playing at Beyond Fest 2024:

    Buy ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Movies On Amazon

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  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Maverick’ on its 25th Anniversary

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Maverick’ on its 25th Anniversary

    Warner Bros.

    “Maverick” may not be the most critically acclaimed Western released in the ’90s, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable trip back to the Wild West and the days of rascals, card sharks and lawmen. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this it Western by learning some fun facts about the making of “Maverick.”

    1. “Maverick” is an adaptation of the 1957-1962 TV series of the same name, which starred James Garner as Bret Maverick.

    Warner Bros.

    2. Garner played a very different role in this remake as Marshal Zane Cooper. The name is an homage to influential Western writer Zane Grey and actor Gary Cooper.

    3. The film includes cameo appearances from many popular country music singers, including Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Hal Ketchum, Carlene Carter and Vince Gill.

    Warner Bros.

    4. Paul Newman was originally offered the role of Bret Maverick, but ultimately turned it down when the producers failed to meet his salary requirements.

    5. The steamboat is named “Lauren Belle” in tribute to director Richard Donner‘s wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. She also has a cameo in the film as “Mrs. D,” one of the maids in the bath house.

    6. The ship used for the Lauren Belle was a fully functional stern-wheel tugboat borrowed from the Oregon Maritime Museum.

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    7. Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan and Michelle Pfeiffer were all considered for the part of Annabelle.

    8. Annabelle’s clumsiness wasn’t actually written in the original screenplay. Donner was inspired to add that element to the character after Jodie Foster fell out of a stagecoach when co-star Mel Gibson failed to help her down.

    Warner Bros.

    9. “Maverick” includes numerous callbacks to the “Lethal Weapon” series, including Danny Glover‘s cameo appearance and the scene where Mel Gibson’s character discovers his shirt has shrunk in the wash.

    10. The film includes a deleted sequence where Maverick attempts to demonstrate his supposedly magical card-playing abilities to a hermit played by Linda Hunt. Donner opted to cut this material because he felt it didn’t mesh with the rest of the film.

    Warner Bros.

    11. Another deleted scene features musician Alice Cooper in a cameo role as the town drunk. Rock on!

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  • ‘Lethal Weapon’ Canceled, To Absolutely No One’s Surprise

    ‘Lethal Weapon’ Canceled, To Absolutely No One’s Surprise

    Fox

    After firing one of its original leads and the other star announcing his departure, it’s no surprise that Fox is canceling “Lethal Weapon.”

    Clayne Crawford (who played Martin Riggs) was fired after Season 2, due to bad on-set behavior. And Damon Wayans (Roger Murtaugh) said last October he was leaving the series after his new co-lead, Seann William Scott was announced as new character Wesley Cole.

    Said Wayans at the time: “I’m a 58-year-old diabetic and I’m working 16-hour days.”

    Before the Season 3 finale, showrunner Matt Miller told The Wrap that Wayans’ concerns had been “taken care of. ” As he said at the Television Critics Association in February, in response to Wayan’s health needs, “it sort of made us all sit down, roll up our sleeves and say, ‘OK, we’re now really hearing you. What do you need?’”

    Apparently, he needed to leave the show. And the accompanying drama.

    Despite the casting change-up, “Lethal Weapon” Season 3’s ratings suffered only a slight drop-off from Season 2. But that was still a steep decline from Season 1, according to The Wrap.

    [Via The Wrap]

  • Damon Wayans Announces He’s Leaving ‘Lethal Weapon’

    Damon Wayans Announces He’s Leaving ‘Lethal Weapon’

    Fox

    Trouble continues to plague “Lethal Weapon.”

    Star Damon Wayans announced in a video interview that he plans to leave the Fox cop show at the end of the year, halfway through the third season. The move comes just a few months after his former co-star, Clayne Crawford, was fired for abusive behavior on set.

    Wayans cited his age as a primary reason for his exit.

    “I’m going to be quitting the show in December after we finish the initial 13 [episodes],” he told the Electronic Urban Report. “So I really don’t know what they’re planning, but that’s what I’m planning. I’m a 58-year-old diabetic and I’m working 16-hour days.”

    He continued, referring to his character,  “Like Murtaugh said, I’m too old for this.”

    Around the time of Crawford’s departure, reports emerged that the two stars often butted heads. One actor described the situation as, “Damon is used to sitcom work and Clayne is used to cable drama. Damon likes sitcom hours, while Clayne wanted the show to be Emmy material. It was oil and water.”

    In May, Seann William Scott was brought on to replace Crawford as Murtaugh’s new partner for Season 3. But now, it seems neither of the original “Lethal Weapon” characters will be around.

    As for what Wayans wants to do next, he said, “I’m going to return to the stage and try to find my smile again.”

  • ‘Lethal Weapon’ Season 3 Tweets Show Mixed Response to Clayne Crawford’s Departure and Replacement

    ‘Lethal Weapon’ Season 3 Tweets Show Mixed Response to Clayne Crawford’s Departure and Replacement

    Lethal Weapon Season 3 poster
    Fox

    “Lethal Weapon” Season 3 is already making waves.

    The premiere aired on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and it marked the departure of Clayne Crawford and the arrival of Sean William Scott. Given the circumstances that prompted the recasting, people were feeling a lot of different emotions. Fans knew that the star’s exit was coming after Crawford was fired for bad behavior, but that didn’t mean everyone was prepared for it.

    ***Spoilers ahead if you haven’t yet seen the episode.***

    Crawford didn’t get a gentle farewell. Instead, his character, Martin Riggs, was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest. That didn’t sit well with some fans, and others just didn’t want him to leave the show at all, as they made clear on Twitter.

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    At the same time, there were also plenty of people who enjoyed the episode. Many liked what they saw from Scott as his new character, Wesley Cole, and indicated that they’re going to stick with “Lethal Weapon.”

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    https://twitter.com/ThePhatcyde/status/1045066290250100736

    https://twitter.com/HassonHarris/status/1045065286615937024

    Maybe they’ll even stop calling Scott “Stifler” after his “American Pie” character and eventually come to think of him first and foremost as Cole.

  • ‘Lethal Weapon’ Season 3 ‘New Partner’ Promo Breaks In Seann William Scott

    ‘Lethal Weapon’ Season 3 ‘New Partner’ Promo Breaks In Seann William Scott

    Lethal Weapon Season 3
    FOX

    If you ignore the bad green screen  in this “Lethal Weapon” Season 3 teaser, it looks like Seann William Scott might be off to a good start in his new role.

    It’s a tough job to jump into, considering all the controversy of last season.

    The “American Pie” alum was cast as new character Detective Wesley Cole, a new partner for Damon Wayans‘ Roger Murtaugh after the contentious and dramatic firing of Clayne Crawford as Martin Riggs.

    Det. Wesley Cole is described as “a former international CIA operative who has been everywhere and seen everything. Cole will find himself navigating a new partnership with Murtaugh, as he adjusts to life in Los Angeles.”

    Many fans still seem to be on Team Clayne, but FOX is hoping fans will return to watch the new partner dynamic — and the rest of the cast — when the new season starts next month.

    Here’s the “New Partner” promo:

    Meanwhile, here’s what Clayne Crawford has been up to:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm1B6Uxn6BZ/

    “Lethal Weapon” Season 3 premieres Tuesday, September 25 on FOX.

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  • ‘Lethal Weapon’ On-Set Video Shows Bad Blood Between Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans

    Confirming the reports that the set of Fox series “Lethal Weapon” was not a happy one, ex-costars Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans heatedly trade insults in a just-released (and heavily bleeped) video.

    In the first clip we hear (but don’t see) Crawford calling Wayans a “p***y” and a “crybaby,” and saying the only reason the older actor ever gets work is because of his more famous brothers. Ouch.

    Things got so bad, Pinkerton security guards were present on set at all times to ensure that disagreements would not deteriorate into physical violence, Variety reports.

    Another clip captures Crawford losing his temper during a scene that was being shot at a public pool. The set was supposed to be closed and the actor went on an f-bomb-laden rant about the background noise. Crawford’s yelling at a group of children (who were not involved in the production) resulted in an assistant director waking off the set and resigning on the spot.

    Despite apologizing for his bad behavior, Crawford was fired from the series: He’ll be replaced by Seann William Scott, who’ll be playing a new character.

    Warner Bros. has also dismissed a number of crew members were still loyal to Crawford.

    Watch the video here. The uncensored version is also up at Variety:

    [Via Variety]

  • ‘Lethal Weapon’ Renewed With Seann William Scott, Clayne Crawford Reacts to Firing

    Should Fox have just canceled “Lethal Weapon” instead of doing this?

    The network canceled “Lucifer” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” but renewed “Lethal Weapon” for Season 3, just without co-lead Clayne Crawford. It was announced over the weekend that actor Seann William Scott was cast as a new character who partners with Damon Wayans‘ Roger Murtaugh.

    So Seann isn’t taking over the part of Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson on film and Clayne Crawford on TV. He’s playing someone brand new.

    Screening Of Anchor Bay Entertainment's 'Just Before I Go' - Red CarpetCrawford had retweeted support from costars and coworkers before the official recasting was announced. But, according to Entertainment Weekly, Fox was pushed into a corner and told by Warner Bros. that they *couldn’t* keep Crawford if the show was renewed, from a financial and legal perspective. Here’s more from EW:

    “Studio Warner Bros. issued a statement declaring Crawford’s contract was not picked up for the third season. Sources have told EW that the decision was a difficult one and was due to Crawford exhibiting a pattern of toxic behavior on the set and that there is video and audio evidence of such behavior. While not going into exact details, we’re told that in each instance there were disciplinary actions taken by the studio and the behavior continued. A couple crew members even resigned over Crawford’s actions, sources say. Warner Bros. alerted Fox to the issue and told the network they couldn’t keep the actor on the show if renewed — even just from a financial standpoint, ignoring a documented pattern of behavior would put the studio at risk.”

    Crawford had joked about the rumors that he would be fired, then responded to official renewal/recasting news:

    He’s been retweeting messages of support from past coworkers, probably in the hope that he is picked up for a new job soon:

    Fans have been upset at Fox and supportive of Clayne Crawford, but they also weren’t on set when anything happened. It’s possible even if the video and audio were released they’d still stand by him. But if this is happening, and a couple of crew members even quit because of him, it must’ve been pretty serious.

    That said, Fox isn’t exactly doing itself any favors by keeping the show at all — with a recast lead — when it just axed several favorites. And Seann William Scott? Don’t blame him. The “American Pie” alum was probably a good replacement choice, if they were simply determined to bring the show back and couldn’t keep Crawford, so hopefully fans don’t take their ire out on him. But they may just not watch the show, leaving Fox wishing they had made this simpler for themselves.

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