Fox has picked up “Lethal Weapon” for a third season — without Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford).
Michael Thorn, President of Entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company, announced the renewal Sunday, along with the reveal that Seann William Scott (“American Pie”) will be joining the cast next season as a new character who folds into a partnership with Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans).
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Television added that the studio had “decided not to renew Clayne Crawford’s contract for ‘Lethal Weapon,’” following incidents of bad behavior on the Fox action drama’s set, for which he apologized. The announcement of Crawford’s ousting comes less than a week after news broke the studio was exploring recasting his part.
Also Read: Clayne Crawford Responds to ‘Lethal Weapon’ Firing with Glum Photo
“Seann is a fantastic addition to this already amazing cast,” said Thorn. “‘Lethal Weapon’ is packed with action, drama and pure fun and we can’t wait to see Damon and Seann together on screen. Matt Miller, his incredible team and everyone at Warner Bros. have been tremendous partners, and we’re thrilled to bring this show back for another season.”
“Lethal Weapon” is based on the feature film franchise of the same name. The cast includes Wayans, Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Jordana Brewster, Johnathan Fernandez, Dante Brown, Chandler Kinney, Michelle Mitchenor and now Scott.
The gig marks Scott’s first network series regular role. He is best known for playing Steve Stifler in the “American Pie” movie franchise. His other film credits include “Road Trip,” “Role Models,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “The Rundown,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” “Goon 2: Last of the Enforcers” and “Just Before I Go.”
Also Read: ‘Lethal Weapon’ Considers Replacing Star Clayne Crawford
“Lethal Weapon” currently averages a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic, which includes a week’s worth of delayed viewing where available from Nielsen.
The series hails from Warner Bros. Television in association with Lin Pictures and Good Session Productions. Matt Miller, Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz and McG serve as executive producers. The pilot was written by Miller and directed by McG.
11 TV Cast Upheavals, From Kevin Spacey in ‘House of Cards’ to Clayne Crawford in ‘Lethal Weapon’ (Photos)
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“Lethal Weapon”
The role of Martin Riggs is being re-cast ahead of a third season, according to a report from the Hollywood Reporter Tuesday.
Crawford apologized last month after “complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment” surfaced. He was reprimanded and he apologized, but a third season for the Fox series has not yet been announced.
“I take great pride in treating everyone in life with dignity and kindness,” the 40-year-old actor said. “I am very grateful for my job, and I work extremely hard at it. I have a responsibility to do good work for my coworkers, my family, and my home state, and most especially for the fans. I hope they will stick with me and stick with the show.”
Ray Mickshaw/FOX
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“House of Cards”
After star Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct, production was delayed and the actor’s character was eventually written out of the show. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos announced in December that a sixth and final season of the critically acclaimed drama “will not involve Kevin Spacey,” but will feature lead actress Robin Wright.
Netflix
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![Danny Masterson]( "Danny Masterson")
“The Ranch”
Danny Masterson was written out of the Netflix comedy after multiple accusations of sexual assault surfaced. Masterson denied the accusations and said he was “disappointed” in the streamer’s decision to remove him from the series.
“From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit,” he said in a statement to TheWrap at the time. “I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one. In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Netflix
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“The Four”
Music executive Charlie Walk exited this singing competition, on which he was a judge, after he was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee. Walk did not attend the Fox show’s finale, and will not be returning.
“I do not want my presence to be a distraction. Needless to say this is very upsetting,” Walk said in a statement in February. “Although I continue to support the ‘Me Too’ movement, there has been an extreme rush to judgment against me in this particular case which is unfair and inconsistent with anything that even actually happened. I welcome any investigation so that in short order these unfounded and hurtful accusations can be put to rest.”
He has since left Republic Records.
Getty Images
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![Ed Westwick]( "Ed Westwick")
“Ordeal By Innocence”
“Gossip Girl” alum Ed Westwick was replaced by Christian Cooke after the actor was accused by three women of sexual assault (Westwick has denied the accusations). The premiere of the drama was canceled in November after accusations surfaced, and the show was pulled from the BBC. Filming for another BBC drama featuring Westwick, “White Gold,” was also stalled at the time.
Reshoots with Cooke went “smoothly,” according to The Guardian, and the drama finally premiered on BBC One on Easter Sunday.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
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“The Walking Dead”
Chandler Riggs, who played fan-favorite character Carl Grimes, left the show this season in a drawn-out and heartbreaking death-by-zombie bite. Fans were shocked when they learned his fate. “I didn’t know that this many people connected to him like on such an extreme level,” Riggs said of his character in an interview with TheWrap. Carl’s death on the long-standing AMC drama caught fans off guard, mainly, because his character is still very much alive and a large part of the comics on which the show is based.
AMC
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![Grey's Anatomy Jessica Capshaw Sarah Drew]( "Grey's Anatomy Jessica Capshaw Sarah Drew")
“Grey’s Anatomy”
News of longtime cast members Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw leaving the medical drama came as a shock to fans in March. After some reports that star Ellen Pompeo’s behemoth salary led to the actresses being cut, both Pompeo and showrunner Krista Vernoff said the idea was misleading.
“The decision to make changes to our cast was a creative one,” Vernoff said. “The only thing as constant on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ as Ellen Pompeo is our penchant for reinvention. It is a part of our success and what keeps the show exciting. We love these actresses and we love these characters and it felt true and right creatively to wrap up their stories. And that is the whole story.”
Drew has since been cast in the CBS reboot pilot of “Cagney and Lacey.”
ABC
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“Fear the Walking Dead”
“Harry Potter” alum Frank Dillane, who plays Nick Clark on the “Walking Dead” spinoff, said that Season 4 felt like the right time to move on from the show. (Spoiler!) Nick died in an April 29 episode after being shot by Charlie, the child spy of the Vultures group.
“I just felt like the beginning of this season kind of felt like the end of an era with this show. And television is hard work, and you have to shoot a lot,” the British actor said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “I also missed Europe very much. I’m not American, so after a while I get quite homesick and all of those things. I also felt like we had achieved what needed to be achieved in the first few seasons, so I thought it was time to keep moving.”
Combined with new cast members, like “Walking Dead” star Lennie James, Maggie Grace, Garret Dillahunt and Jenna Elfman, Nick’s death marks the whittling away of the Clark family and crew on the spinoff show.
AMC
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![pauley perrette ncis]( "pauley perrette ncis")
“NCIS”
Long-time “NCIS” star Pauley Perrette announced in October that she’s leaving the show after 15 seasons. “So it is true that I am leaving NCIS… There have been all kinds of false rumors as to why,” she tweeted last fall. She also threw cold water on reports on why she left, adding that, no, she does not have a skin care line, nor does she have beef with the network.
CBS
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HBO
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![Transparent Amazon Jeffrey Tambor]( "Transparent Amazon Jeffrey Tambor")
Jeffrey Tambor was barred from returning to Amazon’s series “Transparent” for Season 5, the streamer said in mid-February.
The decision came after the conclusion of an investigation into accusations that the Emmy-winning actor sexually harassed three women, including Tambor’s ex-assistant and transgender actress Van Barnes, “Transparent” actress Trace Lysette, and makeup artist Tamara Delbridge. Tambor denied the accusations.
Amazon
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These shows have had major cast shakeups in recent months
“Lethal Weapon”
The role of Martin Riggs is being re-cast ahead of a third season, according to a report from the Hollywood Reporter Tuesday.
Crawford apologized last month after “complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment” surfaced. He was reprimanded and he apologized, but a third season for the Fox series has not yet been announced.
“I take great pride in treating everyone in life with dignity and kindness,” the 40-year-old actor said. “I am very grateful for my job, and I work extremely hard at it. I have a responsibility to do good work for my coworkers, my family, and my home state, and most especially for the fans. I hope they will stick with me and stick with the show.”
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