FOX Renews Lethal Weapon For Season Three, Sean William Scott Replacing Clayne Crawford

Lethal Weapon will be back for a new season…but without one of its lead starts. Sean William Scott will replace Clayne Crawford on the series for the show’s just-announced third season. Fox Broadcasting Company president of entertainment Michael Thorne announced the news on Sunday.

“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.”

Scott will play a new character who gets partnered up with Damon Wayans’ Murtaugh. Martin Riggs, played by Crawford, will not return. The move comes after the show’s renewal prospects were jeopardized by Crawford’s reported on-set issues which included several disciplinary actions taken “over complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment.”

The situation had led to several cast and crew members not wanting to be on set with the actor, who followed up the reports with a public apology to address the situation. In the apology, Crawford detailed two instances of reprimands which he said constituted the whole of his issues. One involved him becoming angry over what he called “over working conditions that did not feel safe or conducive to good work under the leadership of a guest director and assistant director, who, in turn, were angry at my response.” The second came when he was directing an episode and “an actor on set felt unsafe because a piece of shrapnel from an effect hit him.”

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. TV declined to exercise the option on Crawford’s contract, as they decided not to deliver the series to Fox with him in it due to their zero-tolerance policy on inappropriate behavior. The show was considered a lock for renewal (and was predicted to be renewed in our official renewal predictions) due to solid and consistent ratings before the issues with Crawford.

Crawford posted the following to Instagram commenting on the news and his replacement on the show:

To my cast and crew – CONGRATULATIONS on season 3! To the Fans – Thank you for the overwhelming support and love. Riggs was a dream role and the experience will live with me forever. My heart is full. Good Luck nxt season!!

A post shared by Clayne Crawford (@claynecrawford) on May 13, 2018 at 1:31pm PDT