Lethal Weapon showrunner Matt Miller is hopeful Damon Wayans will return for another season after talk of quitting the show. The original Lethal Weapon movie from 1987 was written by Shane Black (The Predator) and quickly became a classic of the buddy cop subgenre. The story followed suicidal detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) who is partnered with straight-laced veteran Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) on a deadly case. The two overcome their mutual distrust to work together, and their friendship blossomed over the course of four movies.
The formula was a little creaky when the movie franchise called it a day with 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4. There was once talk of a reboot starring Chris Hemsworth but when that came to nothing Lethal Weapon was revived by Fox as a TV show instead. Clayne Crawford took over as Riggs and Damon Wayans as Murtaugh, and the series overcame initial skepticism from audiences and critics to draw in healthy ratings and good reviews. Reports of on set clashes between Wayans and Crawford came to a head in May 2018 when the latter was fired following the end of season 2.
Lethal Weapon season 3 opened with Riggs dying of a gunshot wound he sustained in the previous season’s cliffhanger, and Seann William Scott came on to play Murtaugh’s new partner Wesley Cole. Despite these changes, Wayans stated the show’s workload and physical demands were wearing him down and he planned to leave at the end of the current season. Speaking at the TCA (via TV Line) showrunner Matt Miller suggests that after changing Wayans hours and accommodating his needs, he’s hopeful the star will return for another season.
He went on to state the star was a ‘delight’ after certain changes were made to the filming schedule. Lethal Weapon has become almost as well known for the behind the scenes drama as it is for the action onscreen. Judging from reports, Wayans appears to get along much better with his new co-star, and following the show making changes to his workload, he seems to be enjoying himself. The series is still pulling in good numbers despite Riggs’ death, so if the network wants another season, chances are good it will happen with or without Wayans.
I think it’s going to be a conversation [and] a negotiation, but I’m very hopeful that he will return.
Aside from the Lethal Weapon show, there was talk last year of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover reuniting with director Richard Donner for Lethal Weapon 5. The project’s status fluctuates during every update, but Donner still seems hopeful the movie – dubbed Lethal Finale – will move ahead in the future.
More: Lethal Weapon 5 May Still Happen After All
Source: TV Line
