In 1987 Lethal Weapon hit cinemas, it was an instant hit that spawned three sequels over the course of a decade. For a while there was a possibility of a fourth sequel but it never gained traction. On the 25th Anniversary of the first movie's release, Empire met with Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Director Richard Donner, all of whom confirmed that Lethal Weapon 5 would never happen. But it seems there are some who feel they haven't milked that particular cash cow enough. That's why Fox has rebooted it as a TV show starring Damon Wayans (The Last Boyscout) and Clayne Crawford (24, The Glades, Justified) as Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs. McG is directing the pilot.
What we get is a standard American police procedural with a comedy element and familiar names. The problem is Riggs and Murtaugh are an iconic cop duo because of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover and the relationship they had both on and off screen. Under a different name this project might work, but as Lethal Weapon it doesn't. The relationship between Wayans and Crawford feels forced, but they have big shoes to fill, again it would probably work better if they were playing original characters.
The trailer opens with a hostage situation in a bank, this is where they recreate the scene from the original where Riggs is held at gun point by a drug dealer in a Christmas tree lot. In order to try and up the ante, the new Riggs is on his knees with an assault rifle pointed at his forehead, in a split second he goes from delivering a monologue about wanting to be killed rather than brain damaged to taking the gun and killing all the hostage takers. It feels like they watched the original and said to each other: how can we make this look cooler? What follows is a barrage of action shots including a car chase on a race track, a screaming Captain, Murtaugh's complaining, Jordana Brewster as a Psychiatrist trying to prove Riggs isn't fit for duty and a recreation of Riggs first family meal with the Murtaughs. It looks like the new Mrs Riggs was pregnant when she was killed, which again feels like the writers trying to up the ante on the original. As of yet there's no sign of Leo Getz, Lorna Cole or Lee Butters, but they can be added later if the show is successful. The first season should be about developing the relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh, no doubt the death of Riggs wife will be a recurring theme and possibly the basis for the Season 1 cliffhanger. Hopefully it won't be dragged out like the Wo Fat storyline in Hawaii Five-0.
The show has been described as the return of the iconic cop duo, but it feels like Riggs and Murtaugh are the latest victims of identity theft. It seems they haven't learned anything from the train wreck that is the Rush Hour TV show. Which buddy cop classic will they attempt to destroy next?
Luckily this guy has already done enough to destroy his own franchise!
What we get is a standard American police procedural with a comedy element and familiar names. The problem is Riggs and Murtaugh are an iconic cop duo because of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover and the relationship they had both on and off screen. Under a different name this project might work, but as Lethal Weapon it doesn't. The relationship between Wayans and Crawford feels forced, but they have big shoes to fill, again it would probably work better if they were playing original characters.
The trailer opens with a hostage situation in a bank, this is where they recreate the scene from the original where Riggs is held at gun point by a drug dealer in a Christmas tree lot. In order to try and up the ante, the new Riggs is on his knees with an assault rifle pointed at his forehead, in a split second he goes from delivering a monologue about wanting to be killed rather than brain damaged to taking the gun and killing all the hostage takers. It feels like they watched the original and said to each other: how can we make this look cooler? What follows is a barrage of action shots including a car chase on a race track, a screaming Captain, Murtaugh's complaining, Jordana Brewster as a Psychiatrist trying to prove Riggs isn't fit for duty and a recreation of Riggs first family meal with the Murtaughs. It looks like the new Mrs Riggs was pregnant when she was killed, which again feels like the writers trying to up the ante on the original. As of yet there's no sign of Leo Getz, Lorna Cole or Lee Butters, but they can be added later if the show is successful. The first season should be about developing the relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh, no doubt the death of Riggs wife will be a recurring theme and possibly the basis for the Season 1 cliffhanger. Hopefully it won't be dragged out like the Wo Fat storyline in Hawaii Five-0.
The show has been described as the return of the iconic cop duo, but it feels like Riggs and Murtaugh are the latest victims of identity theft. It seems they haven't learned anything from the train wreck that is the Rush Hour TV show. Which buddy cop classic will they attempt to destroy next?
Luckily this guy has already done enough to destroy his own franchise!
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