Lethal Weaponis heading to thesmall screen! Yes, a newTV seriesbased on the popular action franchise starringMel GibsonandDanny Gloveris going to happen on Fox. It is coming from Warner Bros. TV, which also turned the popular buddy cop action comedyRush Hourinto a series that will debut early next year. No casting has been announced at this time.
The series will be an hour long drama, and it will follow the same basic plot as the movie. The show already has a put pilot commitment. The Pilot will be written by formerChuckexecutive producer Matt Miller. He most recently created the ABC drama Forever, also for WBTV.
LikeRush Hour,Lethal Weaponis a pretty straight adaptation of the film series upon which it is based, and will center on the central characters of detectives Roger Murtaugh, the character originated byMel Gibson, and Martin Riggs, played in four movies byDanny Glover. In the film, When these two first meet, Homicide Sergeant Murtaugh is celebrating his 50th birthday. He is partnered with the suicidal and highly volatile ex-U.S. Army Special Forces soldier-turned-L.A.P.D. Narcotics Sergeant Riggs. Riggs has been reassigned to homicide after experiencing a psychotic episode on the job. He’s has recently been dealing with the grief of losing his wife in a car accident.
TheLethal WeaponTV show will give things a slight twist. Martin Riggs is now a Texas cop and former Navy SEAL. Along with the loss of his wife, this Riggs will also be emotionally crippled by the death of his newborn baby. He moves to Los Angeles to get a fresh start. There, he is partnered with LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh. This time out, Roger has just suffered a minor heart attack. He’s been told by his doctors to avoid any unnecessary stress. Which will be nearly impossible with the volatile Riggs at his side.
Matt Miller will reunite with Forever executive producer Dan Lin on the project. Lin’s Warner. Bros.-based Lin Pictures is behind the project alongside WBTV and Miller’s Good Session Prods. Jennifer Gwartz will also executive produce. This is just the latest in a long-line of recently announced TV series based on classic movies. Other shows based on moves that are currently in development includeTaken,In the Line of FireandRedat NBC, Behind Enemy Lines at Fox, andTraining Dayat CBS.The CWis currently hoping to turn the 2004 dramaThe Notebookinto something people want to watch every week. And Fox is also working on a drama series based on the 1980John TravoltadramaUrban Cowboy.
The originalLethal Weaponarrived in 1987 from writerShane Black(who would go onto directIron Man 3) and directorRichard Donner(the man responsible for 1978’sSupermanand 1985’sThe Goonies). It proved to be a breakout hit, and grossed more than $120 million from a $12 million budget. A franchise was spawned, which includes three sequels. And it helped solidify the buddy-cop action comedy. There was talk of a Lethal Weapon 5, but that has never come to fruition. What do you think? Are you excited to seeLethal Weaponget rebooted for the small screen?
