Fox axes Weapon, Star, Innocent

Seann WIlliam Scott (left) joined the cast for Lethal Weapon’s third season

UPFRONTS: US broadcast network Fox has taken the axe to a number of drama series as it makes room in the schedule for new programmes for the 2019/20 season.

Warner Bros Television’s small screen adaptation of the 1980s/1990s Lethal Weapon movie franchise has been dropped after three seasons on air, it has been confirmed.

“It’s officially over,” series regular Kevin Rahm tweeted. “Thanks to all the fans who watched us for the last three seasons. I am grateful.”

Johnathan Fernandez, another star of the show, added: “Lethal Weapon has been canceled… This gig was a dream come true; I’m very grateful for the opportunity and will forever cherish the people I worked with who have become family through the show. People I will be eternally close with.

“I’m very proud of what we achieved, not the least of which was it being one of if not the most diverse show on television. We played characters who just ‘were’, they never became tokens. They just lived their lives as humans.”

Fox has also pulled the plug on Lee Daniels-created musical drama Star after three seasons. Again, the stars of the 20th Century Fox Television show confirmed its demise via social media.

“To every one of you who laughed, cried, sang and danced with us – thank you. For the best three years. Thanks from the bottom of my heart,” tweeted star Jude Demorest.

“I’m so proud of the stories we’ve told and I’m so thankful for the sisters and family I’ve gained. This story isn’t over #StarForever,” added co-star Amiyah Scott.

Freshman legal drama Proven Innocent, from David Eliot and 20th Century Fox Television, has also been cancelled. The show debuted in February but exec producer Adam Armus yesterday tweeted: “Thanks everyone for a great season! Very proud of our little show and of the people who gave so much love to it.”

Meanwhile, the network has renewed its sci-fi comedy The Orville for a third season. The show hails from Seth MacFarlane, Brannon Braga, David A Goodman, Jason Clark and Jon Cassar and 20th Century Fox Television.

Other cancellations at Fox include sitcom The Cool Kids, about a group of three friends living in a retirement community whose lives are disrupted by a new arrival, and supernatural drama The Passage, which was based on author Justin Cronin’s best-selling trilogy of the same name.