The hit US series Lethal Weapon will return to the ITV primetime schedules for its third series in late Spring. The second series launched with 3.2m viewers and averaged 2.8m viewers throughout its run and ended on a cliffhanger last year - Riggs being shot in the chest at his wife’s grave.

Acquired from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, the series is based on the hit movie franchise. Combining action and drama with friendship and humour, the third series will see the arrival of new character Wesley Cole played by Seann William Scott (American Pie movies). Wesley is a former international CIA operative who has been everywhere and seen everything.

Murtaugh (played by Emmy® nominee Damon Wayans - My Wife and Kids, In Living Color) continues to work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles and navigate his work life with his home life. His wife Trish (Keesha Sharp – The People vs. OJ Simpson) and two children, Roger Jr (Dante Brown – Mr Robinson) and Rianna (Chandler Kinney), all return.

Also back for the new series are Captain Brooks Avery (Kevin Rahm – Mad Men), Scorsese (Johnathan Fernandez - Girls) and Detective Sonya Bailey (Michelle Mitchenor – Chi-Raq). Dr. Maureen ‘Mo’ Cahill (Jordana Brewster – The Fast and the Furious films) recurs.

Lethal Weapon currently airs its third series in the US. The deal was brokered by Sasha Breslau, ITV Head of Acquired Series and Jonathan Vandermeer, Controller of Acquisitions, Rights and Regulatory.

Sasha Breslau, ITV’s Head of Acquired Series said,

“Lethal Weapon continues to be a stand out drama from the US, successfully rebooting a beloved movie franchise. In the UK it has built a loyal following with ITV viewers enjoying their weekly fix of high-octane action and drama. The new series will take its place alongside all the popular new and returning ITV dramas in 2019.”

Matt Miller (Chuck, Las Vegas, Forever) developed Lethal Weapon and serves as executive producer with Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes films, The LEGO™ Movie franchise, Forever), Alex Taub (Revenge), Bill Callahan (American Housewife), Seamus Kevin Fahey and Jennifer Gwartz (Veronica Mars, Forever).

Based on the feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures, the series is from Lin Pictures and Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, and is distributed around the world by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.