'You're just gonna have to trust me': Rectify star Clayne Crawford cast in Fox's Lethal Weapon reboot... in the role Mel Gibson made famous

Mel Gibson pulled off the manic suicidal cop routine superbly in the original Lethal Weapon film, which led to a franchise.

Clayne Crawford is sure to lure a whole new generation in Fox's Lethal Weapon reboot.

The broodingly handsome 37-year-old actor, who starred in Sundance Channel's drama Rectify, has landed a leading role in the pilot as Martin Riggs, the same role played by Gibson, Entertainment Weekly reports.

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'Lethal' material: Clayne Crawford has been cast as Martin Riggs in Fox's Lethal Weapon reboot - the role played by Mel Gibson in the original 1987 film Lethal Weapon

'Lethal' material: Clayne Crawford has been cast as Martin Riggs in Fox's Lethal Weapon reboot - the role played by Mel Gibson in the original 1987 film Lethal Weapon

Like Gibson's version, Clayne's Riggs will be torn up over the death of his wife.

Clayne's character will also be a 'former Navy SEAL and Texas cop,' while Gibson's Riggs served in the US Army during The Vietnam War.

Damon Wayans will play Riggs' reluctant partner Roger Murtagh, who was played by Danny Glover in the films.

Fabulous friction: Danny Glover and Mel Gibson got on each nerves in Lethal Weapon but had each others backs too

Fabulous friction: Danny Glover and Mel Gibson got on each nerves in Lethal Weapon but had each others backs too

Hey, partner: Damon Wayans - pictured in 2014 - has already been cast as Riggs' partner Roger Murtagh, who was played by Danny Glover in the original film and sequels

Hey, partner: Damon Wayans - pictured in 2014 - has already been cast as Riggs' partner Roger Murtagh, who was played by Danny Glover in the original film and sequels

In the film, when the partners get caught in a particularly nasty situation, Roger says to Martin: 'Are you really crazy? Or are you as good as you say you are?'

And Martin replies: 'You're just gonna have to trust me.'

And so viewers will too as the reboot gets underway.

Tough shoes to fill: Like Gibson's character, Clayne's Riggs will be a mess after the death of his wife but unlike Gibson's character who was a Vietnam vet, Clayne's Riggs will be a 'former Navy SEAL and Texas cop'
Tough shoes to fill: Like Gibson's character, Clayne's Riggs will be a mess after the death of his wife but unlike Gibson's character who was a Vietnam vet, Clayne's Riggs will be a 'former Navy SEAL and Texas cop'

Tough shoes to fill: Like Gibson's character, Clayne's Riggs will be a mess after the death of his wife but unlike Gibson's character who was a Vietnam vet, Clayne's Riggs will be a 'former Navy SEAL and Texas cop'

Southern comfort: The Alabama-born Clayne starred in the Sundance Channel's haunting drama Rectify - and that Southern accent was real

Southern comfort: The Alabama-born Clayne starred in the Sundance Channel's haunting drama Rectify - and that Southern accent was real

The pilot will be directed by McG, whose previous credits include Terminator: Salvation, 3 Days To Kill, This Means War and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

Clayne drew critical acclaim for his portrayal as Teddy Talbot in Rectify, the moody series that took place in a small Southern town.

Teddy and his stepbrother Daniel (Aden Young) were at odds over a lot of things including Daniel's attraction to Teddy's wife Tawney (Adelaide Clemens).

Clayne's Southern accent was real - he was born in Alabama - and that along with the moody emotional undercurrents made this drama 'hauntingly real,' according to Collider.com.

Tortured: Clayne had a lot to process playing Teddy Talbot in Rectify

Tortured: Clayne had a lot to process playing Teddy Talbot in Rectify

 

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