Fox 2016 Fall Preview: Watch ‘Lethal Weapon,’ ‘The Exorcist,’ and ‘Son of Zorn’ trailers now
For the upcoming 2016-17 season, we’re clearly seeing the folks over at Fox take an interesting direction with their new programming. The majority of the high-profile stuff like “24: Legacy” and the “Prison Break” revival will not be around until midseason, and for the fall, the network is banking more on traditional franchises along with an odd live-action / animated hybrid show that could be either a sleeper hit or an epic failure.
“Lethal Weapon” (pictured above) – “Based on the hit movie franchise of the same name, LETHAL WEAPON follows iconic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. From the moment the brash and impulsive MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) meets prudent, by-the-book ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), it seems as if this partnership is doomed. But after their first case together, both realize this arrangement might just work out after all – if only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first.”
The trailer below certainly makes you think a thing or two about a traditional cop drama with a little bit of humor; the tone is fairly similar to the movies. Our concern here is this: Why is this going to succeed when “Minority Report” and “Rush Hour” did not? Don’t assume that a franchise name means much of anything. It’s a solid trailer, but not necessarily spectacular.
“The Exorcist” – “Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, Academy Award-nominated “The Exorcist” terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades later, THE EXORCIST returns as a contemporary psychological TV thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of terrifying demonic possession. Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), the series stars Alfonso Herrera (“Sense8,” “The Chosen”), Ben Daniels (“Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) and Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis (“Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”).”
We don’t know why in the world Fox wants to remind you at the jump that the original movie is the “greatest horror movie ever made” since that puts expectations here through the roof. The trailer is certainly creepy; we think it’ll please fans of all things horror, but probably not get a whole lot of crossover viewers. On Friday nights, it probably won’t need to.
“Son of Zorn” – “SON OF ZORN follows an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean, who returns to Orange County, CA, to win back his live-action ex-wife (Cheryl Hines, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and teenage son (Johnny Pemberton, “21 Jump Street”).”
This feels almost like something on Adult Swim that something you’d see on Fox primetime. We’re not going to deny that we laughed a few times, but we do wonder what happens come around episode 6 and some of the initial charm surrounding this starts to die off a little bit. Also, the part with the bird at the end made us sad, even if we know the bird’s not real.