How Do You Advertise the ‘Lethal Weapon’ TV Show Without Showing Guns? Fox Is About to Show Us…

For those who remember the 80’s action comedy “Lethal Weapon” franchise, the iconic image of Mel Gibson holding a pistol stands out.

Here’s a “Lethal Weapon 2” movie poster:

Image Credit: Movieposter.com

Viewers knew what they were in store for when it came to this movie about two cops. There would be guns, there would be gunfire. It’s called “Lethal Weapon,” after all.

Now, the FOX network is set to air a “Lethal Weapon” television series based on the original movie franchise. There will be changes and modern updates to the story — to be expected.

But an advertising decision from the studio has some fans scratching their heads.

According to Cinemablend, FOX has decided to avoid featuring guns in any of their promotional art.

Fox’s ‘Lethal Weapon’ TV Series Doesn’t Rule out ‘Lethal Weapon 5’ http://bit.ly/2aVR8oQ http://pic.twitter.com/pb6yNqAmBe

— Cultjer (@cultjer) August 10, 2016

The chair of FOX, Dana Walden, had this to say over the decision:

“What we focus mostly on is that our shows not be gratuitously violent, that violence fits within the world of the storytelling and that overwhelmingly what we’re doing feels like entertainment and not gratuitous or something that feels like a documentary. These are entertaining shows. We think about it a lot from the marketing side. Even the artwork you saw of Lethal Weapon, we’re trying to focus on the characters, not on guns, or the violence, in the show. You have to hit a balance.

They’re trying to create stories that are relevant in this day and age and feel heightened and have life and death stakes and take place in a cop world or in the world of terrorism, it’s hard to imagine that without any violence, so it’s just trying to find the right balance.”

Fans of the show “24,” which is also enjoying a modern reboot in “24: Legacy” (starring Corey Hawkins from “Straight Outta Compton”), will also see a decrease in on-air weaponry.

Watch Sneak Peek To #24Legacy Starring Corey Hawkins – http://bit.ly/2aVR8Fm http://pic.twitter.com/vq4p0AKict

— Wilson Morales (@blackfilm) August 10, 2016

EW.com reports that FOX studios plans to be more sparing with their use of gunplay, telling fans:

“We’re telling a thriller story, so clearly there will be gun play, but we’re trying to tell it in a thoughtful and modulated and complicated and humanistic way.”

This move to curb violence in promotional ads is a notable trend in Hollywood. After much protest, an “X-Men: Apocalypse” movie posters featuring Jennifer Lawrence being strangled were taken down.

Though FOX’s party line seems to be one of curtailed violence, it should be noted that the trailer for the new “Lethal Weapon” series features two guns in the first 15 seconds.

See for yourself:

The post How Do You Advertise the ‘Lethal Weapon’ TV Show Without Showing Guns? Fox Is About to Show Us… appeared first on Independent Journal Review.

Source: independent journal

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