Update:
Recently while speaking with ET, Mel Gibson re-confirmed that he’ll be directing the fifth chapter of the Lethal Weapon franchise.
When asked if he’d be stepping in as the film’s new director, Gibson said, “Yeah, I am directing that. I’m really looking forward to it.” Gibson added, “I wish I wasn’t directing it. I wish Richard Donner was still here to do it but left us untimely, and he actually asked me, he said ‘Hey kid, if I don’t make it, you’ll take the reins, huh?’ I told him to shut up. I think it’s an honor for me to be able to carry the flag for him.”
“I called Danny [Glover] up, of course, and said ‘Hey, dude, is it okay with you if I direct this?’ He said yeah, let’s go.”
With Glover’s blessing, Gibson is more than ready to bring Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh back for another chance to shine on the big screen.
“I know Danny’s going to pull it off real well, too. He’s kind of like the show pony in this one.”
Original Article:
Richard Donner revealed last year that he would be directing Lethal Weapon 5, but unfortunately, he passed away before the script had been completed. It was thought that the sequel had been shelved following Donner’s death, but it seems that the project will live on after all. During An Evening with Mel Gibson event in London over the weekend, Gibson revealed that he will be directing Lethal Weapon 5, fulfilling a promise he made to Donner shortly before he passed.
“He was developing the screenplay and he got pretty far along with it. And he said to me one day, ‘Listen kid, if I kick the bucket, you will do it.’ And I said: ‘Shut up.’” Gibson said, according to The Sun. “But he did indeed pass away. But he did ask me to do it and, at the time, I didn’t say anything. He said it to his wife and to the studio and the producer. So, I will be directing the fifth one.” If Lethal Weapon 5 has to happen without Richard Donner, I can’t think of anyone better than Mel Gibson to bring this story to a conclusion. In addition to being just as committed to the franchise as Richard Donner was, he’s also a damn fine director in his own right, which leaves the sequel in good hands.
Richard Donner had previously said that Lethal Weapon 5 would be the last film of the franchise. “This is the final one,” Donner said last year. “It’s both my privilege and duty to put it to bed. It’s exciting, actually…Hahaha! It’s the last one, I’ll promise you that.” The series starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, two mismatched cops. The first film spawned three sequels and even a TV series on Fox that lasted three seasons.
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