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Lethal Weapon 5: Mel Gibson & Danny Glover & Original Director Returning
Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and original director Richard Donner are all on board to return for Lethal Weapon 5. A fifth installment in the highly successful action series has been the subject of on-again, off-again status for well over a decade now, with fans desperate for more.
As early as 2008, rumors began to circulate that a fifth Lethal Weapon was indeed a possibility. Shane Black, writer of the first entry in the series, had reportedly written one last Lethal Weapon script, and was looking to get Gibson, Glover, and Donner on board for what would be the fifth and final film. After starring in four Lethal Weapon films together from 1987 to 1998, both Gibson and Glover had said that they were no longer interested in starring in another installment. However, as we all know, nothing is ever truly finished in Hollywood. Time, money, and an excellent script can often work wonders on even the most resolute stars. The first Lethal Weapon film was also the last time that Black wrote one of the franchise’s screenplays and even today, the film holds up as a landmark effort in the buddy cop formula. And despite (mostly) positive reviews, each successive installment in the series always seemed to be chasing the charm and intensity of the first film.
The constant back and forth over the possibility of another Lethal Weapon had led more than a few fans to abandon hope. After all this time, however, there does once again appear to be a chance that things are on the right track. JoBlo is reporting that during a round table chat with Dan Lin, the veteran Lethal Weapon producer stated that not only are the wheels in motion on a fifth installment but also that Gibson, Glover and Donner are all committed to return. Said Lin:
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We’re trying to make the last Lethal Weapon movie. And Dick Donner’s coming back. The original cast is coming back. And it’s just amazing. The story itself is very personal to him. Mel and Danny are ready to go, so it’s about the script.
Lin’s statement makes it sound as though the production is waiting on the right script. However, way back in 2008, when talk of a fifth Lethal Weapon first began, it was noted that Black had written a new script that completed the series he initially began. It’s hard to say whether it will be Black’s script that is used for Lethal Weapon 5, but fans are certainly going to prefer a script from the famed filmmaker. Given the fact that Richard Donner – who has directed every entry in the series – needs to feel close to the story of Lethal Weapon 5, it’s very difficult to say exactly what that could mean. Fans and critics alike have not been very kind in the past to Lethal Weapon 3 as well as 4, yet Donner had still directed them. Neither of those films was written by Black, meaning that a Black script isn’t a deal breaker for Donner. That being said, a fifth and final Lethal Weapon film at this point feels somewhat insincere and incomplete without Black being on board one last time.
Of course, because of the amount of time that has passed waiting for a fifth Lethal Weapon, even this latest news is bound to be met with cynicism. While that’s completely understandable, this time around the news is different for one major reason: it is the first time that a primary producer has said that things are happening. That still may not mean much to some, but it is indeed a very good sign. Time will once again tell exactly how close we really are to Lethal Weapon 5, but as of right now at least, it feels that things might be on track this time.
