One of the most popular and influential buddy cop franchises is apparently returning. Mel Gibson has officially announced thatLethal Weapon 5is in the works and that he will also be directing the sequel toWarner Bros.' successful action franchise.
Gibson revealed that he will return as police officer Martin Riggs inLethal Weapon 5, but this time he will be behind the camera as well. The long-awaited project was postponed following the passing of Richard Donner, the talented filmmaker behind all ofWarner Bros.‘Lethal Weaponfilms as well as blockbusters likeChristopher Reeve’sSupermanandThe Goonies.Donner had been working on a fifth installment for many years, withThe Equalizer’s Richard Wenk writing the latest draft.
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Reports indicate that the changing of directors had been in the works for months and was finally set in motion by Richard Donner’s wife, Lauren Shuler Donner. While speaking at anExperience With…event, Gibson shared that Donner “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 further added, “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.” While no plot details have been announced, the film is hinted to be the finale oftheLethal Weaponfranchise.
TheLethal Weaponfilms would eventually become some of the most iconic films in the 1980s/1990s, especially for the buddy cop sub-genre. The franchise follows two mismatched detectives, one being an everyday family man and the other a former Green Beret who’s become suicidal after losing his wife, as they work together to bring down crime in Los Angeles. After starring alongside Danny Glover in the 1987 film that launched the franchise, Gibson immediately became a Hollywood star in the U.S. after already gaining recognition for his Australian roles in projects likeGeorge Miller’sMad Maxfilms.
Gibson would then find much success as a director, as his Best Picture-winningBraveheartand other acclaimed films such asThe Passion of the Christ,Apocalypto, andHacksaw Ridgewould cement Gibson as one of the top filmmakers to look out for in Hollywood. Of course, Gibson’s star fell in the eyes of many after several instances of him making racist and/or anti-Semitic statements.
The hitLethal Weaponfilms also brought much attention to writer Shane Black, who became known for wrapping darker comedic elements in a buddy cop story (as seen in a few of hisfeature films such asThe Nice Guys). There have been attempts to reboot theLethal Weaponfranchise, with Warner Bros. creating a TV series that lasted for three years on the FOX network.
Lethal Weapon 5is in early development.
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