Mel Gibson Confirms That He’ll Direct LETHAL WEAPON 5
A few years ago Movies In Focus spoke with the great Richard Donner about the long-gestating fifth entry in the Lethal Weapon franchise. It looked like the film was close to getting made, but sadly the director passed away in June 2021, casting doubt on the film ever hitting the screen.
However, Gibson was recently in London for the Q&A event, An Experience With Mel Gibson and he announced that he will take over directing duties on the film.
“The man who directed all the Lethal films, Richard Donner, he was a big guy. 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.’ 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.”
Donner was Gibson’s friend and mentor and the pair made six movies together – Lethal Weapon and its three sequels and Maverick and Conspiracy Theory. Mel Gibson is an outstanding (and Academy Award winning) director in his own right, having helmed The Man Without A Face, Braveheart, The Passion Of The Christ, Apocalypto and Hacksaw Ridge.
It’s fitting that Gibson will now direct Lethal Weapon 5 – a franchise which always had friendship and family at its core.
Keep reading Movies In Focus for more news on Lethal Weapon 5.
Source: The Sun
