Mel Gibson Directs Lethal Weapon 5

Mel Gibson has provided a new update on the long-awaited action sequel, Lethal Weapon 5, confirming his intention to direct the project. Gibson stated that he plans to direct the film, five years after he first announced his potential involvement. He shared that the script for Lethal Weapon 5 is a self-contained story, though it references the previous installments in minor ways. The characters are depicted as older, with one detective retired and the other assigned to a desk job due to increasing age and weight.

Gibson indicated that the film will adopt a low-tech approach, eschewing large explosions in favor of maintaining the energy and drive of a big action movie. The focus will be more on the characters themselves rather than complex plotlines. Richard Donner, who directed the first four Lethal Weapon films, had reportedly asked Gibson to take over directing duties for a potential fifth installment before his death in 2021.

Gibson collaborated with screenwriter Richard Wenk on the script, aiming to capture Donner's directorial sensibility. However, production has been stalled due to behind-the-scenes issues at Warner Bros., including the studio's merger. Gibson hopes that the ongoing merger might allow Lethal Weapon 5 to finally move forward, potentially seeing release in about a year.