Lethal Weapon 5 director and star Mel Gibson has offered an update on the forthcoming sequel one year after getting a new writer, signaling the film is still underway. The first four entries in the Lethal Weapon franchise were directed by the late Richard Donner, and starred Gibson alongside Danny Glover in action-packed buddy cop adventures. The upcoming Lethal Weapon 5 has been talked about for a long time. The latest update came in April 2023, when it was announced writer Jez Butterworth would be revising the script.

Speaking on the Inspire Me Podcast, Gibson offered a concrete update surrounding Lethal Weapon 5‘s development, indicating the film is still in production.

The actor and director explained how the movie is based on a script Donner wrote for it before he passed away, with some adjustments being made by the new team behind the film. He expresses confidence in the movie as well, signaling it will be a proper sequel. Check out what Gibson had to say below:

I’m going to direct the fifth film in the Lethal Weapon series. You know, Richard Donner, who did the other four, sadly passed away. He was a good friend, and he kind of tasked me with carrying the flag home on that one. It’ll be an honor for me to do that…he had gotten a fair way into the screenplay, so we’ve used what was there, and we kept poking at it, working at it a little. I’m pretty happy with it, it’s good, I had a lot of fun doing it.

It’s funny! But it’s also pretty serious too. It tackles a couple of hard issues. So I’m looking forward to [it].

Why Mel Gibson’s Update Is Great News For Lethal Weapon 5

Lethal Weapon 5 is one of many movies Gibson is working on, but is the one ongoing production he has the most history with. Alongside starring in the original four films opposite Glover, he’s also been involved in the production process for the latest installment since at least 2021, when he was in talks to direct. Since then, his confirmation as the director coupled with him and his co-star’s return to their original roles means the upcoming action film will be a memorable entry for the franchise.

What offers hope the legacy sequel will be good is Gibson’s confirmation that it will be based on a script written by Donner. While the original director died in July 2021, it seems the film’s lead star is planning to honor all the work he’s done by ensuring his ideas make it onto the big screen. Since the actor himself has directed acclaimed films like The Passion of the Christ and Hacksaw Ridge, he’ll fit right into the role, making sure the sequel honors the franchise while also having its own identity.

While there are no details yet about how the Gibson action movie will shape up, the movie seems like it will be the perfect sendoff for the series overall. While Lethal Weapon 5‘s challenges are large, like ensuring it doesn’t rely too much on nostalgia, the vision of its star and director seem to be aligned with what the series’ original director wanted. Since the movie’s script is still being tweaked, it will likely be some time until more concrete news of the sequel comes to fruition.

Source: Inspire Me Podcast/YouTube