Mel Gibson says the long‑awaited Lethal Weapon 5 is still alive — but it will look and feel different from the blockbuster cop thrillers of the past. In a new interview at Fan Expo Boston, Gibson outlined a pared‑back, character‑driven sequel and explained why studio politics, not creative problems, are the main obstacle to getting the film made now.
Speaking with Collider, Gibson described a quieter story that focuses on two aging partners rather than the franchise’s typical spectacle. One character has stepped away from frontline duty, the other is stuck in a desk role, and the action is built around human stakes rather than large‑scale set pieces. He said the movie keeps the franchise’s energy but moves away from elaborate, high‑tech mayhem.
What the new film would be like
Gibson emphasized that the project won’t simply rehash old beats. The script nods to earlier entries only sparingly and aims to stand on its own as a fresh chapter for these characters. He compared a key action sequence to a car chase in spirit — fast and kinetic — but executed on foot, making it more intimate and easier to film.
He also reiterated his interest in taking the director’s chair. According to Gibson, original director Richard Donner had privately encouraged him to be ready to step in; after Donner’s death, colleagues urged Gibson to follow through on that promise. Gibson said he would “absolutely” want to direct, both as a tribute to Donner and to preserve the series’ tone.
Why production is stalled
The snag isn’t the script. Gibson says he and writer Richard Wenk finished a draft that was informed by Donner’s late work — Donner had been sketching the fifth movie into his 90s — and that the team tried to honor what Donner might have done. Yet the film remains trapped by studio complications.
Gibson pointed to corporate turbulence at Warner Bros. as the immediate reason production never moved forward, and he suggested the situation could change if industry ownership shifts. He mentioned David Ellison and potential consolidation with Paramount as one path that might free the project from its current limbo, predicting that things could move within “about a year or so” if corporate decisions fall that way.
- Tone: More focused on characters and relationships than on large‑scale stunts.
- Action: Tighter sequences — e.g., a foot pursuit shot with the momentum of a car chase.
- Creative team: Gibson and Richard Wenk completed the script; Donner contributed earlier notes.
- Current status: Script ready but production delayed by studio ownership issues.
- Timeline: Possible revival depends on corporate moves; Gibson estimates a hopeful window of roughly a year if studios resolve the matter.
For fans, the update matters because it frames what to expect: a nostalgia‑tinged but self‑contained film that leans on performance and momentum rather than spectacle. It also offers a rare, candid look at how mergers and executive decisions can stall a project even when the creative work is finished.
The original Lethal Weapon, released in 1987 and directed by Donner from a Shane Black script, launched a series that included three sequels and inspired a short‑run television adaptation. Gibson’s recent comments signal that while the franchise is evolving with its characters, its future release still hinges more on studio boardrooms than on the movies’ makers.
Similar Posts
- Sorcerer Supreme #8 unveils colossal cannon: stakes escalate
- Westworld revival hopes dashed after latest update makes comeback unlikely
- Treasure Island nets powerhouse trio: Hugh Jackman, Ridley Scott and Jack Thorne sign on
- Richard Pryor biopic underway: film draws on daughter Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor’s memoir
- Josie & the Pussycats sequel: Rachael Leigh Cook says cult fandom could revive the film
Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.