Mel Gibson is ready to return to the Lethal Weapon franchise, as The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Gibson will direct Lethal Weapon 5.
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The latest — and potentially final according to the report — entry in the iconic action movie series was put into limbo after director Richard Donner, who had been behind the camera for all four previous films, passed away in July as he was attempting to get a fifth film off the ground. Lethal Weapon 5 has been in the works for some time now, with Richard Wenk (the Equalizer films) writing the latest draft of the script.
According to the report, Gibson taking over was done so with the blessing of Lauren Shuler Donner, the wife of the late Richard. Dan Lin of Rideback is set to produce the film alongside Shuler Donner, with Gibson also now attached as a producer. During a recent Experience With… event in London on Sunday, Gibson spoke about the news, and mentioned that he and Richard Donner had spoken privately about Gibson potentially taking up the role of director should Donner pass away.
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“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,’” Gibson said (via The Sun). “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.”
