Lethal Weapon 5 is a No Go
After all the promising news we’ve been hearing about Lethal Weapon 5 finally coming together (including a screenplay from original Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black), it appears that the project has hit a pretty major snag. The L.A. Times reports that Mel Gibson has turned it down, and Richard Donner claims it’s all because he (the director of the first four movies) was not asked to be involved.
“I would like to think that Mel turned it down because I wasn’t involved. Knowing Mel, I would like to think that. Would that be the kind of thing he does? It sure would be… Yes, the project is pretty much dead in the water unless someone had the sense to come to me.”
Well he sounds pretty smug, now doesn’t he? Apparently Donner had his own concept for a sequel that he had proposed a while back, but producer Joel Silver waited for his contract to expire in order to cut him out of the proceedings. Who knows if the project will ever get off the ground at this point, but it did seem a little odd to me that Gibson would actually be interested in a part 5. Sure there have been plenty of other 20-year-old action franchises coming back from the grave lately, but let’s not forget this is the same guy who most recently directed The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto. I think we can safely assume he doesn’t need the cash, and on top of that, his mind is in a pretty different place as of late. Well, I know I won’t lose any sleep over the lack of a Lethal Weapon 5… will you?
Comments (8)
Thank god…
Posted by Derek on October 14th, 2008Without the original director/music composer, it would have not felt the same. I think L.W.4. ended the franchise just fine.( Riggs was gettin too old for this shit and ended up bein a father, and Murtah was gonna be a grandfather and was supposed to retire during L.W.3.) Die Hard 4
Lethal Weapon 4
Rambo 4
I heard the film caught a snag after Mel Gibson backed out because producers nixed a crucifixion/drawing & quartering scene involving Detective Riggs.
Posted by Joel on October 14th, 2008I’m glad this is a no go. I could care less if Glover ever appears in another film. Something about the guy just pisses me off.
Posted by Chris B on October 14th, 2008I won’t lose any sleep over this but it would have been nice to see it none the less, especially with Black writing.
Posted by swarez on October 14th, 2008They are indeed too old now. Plus, I hope Mel stays behind the lens for another movie. Best actor-turned-director ever?
Posted by Ryan M. on October 14th, 2008“Best actor-turned-director ever?”
Clint Eastwood.
Posted by ottobud on October 14th, 2008I know Donner’s quote isn’t the most humble, but I think it just didn’t translate well on the page. He’s just not that kind of guy. I think it’s more an issue of his sense of humor. The man’s jokes are pretty dry that may sound dick-ish in writing, but in person, he tends to pull legs pretty hard with a straight face.
Posted by Mike on October 15th, 2008This is one of the franchises that I actually wouldn’t mind seeing on the screen again…
But I do hate Danny Glover, and Mel Gibson isn’t exactly the star he once was…
It’s a wash. No big loss, I guess.
Posted by Jon Rocks on October 15th, 2008Leave a Reply