Mel Gibson Says Lethal Weapon 5 Could "Be the Best One Yet"

It’s been nearly 30 years since Mel Gibson and Danny Glover last teamed up as Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, but fans of the Lethal Weapon franchise may finally have a reason to get excited.

Gibson recently shared an update on the long-discussed fifth movie, and he has some pretty big opinions about the script.

The actor, who is expected to direct the film, says he believes the new screenplay could actually be better than the previous four movies. The story was developed with writer Richard Wenk, and Gibson says they approached it with one question in mind: What would original director Richard Donner have done?

Donner, who directed the original films and died in 2021, had reportedly wanted Gibson to take over the franchise. Gibson says Donner even asked him before his death if he would direct the next movie.

So, what's the new movie about?

Don't expect Lethal Weapon 5 to simply recycle the same formula with bigger explosions.

Gibson says the new story is much more focused on the characters. Riggs and Murtaugh are older now, with one retired and the other stuck behind a desk. There will still be action, but Gibson says it won't be all massive explosions and elaborate set pieces.

Instead, the movie will reportedly lean more into the relationship between the characters and where they are in life after all these years.

And yes, Danny Glover is expected to return as Murtaugh.

The original Lethal Weapon hit theatres in 1987, followed by three sequels in 1989, 1992 and 1998. So if this movie actually happens, we'll be seeing Riggs and Murtaugh back together almost 40 years after the original.

So what's taking so long?

Apparently, getting the movie made has been almost as complicated as one of Riggs and Murtaugh's cases.

Gibson says the script is finished, but the project has been stuck in what he described as a kind of Hollywood limbo because of changes happening behind the scenes at the studio.

He remains hopeful that the situation will eventually be sorted out and that production could potentially move forward within the next year or so.

For now, there's no official release date, but after decades of waiting, Lethal Weapon fans may finally be getting their next dose of “I'm too old for this…” energy.