According to the folks over at Moviehole.com, the previously reported fifth installment to the Lethal Weapon franchise machine is dead.
Screenwriter Shane Black (who’d written a draft of the film; one he was expected to direct himself), spoke with Moviehole and said that he didn’t believe the film will ever happen now.
Black, who also penned the original film, refused to say why he didn't believe it'll ever happen but just that he can't see it coming to fruition.
According to reports, the final nail in the coffin was smacked in by the hammer of Mel Gibson, who decided, despite being open to a meeting about another sequel to his 1987 hit, that he didn’t really want to wear the mullet again. (Other sources say Gibson refused to do it because Richard Donner, director of the previous “Lethal” films, had not been asked back). Producer Joel Silver is reportedly still trying to coax him into it - but Gibson won't answer the call.
A contact at Warner Bros agreed with Black, saying “That one is as good as dead. It won’t happen. Which is a pity” he said, adding that Black’s screenplay – which reportedly involved Riggs and Martaugh teaming with the latter detective’s grown-up son, now also a copper, to catch a scumbag, was “fabulous. A much better send off than (LW4)”.
Richard Donner, director of the first four “Lethal Weapon” movies, apparently has his own screenplay for a fifth movie ready-to-go, but unless he can convince Mel Gibson to attach himself to it, it’s unlikely that’ll get any further than a laser printer either. Donner and Gibson are expected to reunite for a new movie this year, so chances are the conversation will come up.
Screenwriter Shane Black (who’d written a draft of the film; one he was expected to direct himself), spoke with Moviehole and said that he didn’t believe the film will ever happen now.
Black, who also penned the original film, refused to say why he didn't believe it'll ever happen but just that he can't see it coming to fruition.
According to reports, the final nail in the coffin was smacked in by the hammer of Mel Gibson, who decided, despite being open to a meeting about another sequel to his 1987 hit, that he didn’t really want to wear the mullet again. (Other sources say Gibson refused to do it because Richard Donner, director of the previous “Lethal” films, had not been asked back). Producer Joel Silver is reportedly still trying to coax him into it - but Gibson won't answer the call.
A contact at Warner Bros agreed with Black, saying “That one is as good as dead. It won’t happen. Which is a pity” he said, adding that Black’s screenplay – which reportedly involved Riggs and Martaugh teaming with the latter detective’s grown-up son, now also a copper, to catch a scumbag, was “fabulous. A much better send off than (LW4)”.
Richard Donner, director of the first four “Lethal Weapon” movies, apparently has his own screenplay for a fifth movie ready-to-go, but unless he can convince Mel Gibson to attach himself to it, it’s unlikely that’ll get any further than a laser printer either. Donner and Gibson are expected to reunite for a new movie this year, so chances are the conversation will come up.
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