Mel Gibson might have questionable tastes when it comes to religion, politics and hairdressing, but you can’t deny the man one thing.
And that’s that he definitely knows when he’s too old for something. Like Lethal Weapon 5, for example. There had been talk that a Lethal Weapon 5 script was written and ready to go, and that everything hinged on Mel Gibson’s approval but, according to director Richard Donner, Mel Gibson wants nothing to do with it.
So that’s that – there absolutely isn’t going to be a Lethal Weapon 5. We can therefore rule Mel Gibson out of making any belated sequels to his movies from now on. Unless he got our script for What Women Want 2, that is. We think it’d be right up Mel Gibson’s alley because, in this one, the thing that women want is the extermination of the Jews.
It’s easy to be hard on Mel Gibson, for his alcoholism and his crazy views about Jewish people and the way that all his films are basically gory splatterfests that people only go and see because they’re about Jesus. But you have to admit that Mel Gibson won’t do anything for money.
Given that every action movie you loved as a youngster – and some that you didn’t love at all – has made a comeback in some form or another, attention has naturally been turning to Mel Gibson lately. He’s just got so many movies that deserve a belated sequel that one has to be made at some point – face it, you’d go and watch Mad Max 4: Beyond The Thunderdome Left At The Lights And Just Past B&Q or The Man Without A Face 2: The Man Without An Arse.
But the real hot prospect was seeing Mel Gibson star in Lethal Weapon 5. Everything was lined up – Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black had written the script and was all set to direct it. All that was needed was for Mel Gibson to give the nod and Lethal Weapon 5 would be rushed into production at the speed of light.
But it’s not to be. According to Richard Donner – the director of Lethal Weapon 1 – 4 and a man who obviously isn’t bitter at all not to be asked back – Mel Gibson isn’t having anything to do with it. The LA Times reports:
“Mel turned it down,” Donner said. “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.”
In a way it’s sad that there’ll be no Lethal Weapon 5. Not because we hold any particular interest in it, but because we’re fascinated to see what it’s like. After all, Lethal Weapon was good, Lethal Weapon 2 was bad, Lethal Weapon 3 was really bad and Lethal Weapon 4 was awful. If that pattern holds then people would have had to think up a new word to describe exactly how bad Lethal Weapon 5 is.
But perhaps Mel Gibson wasn’t swayed by Richard Donner’s lack of participation in Lethal Weapon 5. Perhaps the fact that Shane Black had written in some younger characters to do all the legwork in the movie offended Mel Gibson’s sense of vitality.
Or perhaps it was the fact that Lethal Weapon-style movies just aren’t Mel Gibson’s cup of tea any more. Would Mel have given the go-ahead if Lethal Weapon 5 was about him and Danny Glover graphically torturing Joe Pesci‘s eyes out in slow motion while speaking in a made-up language? Almost certainly yes.
wilberforce says
Lethal Weapon 1 was awesome. Lethal Weapon 2 was more awesome. Lethal Weapon 3 was most more awesome, and Lethal Weapon 4 was the awsomest of all. I would rip my face off with a Cheese Grater for a 5th movie.
Stuart Heritage says
Wilberforce, I love you
Eugene says
To quote from Lethal Weapon 1 through 4:
“I’m too old for this shit!”
ScreenRant.com says
I happen to like Gibson, but I’m not tearful about this news… did anyone really want to see this film?
Vic
ScreenRant.com says
Oops, sorry. I mean besides the two fellas above me. :-P
Vic
Dermot Muncher says
1 and 2 were good. apart from patsy kensits acting.
In fact,thats got to be the worse fall from Grace EVER!,From Lethal Weapon 2 to emmerdale!!!
rtbruce says
all 4 films were great but i dont think we need to see another one they ended it well with the 4th so lets just keep it as a happy part of our dvd collections we bring out on rainy days
Rob says
all 4 Films were great, i cant understand those who say that 3 And 4 Were Rubbish. I am very disapointed to here that Leathal Weapon 5 Will not happen. Shame on you Gibson.