Mel Gibson Says Lethal Weapon 5 Script Is Best in Franchise

Mel Gibson says the completed script for Lethal Weapon 5 is the best in the franchise, but the long-awaited sequel remains trapped in what he calls "industrial film hell" due to studio complications. The actor and potential director shared the update during a panel at Fan Expo Boston, revealing that he and screenwriter Richard Wenk finished the screenplay following the death of original director Richard Donner in 2021.

Gibson, who plays Detective Martin Riggs in the buddy-cop series, explained that Donner had been developing a fifth film before his passing at age 91. After Donner's death, Gibson and Wenk completed the script with a guiding principle: "What would Donner do?" Gibson expressed strong confidence in the result, stating, "I think that the fifth script is better than all of the others."

The project's current limbo is attributed to ongoing studio shifts. Gibson indicated that the film was ready to enter production but stalled amid challenges at Warner Bros. He suggested that a potential resolution could come from the anticipated acquisition of Warner Bros. by Paramount under David Ellison. "Maybe they'll take the chains off that one, and you might see that in another...