Mel Gibson Offers Lethal Weapon 5 Update: "It's the Chicken or the Egg" (Exclusive)

As a long-time fan of the Lethal Weapon series and Mel Gibson’s impressive filmography, I find myself both excited and intrigued by the prospect of the Aussie action star stepping behind the camera for a sequel to this iconic franchise. Gibson’s directorial skills were evident in his Academy Award-winning masterpiece Braveheart, and while it’s been over a decade since he last helmed a film, I have faith that he can deliver a worthy successor to Lethal Weapon.

Despite persistent speculation, filmmaker Richard Donner never managed to produce a fifth Lethal Weapon film during his lifetime. After his passing, instead of abandoning the concept altogether, lead actor Mel Gibson opted to try his hand at directing a sequel for the series that originally spanned from 1987 to 1998. Notably, Gibson has won both Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for 1995’s Braveheart, and although he has directed only one film in the last decade (2016’s Hacksaw Ridge), he is now eager to work on the new Lethal Weapon installment as well as a continuation of The Passion of the Christ, his hit movie about Jesus’ crucifixion which grossed over $600 million and held the record for highest-grossing R-rated film at the domestic box office until Deadpool & Wolverine.

For both projects – ‘The Passion of the Christ’ sequel and ‘Lethal Weapon’ reboot – there are a couple of challenges. The age factor might be an issue for Jim Caviezel, as 20 years have passed since ‘The Passion’. To make the sequel believable, they would want Caviezel to look similar to his 2004 self, which could be difficult due to aging. On the other hand, Mel Gibson doesn’t entirely own ‘Lethal Weapon’, so securing approval for a reboot might be tough. As for the release order, neither Gibson nor anyone else knows for sure at this point.

Gibson shared with ComicBook, “I honestly have no idea, and here’s the irony: there are countless factors that can hinder a film’s production, not just financial ones. There are a million reasons why something succeeds or fails. So, it’s basically a game of chance at this point which issue will surface first.

It appears that despite recognizing the difficulties, it seems like Gibson intends to proceed with work on both movies.

More recently, Gibson has been active in mainstream filmmaking again, following a period where he was largely unemployable in the mid-2000s. During a traffic stop, a visibly intoxicated Gibson made inflammatory remarks about “the Jews,” which further fueled criticisms that his portrayal of Jewish characters in The Passion of the Christ was not free from prejudice. Shortly after this incident, a series of personal scandals surfaced, such as leaked audio revealing him speaking harshly and using racially insensitive language towards his then-girlfriend.

As a devoted admirer looking back, it’s clear that Mel Gibson faced more than just the public shame of his offensive remarks. He also grappled with the repercussions of a violent altercation that led to a conviction. This complicated history made him a tough proposition for producers and insurance companies. However, in recent times, he has managed to secure roles in notable mainstream films and TV series, such as Lionsgate’s “John Wick” spinoff, “The Continental.

2024-09-25 23:09

Mel Gibson Offers Lethal Weapon 5 Update: “It’s the Chicken or the Egg” (Exclusive)

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