Mel Gibson to Direct and Star in Lethal Weapon 5

Mel Gibson has provided new details on the long-delayed fifth installment of the Lethal Weapon franchise, confirming that he will direct the film and reprise his role as police officer Martin Riggs alongside Danny Glover, according to reporting from Deadline and 20minutes.fr.

Speaking at Fan Expo in Boston, the actor and filmmaker shared updates on a project that many believed was abandoned following the death of original director Richard Donner in 2021, as reported by Deadline. Gibson, 70, stated that a script has been finalized in collaboration with writer Richard Wenk. The screenplay was designed to honor the vision of the late director, with Gibson noting that the creative team sat in a room and asked what Donner would have done.

According to 20minutes.fr, Gibson expressed confidence in the new script, telling Deadline that he believes the fifth screenplay surpasses all of the previous films in the franchise.

Mel Gibson, via Deadline and 20minutes.fr

Production Style and Plot Details

Production plans for the upcoming film emphasize character-driven storytelling over massive computer-generated effects, drawing on what Gibson described as a low-tech approach to action. In the narrative framework outlined by Gibson, Murtaugh will be retired, while Riggs—relegated to a desk job—will have gained weight.

Action sequences will lean away from modern cinematic excess in favor of grounded, physical intensity. According to 20minutes.fr, Gibson detailed plans for a foot chase filmed with the energy and tension typically reserved for car chases, summarizing the production philosophy as less clutter and more grit.

Industry Hurdles and Development Delays

Despite having a completed script, the project has faced prolonged setbacks within the studio system. Gibson described the delays to Deadline by characterizing the internal shifts at Warner Bros. as industrial quicksands, pointing to corporate restructuring as the primary obstacle keeping the production sidelined.

While Gibson maintains several projects in development, he expressed hope that the studio will ultimately clear the path to bring the latest Lethal Weapon installment to the screen alongside Glover.