I think that it’s well known around these parts that I’m a big supporter of Mel Gibson (let’s not get into his views, the guy is a movie star), and that I love Richard Donner’s movies. I also love the work of Shane Black - that guy knew how to pen a witty action movie. If you don’t know, check out Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Last Boy Scout.
And now news has come in that Shane Black, writer of the original Lethal Weapon film, has apparently penned a fifth installment of the action series. Allegedly he has shown the script to producer Joel Silver (Speed Racer) and both Danny Glover and Mad Mel are interested in returning to their signature roles!
This is great news - but is it really going to happen?
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Acoording to Tracking B.com (via Comingsoon) :
“Riggs (Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.”
It sounds like a pretty darn cool concept (considering that in the series Murtaugh would now be in his seventies), but will Gibson and Glover really be interested in returning to the franchise? Over the years they’ve both said that they’d never make another Lethal Weapon.
Never say never, and money talks (gee two movie titles in one sentence) in Hollywood.
All of the people named above need a commercial hit, so there is a chance that they might return to the well one last time. Warner Bros. knows that old franchises die hard, and the last few years have shown that you can squeeze an extra few hundred million from an aging icon.
There’s no word on Joe Pesci, Rene Russo or Chris Rock returning, and considering that they weren’t in Black’s original film they may not. Could their characters’ deaths be the reason that Mel is a Lethal Weapon once more?
I know what you’re thinking. What about Dick?
Well, in my eyes Richard “Dick” Donner is the heart and soul of Lethal Weapon, so we need Dick on-board. Now more than ever considering co-composer Michael Kamen’s passing. However, a few years ago Silver and Donner had a falling out, but pray that a reunion is on the cards. Hear that Mel? Pray!
“What about cost ?” I hear you scream from the peanut gallery!
Well… Lethal Weapon 4 cost $150 million back in 1998 and that was mostly due to salary demands. Joe Pesci (home) alone got $12 million for the action flick, while Gibbo got about $35 million - praise the Lord! So a streamlined cast may be the way to go.
Treat this all as rumor for the moment… but pray people: Forget The Goonies 2, we want a Lethal Weapon 5.
Why?
’cause it’s better than a remake and more fun that a special effects laden CGI fest!
More when (and if) we get it.
Sources: Tracking B.com and Comingsoon
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7 Comments
I really loved Lethal Weapon 4…and it brought to us Jet Li
I would also love a sequel, the salary for Glover would be so little nowadays and I’m sure Mel wouldn’t need a high salary either with what’s been going on with him these last 2 years. It would be a good idea to have a propper closing movie to the series and perhaps set some stuff up for a new take on the franchise with new younger actors?
I wouldn’t be a fan of this film focusing on new character but I can definately see the studio wanting to keep the franchise going with some new stars
Oceans 13 cut some casting baggage (the ladies) pretty smoothly, so I don’t see why they couldn’t drop Rock, Russo, or Pesci without having to kill them off.
I loved the first one, the second one was good, I forget the third one, and the fourth was fun in the sense that it was like hanging with old friends, but was kinda meh all around.
They need to get rid of all the extra characters, because it’s bogging everything down. Back to basics! Dick, Shane, Mel and Danny!!
heath
Burnt Offerings ! I say !!
Niall, I share you love for the first 2 Leathal Weapon films but 3 and especally 4, sucked hard.
I really can’t see Gibson’s character still struggling with his suicidal issues, that’s what made the first and second films for me anyway.
This sounds just as stupid Goonies 2,,,
Good god this would be pointless UNLESS they do a prequel and de-age the main characters like they did with Xavier and Magneto in X-Men 3 lol
It’s been 10 years since four came out. You would think after all this time, and this being the 5th movie they would do a remake. One and two have spots in my library but 3&4 don’t, if that tells you anything.
…hmmm, not only Murtaugh, but the whole cast can chime in with “I’m too old for this [shizz].” Ugh, I suppose with the original screenwriter, another installment could work, but not if the script (and plot) is going to seem half improv-ed like part IV. As others have said, it’s become too cast-heavy and too chummy. It’s the fireworks between Raj and Martin that made part I work so well.
If this is going to seem remotely interesting, they have to let Mad Mel off the chain; in especially IV, Riggs seemed so domesticated and tamed, it might as well have been “Lapdog Weapon.”
What's your opinion? Leave a comment!