Mel Gibson to Direct "Lethal Weapon 5"

Hollywood star Mel Gibson will be stepping behind the camera to direct the much-anticipated fifth installment of the Lethal Weapon franchise. 

Speaking on the Inspire Me podcast, Gibson shared details about his role in the iconic franchise, following the passing of legendary director Richard Donner. 

Donner, who helmed the first four movies, left an indelible mark on the action genre with the Lethal Weapon franchise. 

Gibson’s decision to direct the fifth entry is a tribute to his late friend and mentor, ensuring that Donner's vision and influence will continue in this new chapter. 

"I'm gonna direct the fifth film in the Lethal Weapon series," Gibson said. "Richard Donner, who did the other four, sadly passed away and he was a good friend, and he kind of tasked me with carrying the flag home on that one. So it'll be an honor for me to do that." 

The iconic actor-director delved into the process of developing the screenplay, which Donner had begun before his passing. "He had gotten a fair way into writing the screenplay and we've used what was there. We kept kind of poking at it, working it and I'm pretty happy with it, it's good, I had a lot of fun doing it," Gibson added.

The Lethal Weapon movies are known for their perfect blend of humor and high-stakes drama, making it beloved by fans worldwide, and it appears the fifth movie will stay true to the spirit of its predecessors. "It's funny, but it's also pretty serious too, it tackles a couple of hard issues so I'm looking forward to it," Gibson noted. 

The Lethal Weapon franchise, starring Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs and Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, has been a staple of the action genre since its debut in 1987. With memorable catchphrases and a dynamic duo at its core, the movies have grossed over $900 million worldwide.