Mel Gibson to Direct Mark Wahlberg in Suspense Movie "Flight Risk"

Mel Gibson is returning to the director’s chair for the first time since the 2016 movie "Hacksaw Ridge" with the suspense movie "Flight Risk", starring Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg.

Gibson is helming “Flight Risk” for Lionsgate, which will be taking the project to Cannes. The company acquired the worldwide distribution rights via Lauren Bixby and Christopher Davis, who negotiated on behalf of the studio. 

Davis Entertainment is producing, alongside Gibson and Bruce Davey through their Icon Productions. Alex Lebovici of Hammerstone Studios is serving as executive producer and is financing. Neil Sacker of Sacker Entertainment Law and Alex Lebovici negotiated the deal on behalf of the producers.

The project features Wahlberg as a pilot transporting a dangerous criminal for trial. Additional casting is underway. Pic is based on Jared Rosenberg’s 2020 Blacklist script.

“Flight Risk” will reunite Gibson and Wahlberg after they starred last year in the box office hit "Father Stu" and previously in the "Daddy’s Home" franchise. 

 Gibson has directed five films over a thirty-year span, with each one hitting at the box office.

In 2021, the Oscar-winning Braveheart filmmaker teased that he would return to directing to helm the fifth chapter of the “Lethal Weapon” franchise at an event in London.

“[Franchise director Richard Donner] was developing the screenplay and he got pretty far along with it. And he said to me one day, ‘Listen kid, if I kick the bucket, you will do it.’ And I said: ‘Shut up,’” Gibson said. 

“He did indeed pass away, but he did ask me to do it, and, at the time, I didn’t say anything. He said it to his wife and to the studio and the producer. So, I will be directing the fifth one.”