Movies Mel Gibson is in talks to direct Lethal Weapon 5 The long-gestating project would be the franchise's first film in more than 20 years. By Oliver Gettell Oliver Gettell Senior news editor, EW.com EW's editorial guidelines Published on November 15, 2021 07:49PM EST It looks like Mel Gibson is returning to the Lethal Weapon franchise, and pulling double duty this time. The actor and filmmaker, who starred in the first four films in the buddy cop series alongside Danny Glover, is in talks to direct the long-gestating Lethal Weapon 5, EW has confirmed. Gibson, 65, would follow in the footsteps of Richard Donner, who helmed the previous installments and died in July. "[Donner] was developing the screenplay and he got pretty far along with it," Gibson said at an event in London over the weekend, per The Sun. "And he said to me one day, 'Listen kid, if I kick the bucket you will do it.' And I said: 'Shut up.'" He continued: "But 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." Mel Gibson. Dan MacMedan/WireImage The first Lethal Weapon movie was released by Warner Bros. in 1987 and helped boost the profiles of Gibson and screenwriter Shane Black. Gibson played a reckless LAPD detective paired with a by-the-book partner (Glover). The movie spawned three sequels and a TV adaptation (which starred Clayne Crawford and Damon Wayans). Gibson's other upcoming screen projects include the John Wick prequel series The Continental. With reporting from Jethro Nededog. Related content: Mel Gibson joins John Wick prequel series The Continental Lethal Weapon 5 still in the works Fox cancels Lethal Weapon after 3 seasons (and plenty of behind-the-scenes turmoil)