Lethal Weapon 5 Has A Director, Is The Last Film In The Franchise
Lethal Weapon 5 is actually happening and here's what we know.
This article is more than 2 years old
Lethal Weapon 5 seems like it would be a pipe dream at this point. The film series has been dormant for over 20 years. There was that television show that managed to last for three seasons but it does not seem to have made a significant impact in pop culture. Instead, it looks like we could be getting a legitimate sequel to the long-running movie franchise and there are some pretty big developments as far as that is concerned.
First and foremost, Lethal Weapon 5 has a director and it’s none other than the man that started it all: Richard Donner. In an interview with The Telegraph, Donner confirms that he will be directing the picture and that he is about to start prepping for the beginning of production. And though it should probably go without saying, Donner is adamant that this will be the final installment. “This is the final one,” Donner said. “It’s both my privilege and duty to put it to bed. It’s exciting, actually….Hahaha! It’s the last one, I’ll promise you that.”
It is kind of incredible that we will actually be getting Lethal Weapon 5. Even though Mel Gibson has continued on with his career, he has certainly been the center of a lot of controversy over the years. It will be interesting to see if his inclusion in this belated sequel will dredge up more of that negative press. More than that, it will be great to see Danny Glover on the big screen once again. There is no question that he will have to say his classic line, “I’m too old for this shit,” and it will be more true than ever.
One has to wonder if the sequel will even be called Lethal Weapon 5. So many sequels these days have decided to forego any numbering in their titles. For a very similar example, look at how Scream 5 just decided to drop the number entirely and simply call itself Scream. There is a very good chance that the same tactic could be used for this newest installment in the Lethal Weapon franchise. It helps make new viewers feel less outside of the series. It also makes things a little more confusing when trying to talk about the franchise.
Lethal Weapon 5 would at least offer the opportunity to leave the series on a potential high note. Lethal Weapon 4 is widely viewed as the weakest entry in the franchise and for good reason. It’s a limp installment that failed to capture the magic of the original. And although some people have gone ahead and made their own version of the fifth film, it would be nice for fans of the series to see things end in a much better way. As it stands, the series could use a greater sendoff.
We will have to see if Lethal Weapon 5 actually does make it in front of cameras. With productions constantly getting shut down because of the pandemic, anything could get canned at a moment’s notice. We will be keeping our fingers crossed on this one.
