- Primary Subject: Lethal Weapon 5 / Mel Gibson update
- Key Update: Mel Gibson revealed that a completed Lethal Weapon 5 script exists, but development remains stalled.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Lethal Weapon 5 is still planned with Mel Gibson directing, but filming is delayed indefinitely while waiting for studio corporate politics and mergers to settle.
Mel Gibson recently shared a new update on the development of the long-gestated fifth installment in the Lethal Weapon franchise.
It's been almost 30 years since the fourth film was released, and yet to this day, there are still attempts to revive the action franchise and continue the adventures of Riggs and Murtaugh in the modern day. However, there is still no movement on the project, and fans are wondering whether the planned legacy sequel will still happen.
Is Lethal Weapon 5 Still in the Works?
Speaking recently at Fan Expo Boston, Mel Gibson shared an update on the development of the fifth Lethal Weapon movie and whether there are still plans to produce it.
He shared that a screenplay has already been written, and he is still planning to direct the installment, aside from just reprising the role of Riggs.
"[Richard] Donner realized it. I think he did all of those films, and sadly he’s passed away. But he sort of knew what he had, and Shane Black wrote a good script. It was timely, you know. It was ’80s. We were used to these tough guys on film who kind of had it all together, but they were tough and two-dimensional in a lot of ways," Gibson said.
"So this one was better because the main protagonists in the story both had kind of vulnerabilities, and one was crazy, and the other was scared, and it went a little deeper than the usual action flick."
The actor cited studio politics and the pending merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount as the reason why the project remains stuck in development hell.
"Richard Wenk and I finished the script, and we were going to go into production, but it just never got the wheels under it," Gibson shared.
"I think Warner’s got into some quicksand at that time… so it got buried somewhere, and now I think this David Ellison guy over at Paramount has absorbed or will absorb Warners, or it looks like he will. And maybe, maybe they’ll take the chains off that one, and you might see that in another year or so."
For now, it looks like the planned fifth movie won't begin filming anytime soon, but Gibson's remarks suggested the project is still alive and they intend to do it as soon as possible. Let's wait and see whether it will finally receive a green light.
The History of the Lethal Weapon Franchise
Lethal Weapon stands as one of action cinema's definitive buddy-cop sagas. The franchise revolves around a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives: the unhinged, unpredictable Martin Riggs and the cautious, world-weary Roger Murtaugh. Between 1987 and 1998, director Richard Donner helmed four hit feature films that kept the core cast intact while helping cement the duo into pop culture history.
While the original 1987 film took a grittier, more dramatic approach to the action genre, subsequent entries shifted toward a lighter, comedy-infused formula. This blend of high-octane thrills and banter proved to be a massive commercial powerhouse, generating over $2 billion in combined box-office and merchandising revenue during its theatrical run. Decades later, the core premise was adapted for a new generation via a TV series version that aired from 2016 to 2019.
Despite long gaps between projects, the franchise's footprint remains firmly established. Plans for a fifth feature film have been actively discussed and kept in development for the last several years, reflecting enduring audience affection for the legendary LAPD partnership.
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