Mel Gibson passes on Lethal Weapon 5

[Brian Damage]

Sad news folks. Mel Gibson has walked away from “Lethal Weapon 5” As of last week, a “Lethal Weapon 5” was supposedly being fast-tracked at Warner Bros with Producer Joel Silver going so far as to begin casting some of the secondary roles (Columbus Short had been recruited to play Martaugh’s son). Shane Black, who wrote the also wrote the first film, was all but signed on to direct.

According to Richard Donner, director of the first four “Lethal Weapon” films, Gibson has passed on the project. The filmmaker would like to think it’s because he wasn’t involved.

‘’Knowing Mel, I would like to think that. Would that be the kind of thing he does? It sure would be”, the veteran filmmaker told The L.A Times.

Donner, who came up with his own “Lethal Weapon 5” idea at one stage, is as probably as proud as punch that the film has fallen apart – after all, he was ousted from the franchise he helped create.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/hero...rd-donner.html