Mel Gibson Confirms He Will Direct Lethal Weapon 5

It was reported back in November that Mel Gibson would step into the director’s chair to helm Lethal Weapon 5 after the passing of original series director Richard Donner. Gibson said at the time Donner asked him to take over before his death. In an interview with ET (via Joblo), Gibson confirmed that he will direct the sequel, the first in the series since 1998. The most recent script was written by Richard Wenk.

He said: “Yeah, I am directing that. I’m really looking forward to it. I wish I wasn’t directing it. I wish Richard Donner was still here to do it but left us untimely, and he actually asked me, he said ‘Hey kid, if I don’t make it, you’ll take the reins, huh?’ I told him to shut up. I think it’s an honor for me to be able to carry the flag for him. I called Danny [Glover] up, of course, and said ‘Hey, dude, is it okay with you if I direct this?’ He said yeah, let’s go. I know Danny’s going to pull it off real well, too. He’s kind of like the show pony in this one.”

This seems to confirm that Riggs (Gibson) and Murtagh (Glover) will return as well. There’s no word on any other cast members at this time, but the series also starred Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, Darlena Love, Traci Wolfe, Damon Hines, Ebonie Smith, Steve Kahan. Mary Ellen Trainor, who was in the first four films as Dr. Stephanie Woods, passed away in 2015.