73-year-old actor Danny Glover has given an update on a potential revival of the “Lethal Weapon” film franchise.
Created by Shane Black and directed by Richard Donner, the 1987 original followed beleaguered veteran detective Roger Murtaugh (Glover) as he is partnered with reckless and PTSD-afflicted Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). The buddy action received rave reviews from critics and became a hit, spawning three sequels and more recently a TV reboot.
Speaking with Variety this week, Glover says a conversation took place in January about another film in the franchise with both Glover and co-star Mel Gibson attached:
“I don’t want to give away the plot on the script that I read, but I found the plot had very strong relevance to some of things that are happening today. I can say that. But that was in January. History changes so fast. But yes, there’s been talk about it.
I can only tell you, if it does happen, there is something extraordinary in it. If Lethal Weapon gives us some sort of contribution to understanding a little bit more. It would be interesting to do. It would be interesting to see how we take this within the political framework we are in; the economic framework that we are in.
And especially that framework as opposed to the communities that have been affected by the kind of police violence, the kind of police standards, and the power that they exert as well. And what would be interesting from that vantage point is what that attempt could be like at this particular moment.”
A fifth film has been in the talks for years, though has often stalled due to problematic scripts and both Gibson and Glover not being interested. That changed in January when word came a new one was in active development.
