It’s been over thirty-five years since Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh first tore up the streets of Los Angeles. Since then, we’ve seen sequels, a TV reboot that ended in some pretty public drama, and years of "will they, won’t they" rumors regarding a final cinematic outing. Honestly, the road to getting the cast of Lethal Weapon 5 back on screen has been longer and more winding than a high-speed chase on the 405.
Richard Donner, the legendary director who breathed life into the franchise, spent years developing this fifth installment, tentatively titled Lethal Finale. His passing in 2021 at the age of 91 felt like the end of the road for the project. Yet, in a move that feels both like a tribute and a passing of the torch, Mel Gibson has stepped into the director’s chair to bring the story home. This isn't just about a paycheck. It's about finishing a story that defined the "buddy cop" genre for an entire generation.
The Core Duo: Gibson and Glover
You can't have Lethal Weapon without the central chemistry. It’s the DNA of the whole thing. Mel Gibson is officially set to return as Martin Riggs. While Gibson’s public standing has fluctuated wildly over the decades, his commitment to this specific project seems rooted in his personal bond with Donner. He isn't just acting; he's directing, using a screenplay that Donner was working on alongside Richard Wenk.
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Danny Glover is also confirmed. At this point, Roger Murtaugh isn't just "too old for this s***"—he’s basically a legend in the lore of the LAPD. Glover’s participation was always the biggest question mark for fans, but he’s gone on record multiple times expressing his desire to honor Donner’s legacy. The dynamic will be different, though. We aren't looking at two guys jumping off buildings anymore. We're looking at how these characters exist in a world that has fundamentally changed since 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4.
The age gap matters. In the first film, Riggs was the young loose cannon and Murtaugh was the veteran looking toward retirement. Now, both are elders. This shift is expected to be a major narrative pillar of the cast of Lethal Weapon 5, focusing on how the old guard fits into a modern policing landscape.
Who Else is Joining the Fray?
Beyond the big two, a Lethal Weapon movie needs its supporting family. While the full ensemble hasn't been locked in with "official" press releases for every minor role, several key names are essentially staples of the production's development phase.
Leo Getz: The Joe Pesci Factor
Could you imagine this movie without Leo Getz? Joe Pesci famously came out of retirement for Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, proving he’s still got the chops. Reports and internal buzz suggest that Pesci has been in talks to return. If he does, expect a version of Leo that is perhaps a bit more subdued but no less annoying to Riggs and Murtaugh. He’s the glue that turned the duo into a trio, and his absence would leave a massive hole in the film's comedic timing.
The Murtaugh Family
Traci Wolfe, who played Rianne Murtaugh, has been part of the franchise’s backbone since the beginning. The Murtaugh house was always the emotional center of the films. To make the sequel feel authentic, the return of the Murtaugh children—and potentially their own children—is a necessity. This creates a "legacy" feel that modern sequels like Top Gun: Maverick or Bad Boys for Life used so effectively.
Lorna Cole and the Riggs Connection
Rene Russo joined the cast in the third film and fundamentally changed Riggs’ trajectory. She gave him a reason to live that didn't involve a Beretta and a death wish. Russo’s involvement is highly anticipated, though details on the size of her role remain under wraps. If the film is truly a "finale," exploring the domestic life of Riggs and Lorna is a must.
Why This Production is Different
This isn't a reboot. It's a "legacy sequel." That distinction is vital because the stakes are different. Mel Gibson mentioned in an interview at "An Experience With" event that the script is quite dark but retains the humor fans expect.
Basically, the film has to balance the 1980s action aesthetic with 2020s sensibilities. Richard Donner’s vision was always about the characters first and the explosions second. Gibson seems intent on maintaining that. He’s working from a foundation that was decades in the making.
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What we know about the script development:
- Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) wrote a draft based on Donner’s notes.
- The tone is expected to be more "gritty" than the slapstick elements of the fourth film.
- The movie is slated for a digital-first or hybrid release via Warner Bros. Discovery/Max, though theatrical runs are always on the table depending on test screenings.
Addressing the Skepticism
Look, people are skeptical. They have every right to be. We’ve seen plenty of franchises return after twenty years only to feel like a shell of their former selves. The cast of Lethal Weapon 5 are all significantly older. The physics of an action movie change when your leads are in their 70s and 80s.
However, there is a precedent for this working. Look at Logan or Unforgiven. You lean into the age. You make the movie about the passage of time. If Gibson and Glover play it as two old lions having one last hunt, it could be a masterpiece of the genre. If they try to pretend it’s still 1987, it’ll probably flop.
The production has faced several delays, partly due to the 2023 strikes and partly due to the massive corporate restructuring at Warner Bros. But as of now, the project is very much alive. Production updates have been trickle-fed to the trades, but the core remains: Gibson is directing, Glover is co-starring, and the script is finished.
Practical Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you’re looking to gear up for the release or just want to dive back into the lore of the cast of Lethal Weapon 5, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just waiting for a trailer.
First, track the official production trades like Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. Don't trust every "leak" you see on social media; this project attracts a lot of fan-fiction rumors. Only trust news that confirms filming dates or location scouts.
Second, if you’re a physical media collector, look for the "Lethal Weapon Collection" on Blu-ray. There have been rumors of a 4K UHD box set release coinciding with the fifth film’s marketing campaign. Holding off on a standard Blu-ray purchase might save you money if a remastered 4K set is imminent.
Lastly, revisit the original Richard Donner director’s cuts. Many fans have only seen the theatrical versions, but the director’s cuts add significant character beats—especially for Riggs’ mental health journey—that will likely be referenced in the final film. Understanding where Riggs started is the only way to appreciate where he ends up in this "Lethal Finale."
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Keep an eye on Mel Gibson's directorial schedule. He has been juggling multiple projects, including the Passion of the Christ sequel, so the timeline for Lethal Weapon depends heavily on his windows of availability. When he starts scouting in Los Angeles, you’ll know the cameras are about to roll.