We’re sad there will be no Lethal Weapon 5. Okay … not really.

From the LA Times:

Richard Donner, who directed and produced all four “Lethal Weapon” films but found himself excluded from the recent plans to make a fifth, now says that his old friend Mel Gibson has walked away from the franchise revival.

“Mel turned it down,” Donner said. “I would like to think that Mel turned it down because I wasn’t involved. Knowing Mel, I would like to think that. Would that be the kind of thing he does? It sure would be.”

I checked with Gibson’s camp on Sunday night and while they were reluctant to make any official comment, I left the conversation with no doubt in my mind that Donner’s account is accurate. The 78-year-old filmmaker should have pretty good insight into Gibson; in addition to the four “Lethal” films, Donner directed Gibson in “Conspiracy Theory” and “Maverick” and until recently, the two were pursuing another collaboration, “Sam and George.”