The Original Plans for Lethal Weapon 5 and the Franchise

[@TonyG8992]

I can never forget how badass Jet Li was in Lethal Weapon 4.

[@mr.o6240]

I can forget Lethal Weapon 4 tho.

[@Imjustasimpleman5310]

1st time he played a bad guy.

[@danilom3166]

When he dissasembles the pistol from Riggs' hands... haha unrealistic, but badass cool

[@keronwindley4950]

He whooped their Asses 😂😂

[@stonegasman3866]

I don't buy '90s Mel Gibson having a chance against Jet Li. Maybe '80s Gibson, but still don't buy it lol

[@supergordo64]

Didn't some guys in Philadelphia already did Lethal Weapon 5, 6 and 7? I'm pretty sure I saw those movies at a pub.

[@viktori9p895]

Didn't Murtaugh marry Rigg's daughter in that one ?

[@kdusel1991]

​​@@viktori9p895 they did! And for some reason one of the characters changed skin color

[@moochietheassclown9656]

The make-up effects in those films are incredible.

[@ivanagustinortiz5237]

What's all of that about? 🤔

[@kdusel1991]

​@@ivanagustinortiz5237 it's a reference to it's always sunny in philadelphia.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Speaking of Shane Black, how about a What Could Have Been for Last Boy Scout? His original script is online to read. It’s really good. You can totally see why it created a bidding war and sold for record numbers. Black and Tony Scott even said the script was better than the film, but Joel Silver and Bruce Willis took over and kept changing things

[@ivanagustinortiz5237]

​@@matthewdaley746 don't forget that back then, Bruce Willis was a total diva.

[@akfreed6949]

Producer Joel Silver fucked that movie up . He was there every fuckin day practically . Script changes all the time

[@davidjames579]

@@matthewdaley746 He never fired Black. Donner hired Boam to do a rewrite. Black was brought back for 2. Didn't like his own script and had no interest in 3 or 4. He and Silver remain friends and have collaborated several times since. Unquestionably.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

As much as I like Lethal Weapon 2, and think it’s the best in the franchise, I do really want to read Shane Black’s original script for it. He called it the best thing he ever wrote, but it’s not online anywhere

[@jamesmorant1406]

Shane Black dislikes the sequel's he felt they ruined Riggs character

[@noahknight4039]

@@matthewdaley746I like part 4 the best. Just shows it’s a strong series overall with 4 solid movies. I wouldn’t argue with anyone that thinks any of them are the best. IMO all of them are good.

[@Malum09]

I know some people in the script trading community and the LW2 SHANE BLACK version is the Holy grail, I do think its out there but the people that have ask for unreal amount of money for it.

[@davidjames579]

Interestingly he is trying to get made a new film, called Play Dirty. Although sounds like only the title remains, and not a LW2 script under a different name. Robert Downey Jr is producing it, and was going to star, but that's now Mark Wahlberg. It's set up at Amazon-MGM.

[@Malum09]

@davidjames579 from what I know he is only reusing the title but it's actually an adaptation of the Parker novels by Donald Westlake

[@indianajones4321]

Well there already was a Lethal Weapon 5… made by some people at a pub in Philadelphia if my memory serves me right… Great job as always dude, this was well worth the wait!

[@kdusel1991]

And 6 and 7! Those versions are superior!

[@rebel8185]

what are u refrence to?

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

@@rebel8185 Always Sunny in Philadelphia. FX. The opening was filmed at night! 🌃

[@indianajones4321]

@@rebel8185 it’s always sunny in Philadelphia

[@Imjustasimpleman5310]

@@indianajones4321 Never Seen the show, but I've heard great things about it.

[@sdfasdf995]

3:01 The thought of heroin snowing down on Hollywood on Christmas is hilarious.

[@bensneb360]

I like how Lethal Weapon 2 & 3 turned out… the original 4 sounds interesting, and I’m always down for Shane Black with the 5th one. Mel Gibson keeps wanting Lethal Weapon 5 to happen, and I hope it does, it would be nice to send the series off with a hit

[@motherplayer]

@@matthewdaley746 He doesn't need to do a 5 when he has "Dragged Across Concrete". But hey, that didn't make much money, so I can understand that too.

[@MichaelSchneider-w7z]

@@matthewdaley746damn right

[@JohnnySalami6]

4 was bad but had some redeeming qualities

[@44excalibur]

Actually, while Bruce Willis was originally considered for the role of Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon, his reasons for turning down the role had nothing to do with his girlfriend at the time thinking that the film was too violent. Bruce Willis was contractually obligated to the ABC television series Moonlighting, with Cybill Shepherd, and wasn't available to work on Lethal Weapon. This was the same reason he initially turned down the role of John McClane in Die Hard, but when Moonlighting temporarily shut down production due to Cybill Shepherd's pregnancy, Willis was free to work on Die Hard during the break.

[@keijijohnson9754]

14:15 - Okay, now THAT is something I would've LOVED to see there!😲 The fact that his kicks were THAT fast back then really shows just how much a beast Li was and probably STILL is to this day.

[@lukewright9031]

If you think Jet Li was a beast in LW4, then watch his other movies made around the same time period because Hong Kong cinema figured out how to capture every lighting fast kick and/or punch long before Hollywood. However nowadays Jet Li has taken a break from acting due to a medical condition which was why in Disney's live action _Mulan_ he spends most of time seated.

[@keijijohnson9754]

@@lukewright9031 Well that us certainly understandable given how long he's been doing this. Though I must admit, I'm not too familiar with what he's done during the 90s besides this. But even with that, it is undeniable that this factoids really just how telling it is of his speed and prowess nonetheless.

[@attiepollard7847]

​@@keijijohnson9754OMG they said the same thing about jet li on the movie kiss of the dragon they told him to slow down because they could not keep up with him.

[@323johnnybravo]

I absolutely love these movies. I think a sequel could be as big as the top gun sequel if done right.

[@ZachFazio-v3y]

There is no way LW 5 would make 1.5 billion. Not even close. If LW made a quarter of that it would be a huge accomplishment. I think LW 5 would be received more in line with the popularity of Beverly Hills Cop 4 rather than Top Gun 2.

[@Kthomasritchie]

Riggs and Murtaugh are way too old for that shit.

[@TheGuyInTheCheapSeats]

The most unbelievable part about Lethal Weapon 5 is a military contractor starving for work.

[@josephjanisch5396]

That’s incredibly believable. Company’s, only selling diapers, make considerably more money than defense contractors.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

@TheGuyInTheCheapSeats Long Kiss Good Night was a Shane Black action film 🎬. The basic plot is the CIA trying to stage major terror attacks to get more budget funds. 💰💰💰 This in 2000s 2010s seemed highly un-needed, poorly constructed.

[@davidjames579]

@@DavidLLambertmobile Black's Iron Man 3 (2013) does something similar. A weapons manufacturer faking terrorism to generate sales. False Flag Operations never grow old.

[@LM1984Studios]

Let’s not forget that the first film was also based off of Captain Holt in the 80s.

[@detroitdiezel7856]

Who?

[@repulser93]

@@detroitdiezel7856B99 reference.

[@anubusx]

Peralta come here.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I do really want to read what Jeffrey Boam’s original Lethal Weapon 4 script. It sounded much better than the finished movie

[@JoeMama1001.]

Mel Gibson in a woketard flick, hell nah!

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

I read Boam's 2nd draft from 1995 or '96. He only wrote two. Donner made him rewrite it to include Leo Getz. It opens in 1975 with Riggs in a Vietnam POW camp about to get tortured. He and his soldier buddy turn the tables on VC and escape. It's all very Deer Hunter. Later, it's revealed the soldier he escaped with who is Riggs' equal in combat is the head bad guy about to assassinate a black Senator by shooting a rocket launcher at his airplane from a top of a building. Riggs, of course, stops him in a fist fight to the death. I remember it was a good script. The best of the bunch and I read almost every LW 4 script from Lemkin to Channing Gibson. I remember, I also liked the script from the guys who created Smallville, Millar & Gough. They wrote a fun draft, too. In my opinion, though, Lemkin and Channing Gibson wrote the worst drafts.

[@franklinmwesi6211]

Me too

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@matthewdaley746your comments are horrendous, obsessive, narcissistic and cringe

[@christennery2877]

I don’t know why Lethal Weapon 4 gets so hated on. It was the first Lethal Weapon movies I saw. I saw it when it just released on VHS. I was like 12 years old and I freaking loved. It’s what made me want to see the other 3 before it. I remember getting all 4 Lethal Weapon movies on DVD In Christmas of 2001. To this day I still rewatch the franchise again and again. But Lethal Weapon 4 is still my favorite. .

[@cable7152]

The GOAT with another amazing episode. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year bro.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thnx man! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year to you too!

[@zimecka72]

Lethal Weapon IS a Christmas movie

[@djmattblack]

That scene from Lethal weapon where he stood in the playground with the kids was actually filmed, i remember seeing an alternative cut of the film with that scene in it instead of the Xmas tree scene

[@RainBird88x]

It's in the director's cut.

[@Palafertiil]

I have the directors cut and I love that scene. It should have been left in

[@andymc96]

It's in this video 😂

[@scriptphase]

@@andymc96😂

[@ministerofdarkness]

There's still time for " Lethal Weapon 5 - Way To Old for this Sh%t!"

[@glennjthompson332]

Old men series...😆😅🤣😂

[@stsolomon618]

Lethal Weapon is one of my favorite franchises.

[@stsolomon618]

@matthewdaley746 yeah, the 4th was ok but it was still a fun movie

[@jonathancue1584]

​@@stsolomon618I like lethal weapon too

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@matthewdaley746your opinion does not stand above others weirdo

[@SoChillGamer]

Always Amazing work you do making these videos. Keep up the fantastic work and wishing you a great new year 🍻

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! And same to you

[@liono4829]

That's crazy how the first one was set around Christmas and the 5th would've ended around the same setting, making them both Christmas movies 🎬

[@ShallowDepression]

That's some serious film knowledge you got there my Man.

[@tyrannozilla]

I'd think it would be great if you made a video detailing the history of the unmade attempts to remake "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (specifically, John Landis', John Carpenter's, and Breck Eisner's attempts).

[@negativeprime]

The 5th one sounds close like Beverly Hill Cop 4 Axel Foley.

[@davidjames579]

It also sounds like Die Hard 5. I wonder if that was influenced by the unproduced script. I guess Mel Gibson was right, send all the LW5 scripts to Fox to make into Die Hard sequels.

[@adonian]

😂 sorry I can’t help but 😂 at the thumbnail. Seeing Riggs with a wheel gun. 😂. He carry’s a beretta m9 (or a 92). But damn I wish they’d do it before they get too old.

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Another fun fact about Black's original LW draft...it was Mr. Joshua who killed Riggs' wife Victoria NOT the South African as it was later revealed in LW2.

[@SlevinKalebra]

I love Willis. Perhaps even more than I do Gibson but I honestly can't stop imagining how manic Gibson's "McClane would have been

[@repulser93]

@@matthewdaley746He did pretty decently in Unbreakable, from what I’m told. (And I feel like the issues in Glass can’t really be blamed on him - aphasia’s a bitch.)

[@SlevinKalebra]

@@matthewdaley746 maybe so. But come on, wouldn't you pay to hear Gibson say "yippeekaiye"

[@_Only_Zuul]

Mel Gibson could SO have been in Die Hard as John McClane it would have worked and been just as big of a hit.

[@_Only_Zuul]

@matthewdaley746 In time.. Ai will make it happen..

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@matthewdaley746your comments sound Ai Generated, “uNqUeStIoNaBlY”

[@anubusx]

I always wanted a crossover between Lethal Weapon and Rush Hour.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the amazing video ❤

[@OrcaRebuild]

How about What Could Have Been: The Predator?

[@sweepthe-leg]

The Last Boy Scout was originally called "Die Hard". "Simon Says" aka Die Hard with a Vengeance was almost a Lethal Weapon sequel. Shane Black's new movie is titled "Play Dirty", which was the original title for Lethal Weapon 2. 🤯

[@BurnoutsAndBourbon]

Been binging these over break and man I want them to do the 5th one now so bad. Fantastic films and chemistry

[@classicsonicthewild6051]

Guillermo Del Toro’s Doctor Strange Please 🙏

[@kdusel1991]

I didn't know he was gonna do a version of doctor strange!

[@ElTamex07]

I don’t think it would’ve been that special tbh, considering the directors’ visions never really get to shine in an MCU project. They’re all the same

[@roberttreacy8271]

What Could Have Been: Gore Verbinski’s BioShock movie

[@hero-lucha5926]

Can you do one on the last boy scout please

[@B-Shells]

Thank you for covering this one 🙏 Love the Lethal Weapon franchise, excited for the 5th one 🔥

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

Here's a good idea for a future "Bullets & Blockbusters" episode: *"The Original Plans for* *the DEATH WISH 2018 Remake"* In 2006, the remake was first announced to have Sylvester Stallone (as both the film director & lead star) as Paul Kersey who was rewritten as a really good cop who had excellent success without using his gun. But after his family was attacked, Paul Kersey would be thrown into a moral dilemma in proceeding to carry out his revenge.

[@valhallatv6889]

Yep, sounds good. Then Joe Carnahan became attatched and said his take was the best thing he ever wrote, and wanted Frank Grillo as the lead, but left after producers forced Willis onto things.

[@JOSH-lw2jv]

⁠​⁠@@valhallatv6889 Other actors considered for the role of Paul Kersey (before Bruce Willis won the part) includes Russell Crowe, Matt Dillon, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Liam Nesson, Kurt Russell, Michael Keaton, Christopher Lambert, Dennis Quaid, Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Don Johnson, Peter Weller, Ron Perlman, Stephen Lang, Michael Biehn, Tommy Lee Jones, Jeff Bridges, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[@RichardBarkman]

We’re not too old for this shit! - Riggs & Murtaugh in LH4

[@sums3080]

All these movies are fucking great

[@bigcubanmike]

Oh wow, i suggested this one recently!

[@lukewright9031]

One of the first casting choices of the Lee Butters character in LW4 was Sean (at the time; Puff Daddy) Combs who turned it down for fears it might mess with his _Bad Boy_ brand. Best decision he ever made 😅

[@jmcclain8237]

The original idea by Donner was to have Christopher Reeve playing Riggs.

[@davidjames579]

Shane Black had Tom Atkins in mind after he starred in Black's friend Fred Dekker's film Night Of The Creeps. This also reflects Black seeing Riggs as an older man, having served in the Special Forces in Vietnam would suggest he had several years Army service prior to that. And the archetype character Riggs was was the old bad man gunslinger of Western Lore, akin to John Wayne in The Searchers or Spencer Tracy in Bad Day At Black Rock. As would happen decades later with John Wick, the character went from that to much younger once Hollywood didn't want an older leading man (see also Die Hard and Commando). Atkins however got something out of it, being cast in LW as Murtaugh's Vietnam buddy, Michael Hunsaker.

[@ahhamartin]

6:15 finally someone gets that the character with "nothing to lose" isn't near as dangerous as the man with something to protect; Riggs only comes into his own after he begins to be a part of the Murtaugh family and sees them in danger.

[@Duxman2007]

Really good analysis. Looking forward to more. 😊

[@luisrizo8813]

09:27; Joblo discusses the entire series...and that weird '3' credit for Boam.

[@fluffdegoss]

Love how Shane Black always goes back to the one thing he knows best...Christmas.

[@repulser93]

3:21 - I’m now wondering what Jake Peralta from B99 would be like in a world where Mel Gibson was the lead in Die Hard.

[@NewLegacyComics]

Great work! Great channel!

[@LadyJennyfer75]

LW4 was my favorite. And "The Postman" was actually quite good.

[@JamesCline-yy8pm]

I can’t wait till this comes out Mel already said he is directing it in 2021. He said he was doing it.

[@Lamont54321]

I hope they have his kid in this at least as a teen i mean look how old he is compared to lw 4 shed be in her 30s

[@dripfreddyfazbear1246]

Hey Bullets And Blockbuster Can You Please Do What Could Have Been: Sam Worthington As Green Lantern (2011) For The First Video For 2025

[@drjk7565]

Hi Bullets & Blockbusters! Always enjoyed your insights into the history of movies that could have been or were almost made. With the recent release of the third Sonic movie, I think it's a good time to cover the history of the first film. It's a fascinating story of development hell dating all the way back to Sonic's early years on the SEGA Genesis. It was passed around by various studios before it landed on Paramount, and the screenplay underwent multiple rewrites, with one pitch even suggesting it was to finish off the cancelled Sonic Saturday morning cartoon.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Will def look into it

[@drjk7565]

@@Bulletsandblockbusters Thank you so much! I forgot to mention that there is a completed script on the internet for an unmade 1995 Sonic movie titled "Sonic the Hedgehog: Wonders of the World".

[@pauledangerously1077]

Mel gibson is an incredible director

[@samjp1793]

Every version of leathel weapom i have seen starts with the school sniper scene then proceeds to the christmas tree lote scene

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Probably the directors cut

[@mathewevans89]

Shane black is a underrated writer

[@rezaqalam482]

Too bad his iron man 3 writings getting lot of hate

[@attiepollard7847]

​@@matthewdaley746that was probably my main issue with black I would have not liked his version of lethal weapon

[@MarlonRodriguezmma8907]

Do the original plans for TMNT 2014 when they were supposed to be aliens

[@kuluvas2]

I cant wait to see a 5 directed by Mel, its gonna be so awesome!

[@valeriewalker1592]

Lethal Weapon is my all-time favorite action franchise. And it's better than Die Hard.

[@christopherthye2330]

I believe you're right. Dennis Reynolds directed this film. He doesn't talk about very much anymore. Because of the implications...

[@nymike7278]

Now do National Lampoons Loaded Weapon 2!! Great video brother!!!

[@attiepollard7847]

Are you sure Emilio estevez would want to do that? Lol

[@darksouls8441]

Hey bullets and blockbusters I love your videos and learning about movies that were changed or canceled, could you possibly do a video on the original ideas and plot of the mummy 2017

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! I think I did that one under dark universe

[@alejandrodiaz9355]

What movie or scene is that where the guy shooting the missle launcher hits that big airplane? It's at the 12:22 mark.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Reacher tv series

[@WilliamTucker-x1q]

That seems like a remake of The Long Kiss Goodnight

[@andrewgardner8972]

Personally for the last one they got to get a good villain for Riggs and murtaugh to fight, e.g. someone their own age like guys who were considered to play Martin Riggs before Mel Gibson got the part or guys who were considered to play the bad guy Joshua. Guys like Michael Keaton, Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Kurt Russell, Dennis Quaid, Stephen lang, Michael Biehn, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere, Harrison Ford, Billy Petersen, Christopher lambert, etc.

[@attiepollard7847]

Nope nope. That bad guy needs to become a little bit younger and that bad guy needs to be the younger one who is just tired of the old folks what may be a little bit hypocrite idealist. Have rigs and mortar as teachers of a new detective squad

[@andrewgardner8972]

No not someone my age and woke and an inexperienced asshole. I’d rather see someone around Riggs and murtaugh’s age. And also I’d like to see Robert Patrick as a villain in this film since he appeared in die hard 2 as a terrorist villain before playing the t1000 in terminator 2 or Neal McDonough too since Tulsa king and red 2 says it all.

[@andrewgardner8972]

Says who? No more woke nonsense from idiots like yourself.

[@wbond6692]

I miss the darkness of the original movie. It makes Riggs' redemption arc, and Murtaugh's acceptance of his new partner, much more satisfying. The "Lethal" part of Lethal Weapon has been gone as of #4. Bring back Shane Black's Neo-Nazi script. The first was vicious ex military drug dealers. Second had South African apartheid (scumbags) using the system to commit crimes. The third had dirty LAPD cops turned to organized crime. The forth, human traffickers who counterfeit Chinese money......see where it falls apart? I love Jet Li, and the 4th movie introduced him to the US, but the murdering of human beings part and slave labor was completely forgotten about after the opening scene on the boat. (Groan) After that, was Riggs and Murtaugh trying to figure out why their fishing trip was interrupted. The Neo-Nazi script sounds like it was more fitting to the franchise. Imagine, bad guys starting a race war in LA, with Riggs and Murtaugh's family stuck in the middle? Especially with the right casting. I'm sure Chris Rock would've jumped at the opportunity to take on racist hillbillies turning Los Angeles into a battlefield. I'm very glad that Reann and Riggs was never a thing. As a father myself, that would've been like Riggs making moves on his little sister! Not what I look for in a hero. ("I got 3 beautiful kids, I love em, they're yours!") Anyway. If Lethal Weapon was to come back, we need to bring it back to form. Riggs is the wildcard, and his conscience is the family he has made along the way. Roge, Trish, Launa, even Leo, they keep the Superman in check. And that is the message of Lethal Weapon, Riggs channeling the monster for the sake of protecting what makes him human.

[@tyrannozilla]

As much as I enjoy all 4 movies, I do agree that the first one is the best for its near perfect mixture of a dark storyline and a bit of humor on top. One never outshines the other. As the films went on, however (especially with the introduction of Leo), the franchise got lighter and lighter. Again, they were still entertaining and had some memorable villains, but it just felt that they lost their teeth as they went along.

[@tyrannozilla]

@@matthewdaley746 "Okay, okay, okay."

[@RobVespa]

While I've no issues with project leads (competently) finessing material, the original scripts you discuss sound better. I think the films as released reflect this. Everything beyond the first film, which itself seems chaotic, sound increasingly nightmarish. Aside: After a number of great projects like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, it's challenging to reconcile that Shane Black with the one who wrote and directed the recent The Predator.

[@salprime2556]

They should’ve shot lethal weapons four and five back to back The fifth film should’ve been released in 1999

[@attiepollard7847]

You are so right a fifth lethal weapon movie would have just been a cherry on top that I needed

[@toddprater14]

That’s a year later , the 5 th should of been done by 2003…in 2008 it was 10 years since lw4,in 18 it was 20 years…they’ve waited far too long..

[@attiepollard7847]

@@toddprater14 do you ever think about just making them academy instructors? Have some young political activist police commissioner who wants their badge because they're old and don't represent the new police force in Los Angeles. Have a main villain come in and that's what inspired him for one last ride with a new squad of young hot shots who looked up to them.

[@allanbard6048]

The movie tie-in by Joel Norst has the Riggs I always wanted but didn't see.

[@shaun1138]

I worked on a film with Mel Gibson a few years ago. We talked about Lethal Weapon 5. Mel told me the whole story. If Warner Bros Discovery can make money although they keep going down hill, and Mel gets a chance to direct it then it will be the best bookend to the original film. It's a great way to end the Lethal Weapon franchise.

[@SawyerCombat]

Lethal Weapon 5 needs to bring back everybody that they can from all 4 movies!!!! Mel Gibson! Danny Glover! Joe Pesci! Rene Russo! Chris Rock! Traci Wolfe! Darlene Love! Damon Hines! Ebonie Smith! Calvin Jung! Nestor Serrano! Maybe add Milo Gibson and Jake Busey to the cast!!

[@attiepollard7847]

Hold on now I like your idea but. Somebody's are going to have to take some minor roles and cameos. Now we probably can't bring back the captain since the actor died. But I think both rigs and Martin needs to be teachers for a new detective squad.

[@johnaraya3761]

YES IM HERE EARLY LOL MERRY XMAS BOSS-MAN AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! coffees ready lfg lol hope you dont mind im streaming your vid boss, there just to good not to

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Don’t mind at all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@davidjames579]

The other reason Warners fast tracked Lethal 4 was that they had The Avengers lined up as their big money maker of Summer 1998. That shot in the Summer of 97. By the autumn, WB had seen an assembly edit and ordered a drastic cutting out of footage because they realized the movie was most certainly going to bomb or very much underperform, even after further editing. To offset their outgoings, WB needed a guaranteed hit for Summer 98. This is when they approached Donner and asked if they through enough money at him could he get LW4 written, shot and edited in time for July 98. Donner then pulled off the impossible, commencing shooting in Jan 98. As you say Mel Gibson fully milked the situation getting paid the most an actor had up to then. Interestingly his friend Robert Downey Jr did the same thing when Marvel pulled a last minute U-turn to make Captain America- Civil War after DC announced Batman V Superman. As your video shows a script for LW4 is dated May 1998, TWO MONTHS before its theatrical release. The Avengers released in August. As expected it bombed with the critics, and audiences. Not least due to some drastic editing to try and get the runtime down to ensure more screenings. Years later it's director offered to mount a re-edit to put the film back to its original length so it at least made sense. He said he'd do it for FREE just so people could see how his film should have been. But having made so little from cinema and home media sales, WB refused as they couldn't see any point.

[@toddprater14]

It’s been so long since lw4..i remember the new gm trucks for 99’ were getting ready to come out and they had Mel driving one, a bit obscured in the cemetery scene, it was only a 1500 truck as the 2500/3500’s didn’t come out till 2000 and Mel always had a 3500 dually.and Danny was driving his daughters grand am and that was a new design as well for 99…god it seems so long ago .. gm has made 3 new generations of trucks since then..

[@Malum09]

Very funny that Gibson rejected a Shane Black written & directed LW5 since in the 2010s he attached himself to a project that was going to be directed by Black called The Cold Warrior about an ex-Cold War spy coming out of retirement to help with a mission involving an enemy from his past.

[@hobbs1701a]

I saw Lethal Weapon 2 in theaters, and I loved it!! I am glad we didn't get what Black wanted!

[@positivevibetec]

Me too

[@toddprater14]

Seem 2 in 89, 3 in 1992 and 4 in 98’ at theaters… great flicks

[@jordynk6651]

ill go wait t the theater now for LW 5

[@thebluemangoes8839]

I really hope Lethal Weapon 5's script is as good as Donner and Mel said it was

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Lethal Weapon 5: Wheelchair Fire Plot: they fight over which channel is on the community room TV during nap time in the home.

[@pirate4460]

A plot with native americans stealing water would have been more exciting

[@TheAdArchive]

I think it’s fair to say Lethal Weapon 5 won’t happen.

[@GLUBNOIR]

Could you maybe do one for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse?

[@oshontheexperience6440]

You have any episodes on the He-Man movies?

[@Woobuggy848]

The original plans for deadpool 3

[@TonyG8992]

I honestly believe the studios are waiting for Mel Gibson’s Flight Risk box office to se if they make a Lethal Weapon 5

[@endrendstudios7665]

Attempt# ??? to get you to cover Spider-Man: No Way Home

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Eventually

[@Story2ScreenMovieReviewPodcast]

In all honesty, I wonder if the hesitation from WB in making a 5th Lethal Weapon with Mel Gibson has anything to do with either genuine lack of interest from studio executives running things now and/or their hesitation to work with Mel Gibson again because of his personal luggage and controversies?

[@LeMecQuiestCool]

Well, unnecessary sequels have become a standard trend nowadays, so it’s easy to imagine that if Warner could have reignited the LW saga, they would have already done it by now. The only problem is undoubtedly Gibson’s unmarketable reputation.

[@denniscolato]

Yeah we all know which version of Lethal Weapon 5 would be the best! Plot is about tapping tainted water or something

[@HighFlyingEYE]

Thoroughly enjoyed all your content this year, here's to 2025 and more amazing videos

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks! Happy new year!

[@dank7256]

The Last Boy Scout is great.

[@Goldnfoxx]

Did...did I just see Gough and Millar's name on LW4's script?! 😂 Well, that woulda put Smallville in a whole new light (or LW4). Hollywood is weird. I kinda wanna see Shane Black's version of LW1 and 2, uncut, unadulterated, now. And given how much I don't like Iron Man 3, that thought...scares me. But yeah, there's no denying the massive change in tone between early and later LW movies, and though I love both, I prefer the more serious tone. The later films are at their best when they drop the comedy and go full action film. Made me love Rene Russo, too. (But I'm glad they didn't kill off Riggs. Why is Hollywood so bad at compromising between these things?!) P.S. Not NEARLY enough people talk about The Last Boy Scout. I didn't realize that was Shane Black, but it makes sense.

[@davidjames579]

Given how Black is associated with the Lethal Weapon brand, it is funny how often his work has been altered. Joel Silver loved the original spec script from a nobody so much he bought it for $250,000 Then proceeded to hire a director known for lighter fare, who then had it filleted of it's harsh USP by another writer (Jeffrey Boam). Same thing happens on LW2. Then amusingly as soon as Boam has a blank page to write 3, Donner finds it too dark and hires the script doctor from the last film to water it down. Then Black, by now a superstar screenwriter is offered a record breaking 2 million for his new script, The Last Boy Scout. He decides to instead take WB's lower offer of 1.75 million, which is still record breaking. Because it means Joel Silver can produce it, and Black still has a great friendship with him even after LW1 and 2. Then guess what, same thing happens again, and LBS has a lot of its original darker script re-written! After this Black is hired by Silver to contribute to Last Action Hero. His script is then written over by several writers after that. Black can't catch a break, so retreats from screenwriting. Much later he makes an attempt to do things his way by not just writing Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang but directing it. And who does he hire as his producer? Joel Silver! The two remain friends to this day, and Silver produces his later film The Nice Guys.

[@austinnatwick5293]

Can you please do Sasha Calle’s Supergirl Movie

[@thomasjoyce7910]

"Service revolver" Yeah, no.

[@michaelcaboose8685]

Wait, Chief Lazarus isn’t canon?!

[@darthjavo7438]

Too old for this shiat ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ObsidianRex23]

oh to have a dollar every time WB, Fox, or Marvel change or scrap a script because it's tOo DaRk. They need to grow tf up man

[@SirTyJensen]

I own the Lethal Weapon movies and I like the show.

[@FluffyKing43]

They’re still making a 5th one aren’t they?

[@alexsilady9906]

I hope we get part 5 soon, but I feel the longer they keep taking to do it, Riggs and Murtaugh really will be “too old for this 💩”

[@JesusFreak8824]

Just fyi. @ 3:53 That's a magazine (or mag) and not a clip. A clip feeds a mag, a mag feeds the firearm. I'm a huge fan of your channel and I hope you view this comment as an attempt to help elevate and educate and not as a snobby scoff.

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Not at all I appreciate the correction

[@JesusFreak8824]

@Bulletsandblockbusters no problem buddy. I want you to succeed!

[@Bulletsandblockbusters]

Thanks!!!

[@Zarin_Tao]

What could of been the Black Adam Franchise with Dwayne Johnson