Last we heard, Shane Black’s treatment for a new Lethal Weapon film was shot dead in the water by series star Mel Gibson. IGN was able to talk to producer Joel Silver, who claims that the project might still happen, eventually.

“We talked about it, but it was something that Mel didn’t want to do now,” Silver explained. “It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to do it ever, but as of right now, he doesn’t.” … “If we can do it, it would be fun. Shane [Black] had a great take on it, a great idea, a great feeling about it. He did a really complex kind of treatment or outline, very complicated, very good. The idea that they wanted to get it up right away, we couldn’t do that, but we’ll see what happens.”

So, according to Silver, Mel just isn’t interested in returning to the series right now. But series director Richard Donner previously inferred that another installment isn’t likely to happen without his involvement. And from what I understand, Black wanted to helm a film based on the extensive treatment that Silver mentioned above. Shane Black is a great director, and an even better writer. Let Donner produce, but I’d rather see a fifth Lethal Weapon film with Black at the helm.