In 1987, Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies) directed the first part of what would become the benchmark for the American buddy movie, Lethal Weapon. The iconic duo of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the title film would be successful with four sequels, all from the same director.
The fifth part is also being prepared, this time directed by Mel Gibson himself, Richard Donner unfortunately left us in 2021.
Before we dive into these nine questions about this first Lethal Weapon, here are a few secrets from filming surrounding the film.
Did you know?
Physical training
Danny Glover and his co-star Mel Gibson, the two heroes of Lethal Weapon, underwent two months of intensive training with stuntman Bobby Bass. The latter used his military experience to enrich the character of Riggs. Both actors also had the opportunity to spend time on the field with LAPD officers.
What if Spock and McClane were in the credits?
Leonard Nimoy, famous for playing the character of Spock in the TV series Star Trek, was invited to shoot Lethal Weapon, but he could not let himself go, at that time he was working on the film Three Men and a Child. Richard Donner was eventually chosen to direct Lethal Weapon.
As for the lead role of Martin Riggs, which was played by Mel Gibson, it may have gone to Bruce Willis, as originally expected. Willis does not regret the missed opportunity, because a year later he would find fame with Crystal Trap, the first part of the Die Hard saga. He even worked under Richard Donner in the 2006 thriller Block 16.
From Martin Riggs to Hamlet
It was the vision of Lethal Weapon that led Franco Zeffirelli to hire Mel Gibson to play his Hamlet in 1990. The Italian filmmaker was particularly impressed with Gibson’s performance when it came to playing the suicidal Martin Riggs.
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
