'Lethal Weapon 5' is 'dead in the water'

Director Richard Donner has claimed that a fifth Lethal Weapon is "dead in the water" after Mel Gibson rejected an offer to return to the franchise.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Donner, who helmed all four Lethal Weapon films, claimed that Gibson had snubbed the proposed fifth movie.

He said: "Mel turned it down. 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."

Donner also blasted producer Joel Silver for not asking him to return as director, saying: "Joel Silver tried to ace me out of it. He tried to put it together but made sure he didn't do it until my contract was up. You know, it's typical of the man. A guy who wasn't even around at the beginning when we started on the first one. He came in late."

He added: "The project is pretty much dead in the water unless someone had the sense to come to me."

Last week, Stomp The Yard actor Columbus Short revealed that he had been approached about starring in the Shane Black-penned Lethal Weapon 5.