How time flies. 30 years ago, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover linked up for the first time for a bold buddy cop action flick titled Lethal Weapon. Fast forward three decades and with four movies under their belt and a television series spinoff launched as of last year, the pair sat down alongside their Lethal Weapon 3 and 4 co-star Rene Russo to celebrate this milestone moment.
Director Richard Donner's original would be the start of something special as the Warner Brothers series earned a staggering $955m in total from the four features. While they might not be as sprightly as they were in the late 80s and early 90s, the trio looked back fondly on creating Lethal Weapon with ABC.
Glover: My One-Liner Became Infamous
Despite an Anti-Semitic controversy that sidelined Gibson for a number of years in Hollywood, the Academy Award winning filmmaker and actor was in great spirits for the meet-up. For the Mad Max star, it was like a high school reunion.
"I think there was a lot of love between us," he explained. "And when I see them, I just kind of get the same feeling...it's like seeing a teenage sweetheart or something."
Playing LAPD cop Martin Riggs, a wild and eccentric officer who would push the boundaries of the law, Gibson said he tapped into something a little primal to make the role work.
"I think we're all a little crazy," Gibson remarked. "I may be a little bit more crazier than most people. It was an easy thing for me to access."
Glover became very accustomed to his partner on and off camera, saying that a bond was strengthened each time they met up on set.
"I think you could say whatever you want about the films, but I think the relationship got better and better over the period of time."
From all the lines of dialogue and stunts performed, all his fans only remember one moment.
"I can't get anywhere (without) somebody (saying), 'Say it to me. Just say, 'I'm getting too old for this.'"
Gibson: LW5 Would Be A Comedy
For Russo, her introduction three movies in meant that she required something memorable to be truly part of the Lethal Weapon family. That would arrive when her character Lorna Cole compared battle scars with Riggs before a romance blossomed.
"Favorite scene I've ever done ever. And not just because you're, like, this crazy good kisser, which you are," she said to Gibson.
At 70 years of age now, Glover was starting to feel the aches and pains even 30 years ago. He can remember not remembering much in between shoots.
"I'm in the passenger seat, Mel's driving and we'd try to drive to location," Glover recalls. "I can't remember a time I did not go to sleep. (Richard) Donner (director) would say, 'Wake Donald up - we're about to start shooting!'"
In a world of sequels and spinoffs, would a Lethal Weapon 5 work? Gibson had an answer.
"You'd play off the fact that they're not as limber as they used to be. And I think that would be fun."
Source: ABC
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