Mel Gibson in talks to join 'Cold Warrior'

Mel Gibson is in negotiations to reteam with his "Lethal Weapon" scribe Shane Black for Universal's spy thriller "Cold Warrior."

Black, directing his second movie after 2005's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," is tackling a tale in which a Cold War spy (Gibson) comes out of retirement to confront a domestic terrorism threat from Russia by joining with a younger agent. Charles Mondry wrote the script.

The dealmaking is in the early stages, but it does further Gibson's plan to get back in front of the cameras. "Edge of Darkness," his first onscreen performance since 2002's "Signs," opens Friday,

Michelle Manning, David Greenblatt and Anthony Bagarozzi are producing "Cold Warrior."

The WME-repped Gibson has wrapped the Jodie Foster-directed black comedy "The Beaver" and is prepping to shoot Mexican prison-set thriller "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."