Early preparations are already underway on the fourth installment of Millennium Films’ veteran action star-centric franchise. Supposedly the final entry, The Expendables 4 was announced late last year and is expected to arrive in 2018. Producer/star Sylvester Stallone took to social media recently about the project, with the following message popping up on his page…
“Working out for the next Expendables, that’s going to be great! Fingers crossed. We’re going to do our best, but I think we have some really great attitude going. We have good ideas. I think everyone is expecting something different and we’re going to give it to them.”
Stallone will, of course, return to star in the new installment, although he is not expected to take the director’s chair. The last two films in the series were directed by Simon West (Con Air) and Patrick Hughes (Red Hill). A return of either director is always possible, although many fans seem to be hoping for Stallone to reunite with the likes of Renny Harlin or Walter Hill on the project.
No official word has been given in regards to Stallone’s co-stars, but I’m betting that Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Terry Crews will all be back. Possibly even Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, and/or Antonio Banderas as well. A few years back Pierce Brosnan expressed interest in participating. He would certainly make a fine addition to the roster. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Donnie Yen score a big role as well, now that he’s rising in popularity again due to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I personally wouldn’t mind some of the younger actors from the last one (Rousey, Powell, Lutz, etc.) returning either, but I seem to be alone on that among action fans.
Since the official announcement of Expendables 4, word has gone quiet on both the in-development TV series and the long-promised female-led spin-off, The Expendabelles. I have little doubt that both are still in the works, but they’ve likely been tabled until work is completed on this last theatrical go around. This franchise is here to stay, folks.
