EX4, 10 years after EX1

Less than 2 weeks ago many fans, news outlets, and stars of the Expendables franchise celebrated the tenth anniversary (yes, already ...) of the first movie in the series of what has now become the hallmark of the 80’s action genre revival featuring some of the most badass icons of the action movies. You would think a fourth and maybe even a fifth film would already be part of your DVD collection, but the very chaotic production and management of this franchise has made its future very uncertain ...

Just ten years ago, on August 18, 2010, The Expendables was released. Sylvester Stallone as the mastermind behind the idea revived an old dream that those who grew up with Action Heroes of the 1980s - early 1990s were still cherishing in their subconscious. Bringing together the badass actors of this generation in one single film, and adding some new faces. In three installments, released in barely four years, from 2010 to 2014, we have seen an authentic Who's Who of the action movies: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, JCVD, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Mel Gibson, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Harrison Ford, Eric Roberts, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Scott Adkins...

Unfortunately EX3 buried the franchise. The desperate attempt by the movie to attract a younger audience, this latest in the series was released aiming for a PG-13 rating, and a clearly watered-down level of violence, adding new faces to the EX team that veteran fans could not identify with. The global Box Office numbers were not kind to the fatal mistakes made by some out-of-touch producers, and the final result was not pretty: barely $ 206 million including the big market of China that couldn't even save the film’s honor.

Despite the dramatic results of the 3^rd movie the producers announced in 2015 an Expendables 4. A release date was even penciled in: 2017, with filming to kick off in 2016. In December of the same year, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the fourth installment of the action star packed saga would be now aiming for a 2018 release, and supposed to be the last chapter of the franchise. "We will do our best, but I believe we are headed in the right direction. We have good ideas, and I think everyone is expecting something different, and that's what we're going to do, "Sly clarified in early January 2017.

Three months later, in April 2017, it's the cold shower: Sylvester Stallone exits his own franchise due a radical disagreement with Millenium, embodied by the producer Avi Lerner. Apparently the two men could only agree on 95% of the project, but Lerner didn’t think it was over. “In my opinion, it's not dead" declares the producer.

In the wake of this shattering departure, our favorite Arny adds a layer just a few days after the shocking announcement: no question for him to show up if his old accomplice and ex-rival from the 80's is no longer on board. "There is no Expendables without Sly. I would never make the film without him, no way," he told Entertainment Weekly. And the bodybuilder star, playing Trench in the franchise, continues: "I haven't read the script for the fourth film. I don't even know if there is a script, even if they want to shoot again in August, as they usually do. "

For Arnold to play in The Expendables 4, Stallone will need to be in, but also his character needs to be better written than in the third film. "I have told them that I would never do another one if the story is not written well for me."

A year after having slammed the door because of artistic differences, Stallone backpedaled and returned to the franchise. In March 2018, Randy Couture, omnipresent throughout the franchise, tried to reassure impatient fans by informing TheArnoldFans.com that the filming of EX4 was to begin in summer 2018, and take place in Bulgaria: "Currently, we plan to start the filming in August and I hope we can meet the deadlines. It looks like we will be going back to Bulgaria which is exciting.” said the former UFC champion.

End of June 2018, a new drama. This time, one of the main characters of the franchise, Terry Crews, announces his departure from The Expendables 4. Having filed a complaint against his ex agent for sexual assault at a party in 2016, the actor told his story in front of the US Senate. During his speech, where he notably encouraged men to break taboos to end the silence that surrounds the sexual harassment issue, he revealed to have left the production of Expendables 4 following threats of retaliation from producer Avi Lerner. The latter would have demanded that Crews abandoned his prosecution if he wanted to keep his role in the 4^th movie. Not wanting to give in to the threat, the actor decided to leave the franchise.

What about the summer 2018 production then? Nothing more than a wet firecracker... In July 2019, a year later, Stallone announced on his Instagram account that he was starting to "cook up" the next episode of the action franchise: "All those July 4th fireworks made me think! I'm starting to cook up the next adventure!". The trouble is that still at that time, apart from Sly, EX4 had neither a confirmed official cast, nor even a prospective director ...

In October 2019 Randy Couture, him again, lets some news of the project out in interviews on YouTube where he confirms that the script was sent to him a month prior. That he thinks it has the potential to be the best movie yet in the series. Production was scheduled to start in fall but was postponed to spring 2020. He further confirms that Toll Road is back and so is the old gang.

Maybe not so foolish this time Randy, since Lerner confirms in January 2020 in an interview at a festival honoring his achievement (despite all his faults, have to admit he has given us the EX franchise) that filming is set to start in May and the main cast is back including Sly, Statham, Lundgren, Banderas and Arnold for a “part”.

Since then, the covid-19 pandemic has ravaged Hollywood and movie production, with the catastrophic consequences that we know... it’s worth noting that Sly has not said a word anymore about the project in a year. At the rate things are going, and in view of the current situation, still very uncertain, EX4 looks more and more like a ship without a crew on board.

What if, at the end, this was one boxing match too many? Not sure that the audience is still so receptive and in the mood for this franchise after so many years have passed since the last movie. It may be time to move on, especially since Captain Sly is not getting any younger and still prioritizing his personal projects over EX4. At 74 years old, it's going to be complicated in the years to come to keep playing the lead in an all-star action movie. Rumor has it that EX4 was all about passing the torch to Statham and Sly was supposed to take a back seat. Unfortunately, we may never find that out…

EX4 In The Time Of Corona

It's been a while, well since the Corona Lockdown...

We are now living in an alternate universe where movies may not get made again any time soon. And then there is EX4 which I believe will not be made any more unless a miracle vaccine shows up in a few months and puts an end to COVID-19. Otherwise given the current circumstances (the huge production line-ups, Covid restrictions, Sly being older, scheduling conflicts, etc), EX4 has a very little chance of being made any time soon or ever.

All that being said, for fans who are still remaining optimistic and hopeful, Avi was actually planning to start filming EX4 in May this year but things got derailed due to COVID-19. 

According to this interview he gave back in January at a tiny film festival, he confirms very assertively that EX4 was definitely moving ahead in May. This was in January and then we entered a parallel universe in March where EX4 doesn't exist anymore. 

But don't lose your optimism since a Spanish distributor has even gone as far as publishing EX4 on their website of upcoming films in 2022!! They probably know more than we do, right? Didn't a German distributor announce EX4 like 2-3 years ago and made it sound like a done deal, hmmm.

Patrick Hughes back to directing with the core cast of EX3 (Sly, Statham, Banderas & Lundgren). Avi must have a secret studio under earth where you can make an action movie isolated from the Coronavirus. You never know, this guy has always had a few tricks under his sleeves. Until then, stay safe and healthy.

The Expendables Go to Hell

While we are still waiting for an Expendables movie, we have been spoiled to a sneak preview of a surprise graphic novel depicting our heroes' journey in hell after they are killed in combat.

The story was conceived by Stallone along with Bane writer Chuck Dixon. Graham Nolan, who frequently collaborates with Dixon and helped co-create Bane, provides the artwork. Several samples of Nolan's illustrations from the graphic novel have also been revealed and you can find them here.

The story of The Expendables Go to Hell picks up with the group awakening in Hell after getting killed in combat. It's not clear whether this is a stand-alone comic book or a potential feed to an EX movie, which I personally think is unlikely.

As a comic book, it sure looks and sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Especially with no recent updates on the status of the franchise's return to theaters with another movie sequel.

A Christmas Story

From theilluminerdi.com: We have uncovered that an offer went out to director Duncan Jones near the end of 2019, however the negotiations never materialized. Where the studio went next is equally intriguing. Apparently an offer has been made to D.J. Caruso (XXX: Return of Xander Cage) to direct the Jason Statham-led spin-off tentatively titled, The Expendables: A Christmas Story, which has been written by Max Adams.

The decision to extend an offer to Caruso has a cosmic quality to it, as he was rumored to be in contention to direct the original Expendables film at one point. Furthermore, Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone are already set to return for the spin-off. The catch being that Statham is now the lead and Sly will be supporting character. In addition, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tony Jaa, are attached to the project and are simply waiting to see how the pieces come together.

We were also informed that Stallone’s role will be an emotional one for fans and despite not having many scenes compared to previous installments, his presence will be felt throughout the film.

The spin-off is leaving room open for supporting roles for many of the other well-known Expendables including Toll Booth, Gunner, and Doc. We assume that they are trying to bring back Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, and Wesley Snipes, to their corresponding roles. However, we couldn’t get a reliable confirmation on their return. It’s possible that their roles could also be placeholders pending their involvement. It’s still unclear if they would consider recasting the roles if they don’t return.

The project has been in a holding pattern for the past few weeks, as details continue to get worked out, but they are looking to shoot in the first half of 2020. There’s also a South East Asian vibe, as there are many characters who are from that region, which leads to speculation that some of the movie will take place overseas.

We also got our eyes on other characters in the script, The other large supporting role is for Gina, Christmas’ love interest and a tough-as-nails member of the Expendables, who’s lethal in her own right. Marsh is the dapper leader of the reformed squad. Suharato Rahmat is weapons smuggler who has a military past. Bok is one of Rahmat’s deadly henchmen. While they are still casting for Janice Russo, the head of the military compound that houses the CIA.

It makes sense why Millenium/Nu Image would want to produce this spin-off. You have to look no further than last year’s spin-off of the Fast and Furious franchise, Hobbs and Shaw, which grossed more over $750 million dollars at the worldwide box-office. The budget for The Expendables: A Christmas Story is set in the $70 million dollar range, so there is legitimate money-making potential in the Statham business. Add to it the success of Bad Boys for Life and it seems that there may be wisdom in this unlikely project.

An EX Spin-Off?

A new story on the development of EX4 initially reported by this website has been picked up by several smaller movie news outlets. The story insinuates that EX4 will be a spin-off a la F&F moving Statham to the  front and center, pushing Sly to the background in a supporting role. Arnold and some of the key cast members are expected to be back but not confirmed. The spin-off should also see the introduction of new and more international members not seen before.

The authenticity of the story has not been verified and should be taken with a grain of salt until further official statements are made by producers or cast members.

If true, I find the idea quite appealing and refreshing. Given the length of time it has taken this project to develop, I was actually thinking how challenging it would be now to have Sly at his age take on the lead role for the franchise, and continue the same formula over again with a group of very aged actors, noting that the formula of introducing younger actors had miserably failed in the 3rd installment.

Statham is a more secure bet as a lead surrounded by less prominent famous supporting actors who have seen their peek passed since a decade ago. His popularity has been quite strong since his introduction into the F&F franchise, and the spin-off formula has already paid off with the latest Hobbs & Shaw and to some extent with Xander Cage by introducing a more international cast roster.

The saga continues?

Arnold Out of EX4 If Not Written Well

Arnold gave an interview to his fan site where he briefly talks about the Expendables 4. 

Asked if the fourth installment was finally coming; he responded that he has nothing to do with it at this point but that can change very quickly. He further explains "I have not seen it because I have told them that I would never do another one if the story is not written well for me."

I find it strange that Couture has received the script and not Arnold!! Unless his part was so bad that the producers didn't dare send it to him. Now I wonder if Couture was pulling off another one of his rumors when he claimed to have read the script.

The making of EX4 has taken a life of its own and once again looks less than more likely to ever happen. 

Couture Reconfirms EX4

In a new interview given very recently, Couture reiterates his involvement in a new Expendables movie. He asserts that he has been in the procession of the script and that EX4 is happening. Filming has been pushed to next spring as he had announced in an interview that was previously posted here, and this time he explains that the postponement of the production was due to some scheduling conflicts (Sly’s Samaritan maybe).

Couture seems to be very confident that EX4 is happening and this time he seems to be more informed of the movie’s development and progress. He’s been wrong before but I feel like giving him the benefit of the doubt this time. 

EX4 Now Set To Release in 2021

After my hope of seeing a new Expendables movie was starting to fade away, Couture may have just given me something to hang onto. I know he’s known for unreliable news and what he says doesn’t always turn into reality but this time I think he’s giving out solid information with some good details.

He recently gave a YouTube interview where he discusses EX4 in some good details:

The script was sent to him a month ago. He thinks it has the potential to be the best movie yet in the series.

Production was scheduled to start this fall but has now been postponed to next spring. I bet this happened due to scheduling conflict with Samaritan or maybe Sly signed up for that project knowing that EX4 was going to be delayed.

Toll Road is back and has some good parts but not more screen time than the usual.

All the old guys are back!!

The story-line is timely he says and people are going to love it, it'll be huge.

Starting next Spring, production will then last for 3 months and 9 months of post, so he thinks that the movie will only be released in 2021.

I hope he’s right this time and what he’s giving out is reliable.

It’s been a roller coaster of a story this making of the EX4 but let’s hope again.

EX4 RIP? I Hope Not

After a series of encouraging news in the month of July that were seriously pointing to the development of EX4, including several hints by Sly himself to his personal involvement in the project being in the works, the world of movies has gone radio silent on the fourth and highly anticipated installment of the Expendables franchise. Nada since then and it’s been two solid months of no news.

It was expected that Sly would be busy with the release of his last Rambo movie, but we were hoping to hear at least something, something that would keep the hope going. Well, the topic of EX4 wasn’t going to be avoided by the media during the Rambo promotional interviews, but personally I was expecting it to be discussed much more than it was. Hard to say how many interviews did Sly sit on to promote Rambo but I’ve personally seen a dozen on the internet and there was probably a lot more that I don’t even know about. And out of all those interviews, EX4 was only mentioned a couple of times and in a very hasty manner. It almost felt like that Sly had warned interviewers to not approach the topic and if they did, he would brush it off. During the entire Rambo promotional journey EX4 was only addressed twice and very quickly!!

One of the instances where the EX4 topic came up was at the “Tonight Show” with Fallon who I didn’t know seemed to be a fan of the franchise. While discussing some distant memories of his encounter with Lundgren on the set of Rocky IV, Sly transitioned to mention that he might end up working with the Swede again in EX4 while rolling his eyes. Fallon got excited and so did the audience with a round of applause as if they’ve been anticipating the fourth movie like the rest of us have, but Sly didn’t seem to be overly enthusiastic about it and did not go any further to elaborate on the topic and quickly moved on and back to Rambo. It felt like that he doesn’t want to do the movie but is being forced to, and might not even want to do it if he could get out of it. Maybe I’m reading too much into his body language but this is how I felt about that whole short conversation.

In another instance during a Rambo promotional interview, he’s heard saying that the movie is being forced to happen because of foreign investment and those foreign guys want it very badly. Once again it feels like he is not overly keen on doing the movie but being forced into it.

It’s been known over the past few months that Sly is pushing his production company “Balboa” to take off more seriously and be ready to not only take more projects on but to become the production company of reference in the realm of action movies. His heart is pounding in that direction. Sly is a determined individual and when he sets his mind on something, he gets it done. And it’s understandable that if his passion is veering towards becoming a more of a producer in the action genre and leaving a legacy by mentoring the younger generation in that direction, he wouldn’t want to involve himself in lengthily acting projects that a movie like EX4 is. I even wonder if his involvement in those low budget B Movies that came out last year was a sign of this and whether he did Rambo to go out with one last action movie legacy in the genre.

While I was still optimistic that despite Sly’s reluctance to do EX4 it might still happen because of those foreign investors pushing him to do it, the announcement of his next movie under the banner of MGM & his Balboa production company just hit my hope to go down to an all-time low. Samaritan will indeed start filming early next year. Early next year? And we are now in October!! There is not a lot of room for EX4 to be slotted in, I’m not sure if pre-production has even started, they don’t even have a Director yet. The hope is fading away. I hope I’m just being pessimistic but the prospect of EX4 happening this year or before Samaritan is less and less likely now. I almost feel that this whole Samaritan venture might be the end of EX4. Sly is not getting any younger and the other cast members of the franchise may not be always available at the same time – which is miraculously the case right now, they are all available with no ongoing projects - and the investors will eventually lose patience and cancel the project to push their money into something more realistic.

If the pre-production of EX4 is not announced anytime soon, it’s safe to assume that the project will not go ahead this year and probably not even before June next year if it ever does move ahead.

RIP EX4? That would be extremely disappointing. The EX franchise needs to go out on a high note, EX3 was an affront to the legacy of our childhood icons and needs to be rectified in the history of action movies. Sly, you need to rectify history before you move on to your new projects.

EX4 "Dream Cast"

The Expendables Back In Town Soon!

That's it, it seems to be really happening. Sly is teasing another EX hint to the 4th chapter starting soon. Statham was a sure bet and Banderas will be of party too. The boys will be back in town soon!

The Expendables Trio

Nothing really exciting but just a post by a former German soccer player posing with our favorite Expendables Trio: Sly, Arnold and Lundgren. The photo is open to all sorts of speculations from a simple friendly gathering to Sly brainstorming EX4 with his co-lead actors. Yours to determine.

Confirmation: EX4 In The Works

In an interview with Grit Daily News, Campbell and Grobman, the CEO and Founders of Campbell Grobman Films, discussed their entertainment career trajectories as powerhouse female producers in Hollywood, and their current work on EX4 was also mentioned.

Known for their past successes with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, Hollywood producers, Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman have made new strides with their recent productions like Rambo: Last Blood and Red Sonja.

Asked  about when they knew they had reached success as a company and if there was a particular film that was a turning point for them, this is what they had to say: 

"We got a strong start with Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D unexpectedly beating some more high profile movies at the box office upon the opening.  After that, we  went on to make more dramatic and light hearted films as well (She’s Funny That Way). We also continue to make action films because we are able to reach a broader audience.  We are currently working on The Expendables 4 and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard."

This should further confirm that EX4 is indeed in the works, and we should be hearing more news soon. 

Thanks to EXfan57 for the tip.

Sly Cooking Up EX4

I guess it's finally getting started. Sly posted on his Instagram today that he's cooking up "the next adventure" by showing a picture of Barney Ross. Hold on tight, it's coming...

EX4 Set for a 2021 Release?

According to HN Entertainment some of Lionsgate’s 2020-2021 releases include the new Chris Rock-produced Saw reboot, Doug Liman’s Choas Walking, Ryan Reynolds’ The Hitman’s Bodyguard’s Wife, and Keanu Reeve’s John Wick: Chapter 4/Rally Car. There also is an expectation that Sly Stallone’s The Expendables 4 and Chris Evans’ Jeykell will eventually be released by 2021. Lionsgate and Chad Stahelski were developing a feature film reboot of Highlander, but it remains to be seen if that project will be part of the deal.

Assuming that Lionsgate remains consistent with an August release in 2021 which is 2 years away, there is no wonder why filming has not yet started. I suppose there is plenty of time, but the only problem is that the main cast is not getting any younger!!

Statham Talks EX4

A French movie outlet reported a recent interview with Statham himself on F&F 9 & EX4. This is what he had to say:

"Sylvester Stallone has been talking to me about this for a while, and the film should be done before we're all too old." Again, that's not my decision.  If Sly calls, I’ll answer immediately, we have so much fun on the Expendables sets. "