It’s been a hot while since the last Expendables movie hit the screen, and it seems about time to see our favorite group of military mercenaries going on a dangerous testosterone-slathered adventure once again. The franchise follows a group of elite mercenaries, starring the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jason Statham, as they take on some of the world’s most dangerous villains in their dangerous territories. So, what will The Expendable 4’s story unfold? Will any exciting new cast members be joining? Is it true that Stallone nearly left the project? When will it be released? Keep reading to find the answers to these burning questions. Here’s everything we know about The Expendables 4 release date, cast members and storyline.
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Are there any Expendables 4 Storyline Details?
Story-Wise, The Expendables 4 will be an action film that raises the stakes. Unfortunately, we haven’t received any official release on what The Expendables 4’s plotlines are going to be, but Lionsgate’s Jason Constantine promised that it will be one hell of a ride!
“It’s so much fun to bring these stars together for a no-holds-barred action film,” said Constantine in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “The new film will raise the stakes and be the biggest, most badass adventure yet.”
The same source also revealed that, while Stallone’s Barney Ross character has been the focal point of the franchise in the 2010s, we will see more of Jason Statham’s Lee Christmas, as the biggest gun. To put things into perspective, the last Expendables 3 centered around the cohorts as they take down a ruthless arms dealer who is determined to put an end to The Expendables.
The Expendables 4 Trailer
The Expendables 4 Cast
You want badass movie actors? You got badass movie actors. Sylvester Stallone will reprise his role as Barney Ross. Jason Statham and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also taking up their previous roles once again as Lee Christmas and Trench Mauser, respectively. Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture are also coming back as Gunner Jensen and Toll Road.
Megan Fox as the Female Lead
Interestingly enough, several new names are joining the team. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Tony Jaa, Andy Garcia, and Eddy Hall joined the Expendables 4 cast in undisclosed roles. Supermodel Megan Fox is also cast as the female lead.
Stallone Nearly Quit the Project Due to Creative Differences
However, Stallone and Schwarzenegger were so close to leaving the project completely due to creative differences. As Deadline reported exclusively, the actor has withdrawn from partaking in the upcoming film. He couldn’t “find common ground on a new director, the script, and certain elements of the film” with Millenium chief Avi Lerner. Schwarzenegger later stated that he would not continue with the film had Stallone departed. However, it seems like the Rambo actor had since changed his mind and rejoined the crew in 2018.
‘The Raid’ Star Iko Uwais Will Star As the Villain
The Expendables 4 will also see a new villain in town: Iko Uwais. In case you’re not familiar with the name, the Indonesian actor rose to fame in 2012. He was in Gareth Evan’s action classic The Raid and its 2014 sequel, exposing his career to the Western audience. Notably, he was also cast previously in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it was disappointing for him. He barely appeared in one scene with little to do but stand in a hallway.
However, during the film’s early development in 2014, Stallone already had one actor in mind to play the antagonist role: Jack Nicholson. He mentioned during an interview that the three-times-winning Academy Award actor is his first choice for the role. Stallone also expressed his interest in Clint Eastwood to join the film’s production team.
The Expendables 4 Release Date Delayed
After a series of delays, Lionsgate set The Expendables 4 release date to 2022, although neither Lionsgate nor Millennium had revealed the exact release window. The original plan, however, was to release The Expendables 4 in 2018 but Stallone left the project temporarily due to creative differences.
Penned by Spenser Cohen and directed by Scott Waugh, the principal photography of The Expendables 4 began in October. According to Stallone, he had filmed all his scenes in the film in October. He also stated that this will be his final film as Barney Ross and passing the leadership role to Statham and his character.
Unfortunately, there are no official trailers, but we will keep you updated as the news unfolds. Are you excited as we are for The Expendables 4?
