It can confidently be stated that the Expendables franchise seems to be on the decline after the latest film in Sylvester Stallone’s series received harsh criticism. The fourth installment was weak in every aspect and was heavily criticized for various reasons. It seems that the poor performance of the latest movie has also cast doubt on the franchise’s planned female-led film, which had been in development for quite some time.
Back in 2012, plans for a female-led spin-off of the action-packed franchise, The Expendables, had already been brewing. This concept has become a popular trend as many notable franchises, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, are moving towards this direction. Sandra Bullock’s successful project, Ocean’s 8, also proves that a female-led ensemble can be a hit. Unfortunately, recent reports about the fate of The Expendables’ female-led spin-off are not looking too promising.
The Expendables franchise was created by Sylvester Stallone as a way to honor the action movies of the 80s and 90s. The franchise became famous for bringing together major action stars under one roof, though some big names like Jackie Chan declined to participate. Despite this, the first three movies in the series were highly successful. Now, it has been announced that Megan Fox will be joining the cast for the upcoming fourth installment.
In a similar fashion to the Ocean’s franchise, Stallope’s film series had plans for a female-led spin-off called The Expendabelles, which was reportedly set to star actresses such as Cameron Diaz, Milla Jovovich, and Sigourney Weaver. However, the development of the movie seemed to have stalled, and there were no updates on its progress. When asked about the status of the spin-off, Expendables producer Les Weldon didn’t seem optimistic, stating that scheduling these types of movies was incredibly difficult and that it had not moved any closer to fruition. He added that it was easier for them to make the first movie in 2008-2009 because they had an idea of the action stars they wanted to bring in, and they were all eager to participate.
According to Weldoะฟ, initiating a large project with numerous actors can be challenging. Scheduling conflicts and commitment issues can pose significant problems in such undertakings. However, given the current state of affairs regarding the latest installment, it appears that a movie similar to Ocean’s 8 with an Expendables-style cast is unlikely. Can you provide an update on how Expendables 4 is doing at the box office?
The movie Expendables failed to impress due to its poor CGI, disappointing cast, and absence of original characters from the first two installments. It had the lowest opening in the franchise, earning only $8 million in its domestic debut. With a worldwide total of $33.9 million and negative word of mouth, it can be considered a major disaster. Although Megan Fox’s presence hints at a female-led spin-off, the franchise seems to be finished. There is no indication that the Jason Statham franchise will try to revive itself with another attempt, and for now, there is nothing in the near future to look forward to.
