Too much of everything is bad. That seems to have been the case for “The Expendables 3” when it was released back in 2014. The movie just had too much promotion that even before it hit theaters, a copy of the film already leaked online causing less-than-expected box-office results.
The producers and the stars of the action ensemble film franchise led by veteran action star Sylvester Stallone, appear to have learned their lesson from the 2014 debacle that promotions and details about “The Expendables 4” have become unusually scarce this time around.
Even the details about the casting of the film remain as speculations to this day but most of the rumors are consistent in saying that it would feature three wrestlers for villains including Hulk Hogan, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and the returning Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Then there are also reports that Pierce Brosnan, John Cusack, and Steven Seagal shall be joining the team of mercenaries led by Stallone’s Barney Ross and Jason Statham’s Lee Christmas, notes the Vine Report.
Some of the things that seem to have been confirmed are its playdate of 2017 although no specific date has been mentioned thus far, and the filming location in China.
Apparently, a Chinese entity has bankrolled the production of the film to the tune of $100 million which is why the filming will be in China beginning this fall. Despite the debacle of “The Expendables 3” in 2014, the movie still made money in China, which is why the Chinese entity decided to invest in the film.
However, all these rumors and reports are speculations pending the confirmation from the producers or the actors themselves, none of whom have made a formal announcement of details about the film just yet.
The latest in the casting rumors
Real-life martial arts expert and action star Steven Seagal has become the latest addition to the casting rumors for the upcoming action ensemble “The Expendables 4.”
Seagal becomes the latest in the casting rumor mill for the fourth installment of “The Expendables” featuring the top action stars of Hollywood then and now including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, and a whole lot more.
For a while, there were also rumors about the possible inclusion of Chinese martial arts superstar Jackie Chan and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Eventually, those speculations proved to be inaccurate.
Having three former wrestling superstars, a former James Bond actor, John Cusack, and even Steven Seagal in the movie may have some semblance of truth to it but everything remains as speculation at this juncture pending the confirmation from the producers or the lead stars of “The Expendables 4.”
Distribution deals in China
Sometime in the fourth quarter of last year, it has already been reported that production companies Nu Image and Millennium had already made pre-sale distribution deals of “The Expendables 4” in China.
It seems that the producers have already learned their lesson from the debacle suffered by “The Expendables 3” so they are keeping everything about “The Expendables 4” under wraps just to be on the safe side.
The rumors about Stallone not returning for “The Expendables 4” also came out because the information about the movie was few and far in between. Early this year, Stallone was making the headlines because of his nomination for the Academy Awards.
So putting two in two together, some came out with the idea that if he wins the Oscars, he would then focus more on “Creed 2” rather than “The Expendables 4,” thus the reports came out saying that he would take a backseat in the action ensemble franchise, notes the Christian Daily.
However, action movie critics believe that those are empty rumors because they know that even Sylvester Stallone is aware that if his character is not in the movie, The Expendables as a band of mercenaries shall no longer be complete.