Sylvester Stallone shall have no problem writing or filming the fourth movie of “The Expendables” film franchise. He has done it three times in the last five years so having “The Expendables 4” would be a cinch for the Hollywood icon.
What is preventing the 68-year-old actor, director, and writer from seriously focusing on the development of the “The Expendables 4” is his second thoughts about piracy, which practically waylaid the box-office showing of “The Expendables 3” last year.
The first film of the franchise posted a worldwide box-office earning of $274.5 million when it was released in 2010, while “The Expendables 2” earned $311.9 million globally in 2012.
However, the third film, despite the addition of Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, and Ronda Rousey, grossed only $206.2 million last year. Apparently, it was due to the fact that a leaked copy of the movie made it to the internet three weeks before its release, thus taking away its great potentials in the box office, notes the Latinos Post.
In fact, “The Expendables 3” had a poor, by the franchise standards, $15.9 million on opening. Obviously, Stallone does not want the same to happen again on the fourth movie so he may be pulling all stops to ensure that appropriate steps are taken this time around.
In the works
While there is still no confirmation at all from Stallone, or any other action stars, or the producers about “The Expendables 4,” the rumor mill is swirling around wildly to indicate that production of the movie is now in the works.
Keeping everything under wraps right from the start would ensure the secrecy of the movie and only making the teasers or the plotlines available when it is about to be released do make sense. This could be the strategy that Stallone and the producers are taking after the debacle of “The Expendables 3.”
Although there has been no word spoken at all from Stallone, there have been other action stars talking on his behalf including his good friend Arnold Schwarzenegger who believes that “The Expendables 4” is really worth a shot, notes Venture Capital Post.
Schwarzenegger said in a recent interview that “The Expendables” is a terrific franchise, disclosing that he told Sly to write another one or have someone else write another one that will have a really terrific story. He added that it is really a great idea to have an ensemble piece with that many action heroes in a movie. The comedy should also be done well with the great story and there is definitely room for another one, the former California governor said.
Jason Statham also believes that “The Expendables 4” should materialize because it is what the fans want.
Statham disclosed that he has been a fan of Stallone from way back and that working with the iconic Hollywood action star is beyond a pinch yourself moment for him.
He said that he remembered growing up watching Stallone in his films and that to be directed by the actor in a movie that he has produced and be shoulder to shoulder with him is a privilege any man who loves action movies would never turn their back against.
Statham said that it is just a terrific experience for him that he will do as many movies as Stallone wants.
The big bad
There have been reports that wrestling great Hulk Hogan, the Hulkster, would play the main bad guy for the upcoming “The Expendables 4.”
While no detail on “The Expendables 4” movie has been made available as of yet, Hulk Hogan confirmed in a recent interview that he has been in casual talks with Stallone where they discussed the possibility of him appearing as the villain in the fourth instalment of the action film franchise,.
Hogan will be the second wrestler to play villain in “The Expendables” movie franchise following Stone Cold Steve Austin, who teamed up with Eric Roberts to give Stallone, Jason Statham and company fits in “The Expendables” shown in 2010.
Hulk Hogan will also be lined up with the big name action stars that previously played villains in subsequent “The Expendables” movies including Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mel Gibson.
Hulk Hogan and Sylvester Stallone have a history of working together. They first collaborated during the filming of “Rocky III” back in 1982.