A whopping fourteen years following the blockbuster success of The Expendables, Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone are joining forces once more for the fourth, and quite possibly final, high-octane adventure.

The cast of The Expendables franchise directed by Sylvester Stallone

The Expend4bles is set to make its big-screen debut soon. Producers Kevin King-Templeton and Les Weldon have shared their thoughts with Daily Express about what the franchise’s future may hold over the next 14 years.

Filmmakers Had To Modify Stunts Because Of The Aging Stars

Les Weldon concurs, playfully mentioning that Sylvester Stallone wasn’t initially set for the second one, alluding to the 2012 hit that did, in fact, feature the legendary Rocky star. This serves as a reminder that even when dealing with the titans of action cinema, nothing is ever cast in stone.

With the 77-year-old still taking the lead in the fourth installment, Kevin acknowledges that they’ve “definitely adjusted” the stunt and fight sequences. He goes on to clarify that newcomers to the series, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and 50 Cent, have shouldered the bulk of the fight scenes.

Megan Fox, 50 Cent and Ink Uwais are some of the major additions to Expendables 4

Kevin King-Templeton told Daily Express:
“You have to change a little because the cast is getting older. We evolved a little bit. We used the Jackie Chan stunt team so there’s definitely a lot of that Asian martial arts influence.”
Nonetheless, Weldon is eager to emphasize that fans should absolutely not underestimate the more seasoned members of the cast. He highlights that they are far from what one might consider as typical 60 or 70-year-olds.

Weldon told Daily Express:

“They are these action guys who stay pretty fit. They’re all in much better shape than I am even if they’re older than I am! I think it’s just that’s who they are. They don’t just let themselves go so when a movie like this comes up they’re ready. A lot of them do their own stunts and their own fighting.”
The Expendables 4 is slated for a nationwide theatrical release in the United States on September 22, 2023.

Sylvester Stallone Has Suffered Numerous Injuries

In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, Jason Statham revealed that Sylvester Stallone had endured numerous injuries throughout his career, often during the filming of action scenes or high-risk stunts. Statham further disclosed that Stallone insists on performing these perilous feats personally, driven by his desire to deliver genuine, unaided performances and connect with the audience on an authentic level, rather than relying on stunt doubles.

Sylvester Stallone

Statham told Men’s Health:
“He’s got a roadmap of injuries over the course of his career. A lot of the things we do, it’s because our ego gets in front of us, and we want it to be authentic. We want people to see that that’s us doing it. We want the audience to go for the ride.”
Statham’s comments on Stallone’s injuries shed light on the physical challenges inherent in action films. Nevertheless, Stallone isn’t the sole actor who has suffered injuries during the production of action movies. Actors must remain vigilant about the hazards that come with crafting such films. Despite the implementation of safety precautions, accidents can still occur.

The Expendables 3 is available for streaming on Netflix.

Source: Daily Express, Men’s Health