The Expendables franchise is, at its core, a nostalgic revival of the macho action genre that dominated cinema during the late 20th century. The Expendables films are unapologetic in their commitment to old-school action. In an era where many action movies rely heavily on CGI and elaborate stunts, The Expendables takes a more practical approach.
The Expendables franchise, by Sylvester Stallone, is worth around $789 million. Every actor hopes to work with Sylvester Stallone and Terry Crews, and Dwayne Johnson has already stated that he is a “buddy” of the renowned filmmaker. So, is he coming for Expendables 5?
Dwayne Johnson is Enthusiastic about Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables Franchise
The Expendables franchise is a testament to the enduring appeal of classic action cinema. It celebrates the larger-than-life heroes and explosive spectacles that defined a generation of action films.
One of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers, Dwayne Johnson, expressed his eagerness to take on the role of the franchise’s villain in Sylvester Stallone‘s $789 million The Expendables. Before Jason Statham was once again cast as Lee Christmas, Johnson believed that Stallone wouldn’t mind creating a role for him.
The actor even gave the screenwriters hints on how to write things for him. The wrestler wanted to kick some real a**. Back then he stated:
“I don’t want to be on their team and be buddies with them. F**k that noise. I want to hunt every single one of them down and tell them to “send your soul to heaven cause your a** is mine.”
The Expendables franchise brought every veteran actor together on the same team and Jackie Chan was no exception. But the actor hasn’t yet made an appearance in the franchise.
Why Jackie Chan was Never a Part of the Franchise?
Famous actor Jackie Chan has explained why he did not feature in Sylvester Stallone’s Expendables, which also starred Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and James McAvoy.
The Rush Hour actor explained the reason, saying that while he never turned down Sylvester Stallone, he believed that the film already had too many Hollywood luminaries.
Jackie Chan acknowledged that he wouldn’t have been concerned if it was just a one-on-one battle between Stallone and him, but the presence of other actors in the franchise, such as Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, prompted him to walk away.
Jackie Chan admitted that he felt the format of the movies to be boring and redundant. Chan claimed that there was no point in appearing for only five minutes.
“…this morning I did hear – the office called – Sly [Stallone] wants me for Expendables 4. I said, ‘Okay.’ Because they already asked me to be in two and three, but I refused. Well, I didn’t refuse, but I said, ‘Sly, can’t we just do you and me? Not just a bunch of people and me only coming out for five minutes.’ Because then the audience is, ‘Oh!’ And then I’m gone.”
And given how The Rock has no qualms about appearing in ensemble blockbusters (for instance, the Fast & Furious franchise), and his status as the biggest action movie star in Hollywood right now, everyone is aware that Dwayne Johnson will always get the franchises he sets his sights on. So, is there any way he could potentially join the team in Expendables 5?
Expendables 4 hit theaters on September 22, 2023.
Source: Cinemablend
