Screendaily‘s Jeremy Kay is exclusively reporting the additions of Sheila Shah, Jacob Scipio and Levy Tran to the current cast roster of the fourth installment of The Expendables franchise.
Directed by Scott Waugh, production reportedly began in the UK with a screenplay by Spenser Cohen – revised by Max Adams and John Joseph Connolly. The aforementioned trio join the mix of new and returning actors that include Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture, and actors Megan Fox, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Andy Garcia and international action star Tony Jaa.
According to Kay, Statham is producing next to Kevin King Templeton, and Les Weldon, along with Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein, and Jonathan Yunger. Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson and Trevor Short are exec producing for Millennium, as are Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman for Campbell Grobman Films. Eda Kowan and Jonah Leach will oversee for Lionsgate.
JJ Nugent, Millennium Media VP of international sales and distribution, said, “The Expendables continues to be one of Millennium’s most successful franchises to date and we, alongside our partners around the world, couldn’t be more excited to kick off this fourth installment. Big action films continue to be what the theatrical experience is all about. Add an esteemed franchise with adored stars to mix, and its recipe for a remarkably entertaining moviegoing experience. We are incredibly honored to be able to bring films like this and many more to fans across the globe.”
The film has also been sold to multiple territories around the world according to the report, with Lionsgate taking U.S., Canada and U.K. rights.
Plot details on the fourth outing remain underwraps, although all dialogue seems to point to Statham’s character, Lee Christmas, taking the mantle of the franchise going forward.
Culminating its story around a ragtag team of mercs comprised largely of some of the most well known stars of the bygone 80s and 90s action era, Stallone shepherded the franchise’s inaugural 2010 thriller on both sides of the lens before leaving it to director Simon West for the 2012 sequel, and with Patrick Hughes directing the 2014 threequel. The current trilogy enjoys a global box office score of over $800 million dollars.