Since the end of 2022, we have known that possibly the last film in the action series by and with Sylvester Stallone, "The Expendables 4", will be released this year. Although the three parts released so far have not been huge hits at the box office, they have certainly provided some entertainment value, especially for fans of old and new action heroes. In today's KinoCheck Original, we summarize all the key information you need to know before the release of "The Expendables 4". Have fun!

The Plot of all Expendables Movies so far

The plot of the previous three films can be summed up quite simply: The Expendables are an elite group of fearless mercenaries perfectly qualified for the most demanding missions. In the first movie, for example, they get the assignment to overthrow a dictator in South America, but soon find out that their client may have more in mind than it first appears. In the second part, the Expendables also accept a mission that, in retrospect, is far more challenging than anticipated and even claims the life of their member Billy "The Kid" Timmons. The group finally takes revenge and goes behind enemy lines, where they have to deal with an even greater threat. Likewise, the third part hardly differs from its predecessors in terms of plot, as the main characters once again have to deal with a shady character, namely Conrad, an arms dealer and former Expendables. He changed sides a while after the formation of the group and now constitutes a threat. However, the elite group around leader Barney manages to overcome this challenge as well.

As you can easily see, the storyline of the movies usually follows a reliable pattern, so you should not expect too many changes in "The Expendables 4". But at least one difference to the previous films is already certain, and that is the change of the team leader. Since Barney Ross actor Sylvester Stallone is now already 76 years old, hardly anybody can deny that a change in leadership was long overdue. The new Expendables leader is Jason Statham's character Lee Christmas, which may mean that Stallone's character will step down right at the beginning of "The Expendables 4" or might even be killed off to make way for his successor. The latter would at least give the mercenary squad another reason to set out on a merciless vendetta.

The Expendables 4 Cast with Star power

Traditionally, the selection of the cast is a particularly important aspect of "The Expendables" movies. As we already know, the two aforementioned actors Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone are reprising their roles for the fourth part. Also joining the cast are Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen and Randy Couture as Toll Road. Additional returnees from the previous films are not anticipated, as a poster from CinemaCon 2022 already showed the key cast members. According to the poster, however, the new additions include Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent, "Transformers" star Megan Fox, Thai actor Tony Jaa and "Bad Boys for Life" actor Jacob Scipio. Likewise joining the cast is "The Raid" star Iko Uwais as arms dealer and antagonist, and "Oceans Eleven" actor Andy Garcia as an unnamed CIA agent. A return of Terry Crews as Hale Caesar or Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trench is not something we should be expecting, although a surprise appearance is of course always welcome.

Production

The production of "The Expendables 4" probably involves the biggest changes compared to its predecessors, as both the director and the scriptwriter were changed for Stallone's last appearance. Patrick Hughes is replaced by "Need for Speed" director Scott Waugh, while the plot was penned by the trio of Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams this time around. Wimmer last wrote the screenplay for the 2021 action film "The Misfits", while Adams and Daggerhart have previously been involved in less familiar films.

Filming ran from the end of September to the beginning of December 2021 and took place mainly in Europe. This also means that the movie has already been wrapped for quite a long time and post-production is probably nearing completion as well. So it's time to put the remaining funds into the promotional stage: Currently, fans are eagerly awaiting the first trailer for the action spectacle. We can then watch the final outcome on the big screen from September 22, 2023 - since that's when "The Expendables 4" opens in theaters.