New Female-Led “Expendables” Project in Development

There’s an upcoming project titled “Expendavels,” which focuses on a female-led expansion of the popular “Expendables” series.

Eclectic Pictures and Hollywood Ventures Group are teaming up to create an origin story set in the late 1990s, exploring the global challenges and tensions of the Y2K era. This announcement was made on Friday at the Cannes Film Festival.

Producer Heidi Jo Markel emphasized the global demand for female-led action series, suggesting that now is the right moment to introduce a new generation of elite operatives into the franchise.

“The Expendabelles,” supported by Lionsgate, aims to present an all-female cast in a stylistic, action-oriented cinematic experience that enhances the existing mythology of the franchise while remaining true to it, filmmakers mentioned to the Hollywood Reporter.

Markel expressed excitement about collaborating with Hollywood Ventures Group, stating, “We are thrilled to finally bring The Expendabelles to life… reimagining this property on a larger cinematic scale.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Markel added that they are eager to work with top creative talent to elevate the material and offer an exhilarating experience for audiences worldwide.

Co-founder of Hollywood Ventures Group, Glenn Gaynor, will co-produce alongside Markel. Executive producers will include Sandy Kleiman, Joe Smith, Nellie Kim, Kroll, Steven R. Folate, and John Yalincik. The production team is in the process of recruiting creative talent, but there’s been no casting announcement yet.

Gaynor noted that this project represents an opportunity to evolve “The Expendables” in a way that appeals commercially while staying true to its core essence. He mentioned that while audiences are familiar with this world, it will be presented in a fresh way.

The original “Expendables” film featured a star-studded cast, including Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Bruce Willis, among others. Future installments included various other well-known actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Liam Hemsworth.

As for production timelines and a release date, those details remain under wraps.

It’s worth mentioning that recent all-female action movies have struggled at the box office. For instance, the 2022 film “The 355” managed only $14.5 million domestically and around $13.2 million internationally. Similarly, the 2019 iteration of “Charlie’s Angels” earned approximately $73.2 million worldwide, although its budget was about $48 million.