The Expendabelles is back in development, with producers looking to finally move forward on the long-planned all-female spinoff of The Expendables.
Via THR, Eclectic Pictures and Hollywood Ventures Group are teaming on what is described as a “female-driven expansion” of the action franchise, tentatively titled Expendabelles.
The project is part of a new slate of “globally commercial films” the companies are developing together, which was unveiled Friday at the Cannes Film Festival. Producers are now in talks with distribution partners, financiers, and creative talent.
Expendabelles Gets Reworked As A Late-1990s Origin Story
The new version of Expendabelles will serve as an origin story set in the late 1990s during the height of Y2K-era tension and geopolitical uncertainty.
The movie is expected to introduce a new generation of elite female operatives in what producers describe as “a stylized, action-driven cinematic event designed to expand the mythology of the franchise while standing firmly on its own.”
The project is moving forward “with the support of Lionsgate,” according to THR. Lionsgate acquired the rights to The Expendables franchise late last year.
Original 2014 Version Had A Very Different Plot
Expendabelles has been kicking around Hollywood for more than a decade.
Back in 2014, Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic was attached to direct a version written by Legally Blonde scribes Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah for Millennium Films.
The earlier version reportedly followed female operatives who had to pose as call girls to rescue a nuclear scientist being held hostage.
It is probably safe to say that version would not go over well today.
The new take appears to be moving away from that setup and instead building the film around a period-piece action origin story tied to the larger Expendables universe.
Producers Say The Time Is Now
Expendabelles will be produced by Eclectic’s Heidi Jo Markel and HVG co-founder Glenn Gainor.
The executive producer team includes HVG co-founder Sandy Climan, Thirteenth Studios’ Joe Smith, Nelly Kim, Julie Kroll, Stephen R. Foreht, and John Yarincik.
Eclectic Pictures and Hollywood Ventures Group are currently in the packaging phase and are “actively assembling” creative talent for the movie.
“We are thrilled to finally bring Expendabelles to life alongside our incredible partners at Hollywood Ventures Group, who share our passion for reimagining this property on a much larger cinematic scale,” Markel said in a statement. “There has always been a strong global appetite for female-driven action franchises, and we believe the time is now to introduce a bold new generation of elite operatives into this universe. What excites us most is the opportunity to elevate the material by pairing it with top-tier creative talent and delivering a fresh, stylish, adrenaline-fueled experience for worldwide audiences.”
Gainor added: “We see this as an opportunity to honor the DNA of what made The Expendables resonate globally, while evolving it in a way that feels both timely and commercially compelling. This is a world audiences know, but we’re introducing them to it in a way they’ve never seen before.”
No Cast Or Director Announced Yet
No cast, director, writer, release date, or filming start has been announced.
The project is still in the packaging stage, which means the producers are trying to lock down the creative team, financing, distribution, and talent.
The Expendables franchise has always leaned on veteran action stars, with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and others appearing across the movies.
The big question now is who Expendabelles can land to make the spinoff feel like more than a gender-swapped version of the same idea.
(note: featured image is fan art)
