2010’s The Expendables was something of an older action star supergroup. The cast was a who’s who of badasses from films spanning from the ’80s until the present day (of 2010). The sequel upped the ante, bringing more stars on board and boasting even bigger set pieces.
The third film, due to its PG-13 rating and an overabundance of CGI, did not fare as well with critics or at the box office. A fourth installment is on its way, and while it is too early to say anything about it, our minds are already wondering which new faces will be on board for the sequel. To that effect, here are ten action stars we want to see in The Expendables 4.
Jackie Chan
Few people have sacrificed their bodies for actions films as much as Jackie Chan. The Hong Kongese actor has risked life countless times in the name of a good stunt, often ending film shoots with serious injuries.
At over sixty years old, he doesn’t take the same risks, but he still can pull off impressive action scenes, as shown in 2017’s The Foreigner. Maybe Chris Tucker could tag along too, just for a good laugh.
Pierce Brosnan
The team needs a suave gentleman akin to James Bond. Who better to play the archetype than an actor who played 007 in the past?
Pierce Brosnan still has his dashing good looks and charm, bringing a totally different set of skills to the team. One can already picture the team making fun of his smooth-talking style, as they continually call him British despite his constant reminders that he is in fact, Irish.
Iko Uwais
Indonesian Martial Arts films are some of the most brutal experiences one can see short of watching actual snuff films. Movies like The Raid, The Night Comes For Us, and Headshot feature intense hand to hand fights to the death where people beat each other to red pulps in gruesome ways.
It’s not all about the violence though, as one has to appreciate the extreme discipline it takes to master any of the martial arts on display. One actor prominently featured in several of these films is Iko Uwais. He has already been in several Hollywood productions, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to end up in Stallone’s film.
Dwayne Johnson
The one thing stopping the man formerly known as The Rock from being in the next film is his asking price might be more than the budget. The former wrestler is such a crowd-pleaser that his current popularity could open up the franchise to whole new audiences.
It has been a while since he acted in an R-rated flick, with most of his recent output has been for the whole family, but fans would hope he’d make an exception for Stallone.
Linda Hamilton
A couple of years ago this seemed unlikely, but the odds look better these days with the upcoming release of Terminator: Dark Fate. As long as Linda Hamilton is back in shape and kicking butt the same way she did in the early ’90s, why not keep up the streak by doing another action film.
Some people may be turned off by the predominantly male cast, so this should remedy that. She wouldn’t just be the woman in there for diversity’s sake, though. Linda is a beloved and talented actress with an incredible presence.
Yayan Ruhian
One of The Raid’s best moments pits the main character and his brother against Mad Dog in a two-versus-one battle. The three inflict unbelievable amounts of damage on each other over the course of the encounter, it’s hard to believe any of them are left standing by the end of it.
The actor who played Mad Dog, Yayan Ruhian, choreographed much of the fighting and was brought back for the sequel as a different character. Stallone would be smart to bring the veteran martial artist on board for some visceral combat scenes.
Chow Yun-Fat
Maybe he can’t throw his body around the same way he used to do in those iconic Hong Kong action films, but this star’s legacy more than justifies inclusion in The Expendables 4. On camera, we’re sure Chow Yun-Fat can still throw down with the best of them t00.
Despite the number of stunts in these films, he’d probably be a lot safer on the set of an Expendables than he was on those old John Woo movies, where he risked life and limb several times for the sake of a good stunt.
Peter Weller
Peter Weller’s most iconic role obscures his face for the majority of his time on camera, but it nevertheless managed to make him a familiar name. Since RoboCop, he hasn’t done much action, but he still appears in the genre, usually as a villain. Would his theoretical inclusion in the new Expendables be an homage to his android past, or would it make no mention of his role as Murphy?
Either way, fans are hoping that the film turns out to be at least half as violent as Paul Verhoeven’s cyberpunk masterpiece.
Sigourney Weaver
The Alien star seems like a perfect fit for the movie, either as a part of the team or a villain. She wouldn’t have colonial marines at her side, but she could still have a flamethrower and a cat.
Even if she didn’t participate in any action sequences, Sigourney Weaver’s addition to the roster would still be appreciated by fans everywhere. At almost six feet tall, the script can poke fun about her standing taller than several of the cast members, including Stallone and Jason Statham.
Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell came to audience’s attention through his work with John Carpenter. Several of his most iconic roles were in Carpenter’s films, including Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From New York, and The Thing. Russell is still working hard and smart, appearing in modern classics like Bone Tomahawk and The Hateful Eight along with blockbusters like The Fast and The Furious franchise.
The actor shows no signs of slowing down, so Stallone should give him a call and get him on board for the team’s next fight.
Next: Sylvester Stallone’s 10 Toughest Characters
