Expend4bles
Expend4bles (also known as The Expendables 4) is a 2023 American action film directed by Scott Waugh and serving as the fourth installment in the Expendables franchise. The film stars an ensemble cast including Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in his final appearance as the team leader, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen, Randy Couture as Toll Road, and new additions such as Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Easy Day, Megan Fox as Gina, Tony Jaa, Andy Garcia as CIA agent Marsh, and Iko Uwais as the villain Rahmat. It follows the elite mercenary group, the Expendables, as they are recruited for a mission in Libya to retrieve stolen nuclear detonators and stop a plot that could spark World War III. Produced by Lionsgate and Millennium Films, the movie emphasizes over-the-top action sequences, explosive set pieces, and the franchise's signature blend of veteran action stars and emerging talent. The screenplay was written by Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, and Max Adams, from a story by Spenser Cohen, Kurt Wimmer, and Tad Daggerhart.[1] Filming commenced in September 2021 in locations including Bulgaria, Greece, and London, with Stallone wrapping his scenes by October of that year, marking a transitional phase for the series as it shifts away from his central role.[2] Producers Jason Statham, Avi Lerner, Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner, and Kevin King oversaw the project, aiming to revitalize the franchise with practical stunts and international martial arts influences from stars like Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais. Released theatrically on September 22, 2023, Expend4bles had a runtime of 103 minutes and was rated R for its intense violence and language.[3] Despite high expectations from fans of the genre, the film underperformed at the box office, opening to a franchise-low $8.0 million domestically and facing competition from other releases like The Nun II.[4] Critically, it received overwhelmingly negative reviews, earning a 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 123 critic scores, with detractors citing weak scripting, underdeveloped characters, and reliance on dated tropes.[5] However, audience reception was more favorable, achieving a 70% score on the same platform, suggesting appeal among action enthusiasts for its nostalgic cast reunions and adrenaline-fueled spectacle.[5]Synopsis
Plot
The film opens with a team of mercenaries led by Suarto Rahmat raiding a chemical plant in Libya, formerly owned by Muammar Gaddafi, where they slaughter soldiers guarding General Fezzan and his family. Rahmat executes Fezzan's wife and son before coercing the general into revealing codes necessary to arm nuclear warheads, securing the detonators as part of a larger plot to ignite World War III.[6] Barney Ross, the veteran leader of the elite mercenary group known as the Expendables, assembles his team—including Lee Christmas, Toll Road, Gunner Jensen, Easy Day, and Galan—for a CIA-sanctioned mission to intercept Rahmat and recover the stolen detonators. CIA operative Marsh briefs the team on Rahmat's ties to a shadowy terrorist mastermind called Ocelot, emphasizing the global stakes. During the chaotic assault on the Libyan facility, the Expendables clash fiercely with Rahmat's forces in a high-octane raid involving gunfire, explosions, and close-quarters combat; Barney's extraction plane is shot down by Rahmat in a dramatic aerial sequence, leading the team to believe he has perished. Devastated, especially Christmas, who grapples with personal loss and guilt over the failed extraction, the group withdraws, but internal tensions arise as Marsh sidelines Christmas and appoints Gina, Christmas's ex-girlfriend, as the new leader.[7][6] Determined to pursue vengeance and uncover Ocelot's identity, Christmas defies orders, tracking Gina's team to a freighter in the Malacca Strait suspected of transporting the warhead. He recruits additional ally Decha in Thailand to bolster their numbers amid brewing conflicts over leadership and strategy. The team infiltrates the ship in a tense stealth operation that erupts into a brutal onboard battle against Rahmat's henchmen, marked by knife fights, shootouts, and improvised weaponry; they are briefly captured after a betrayal exposes Ocelot's presence among the crew. Christmas orchestrates a daring escape, leading to a savage hand-to-hand showdown where he slays Rahmat with a tomahawk, but the plot twists when Marsh reveals herself as Ocelot, having orchestrated the chaos to provoke nuclear escalation between superpowers.[7][6][8] In the climactic assault and final confrontation on the vessel, Christmas prepares to sacrifice himself by manually detonating the warhead to prevent its use. However, Barney dramatically reappears, disclosing that his death in Libya was staged—using a decoy shrimp named "Jumbo Shrimp" and falsified evidence—to declassify files that would flush Ocelot from hiding, a ploy rooted in his long-standing vendetta against the terrorist. Barney eliminates Marsh in a helicopter assault, rescues Christmas, and ensures the ship sinks with the warhead exploding harmlessly underwater, averting global catastrophe. The surviving team reunites, celebrating Barney's survival and reflecting on their bonds forged through the ordeal.[7][6][9]Cast
The ensemble cast of Expend4bles continues the franchise's tradition of blending returning action icons with fresh talent, portraying a team of elite mercenaries assembled for high-stakes global operations.[1] The principal roles emphasize the group's diverse skills, from leadership and combat expertise to technological support, highlighting the film's focus on veteran dynamics and new blood.[10]| Actor | Role | Notes on Character Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sylvester Stallone | Barney Ross | The veteran leader of the Expendables, semi-retired but drawn back to mentor the team and provide strategic oversight.[10] |
| Jason Statham | Lee Christmas | The knife-wielding second-in-command who steps into a more prominent leadership role, showcasing his tactical prowess and loyalty to the group.[10] |
| Megan Fox | Agent Gina Caine | A CIA operative and tech/hacking expert, serving as Lee Christmas' ex-girlfriend and the team's new technological asset for intelligence and gadgetry.[11] |
| Dolph Lundgren | Gunner Jensen | The volatile demolitions specialist grappling with combat-induced stress, adding emotional depth to the team's high-risk maneuvers.[10] |
| Randy Couture | Toll Road | The explosives and weapons expert, contributing brute strength and vehicular skills to the ensemble's assault capabilities.[1] |
| Jacob Scipio | Galan | A laid-back but skilled new recruit who bolsters the team's fieldwork with his adaptability and camaraderie.[11] |
| Levy Tran | Lash | A fierce combat specialist and new member, enhancing the group's close-quarters fighting dynamics.[1] |
| 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) | Easy Day | The easygoing sniper and newcomer whose sharpshooting and humor inject levity into the mercenary unit.[10] |
| Tony Jaa | Decha Unai | A Thai special forces ally who brings martial arts expertise to support the Expendables in international ops.[11] |
| Iko Uwais | Suarto Rahmat | The cunning primary antagonist, an arms dealer leading a terrorist network that drives the central conflict.[10] |
| Andy García | Agent Marsh / Ocelot | The enigmatic CIA director who recruits and directs the team, revealing layers as the double-dealing Ocelot.[11] |
Production
Development
Following the release of The Expendables 3 in 2014, the fourth installment in the franchise was officially announced in November 2014, with an intended R rating and Patrick Hughes—director of the third film—initially attached to helm the project. In December 2016, Sylvester Stallone confirmed it would be the final film in the series, targeting a 2018 release. In March 2017, however, franchise co-creator and star Sylvester Stallone temporarily exited the production amid creative differences over the script, a new director, and the overall direction of the series.[12] Stallone rejoined the project by January 2018, helping to stabilize development as key cast members like himself and Jason Statham prepared to return.[13] The film's production faced further delays due to script revisions and the COVID-19 pandemic, but momentum built in 2021 when Scott Waugh was selected as director in August, succeeding Hughes after earlier considerations of other candidates. With a reported production budget of $100 million, the project emphasized high-stakes action sequences to revitalize the ensemble mercenary concept.[14] In April 2022, Lionsgate revealed the official title as Expend4bles at CinemaCon, shifting from the straightforward The Expendables 4 to incorporate a numeric pun for updated branding and to signal the film's evolution within the series.[15] This rebranding aligned with efforts to greenlight principal photography later that year, overcoming years of script revisions and logistical hurdles.[16]Writing
The screenplay for Expend4bles credits Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, and Max Adams as writers, with the story developed by Spenser Cohen alongside Wimmer and Daggerhart, building on characters originally created by David Callaham for the franchise.[1] In 2018, Gregory Poirier was initially announced as the screenwriter, indicating an early draft that underwent significant revisions before the final version. These changes incorporated a central plot centered on thwarting nuclear terrorism by a rogue operative and his organization seeking to acquire detonators for catastrophic attacks.[6] The script evolution emphasized the series' hallmark ensemble banter, with sharpened dialogue exchanges among the mercenaries to heighten camaraderie during high-stakes missions, while introducing updates for new team members such as Gina, a skilled operative and past romantic interest of Lee Christmas, and Easy Day, a tech expert and former special forces soldier who brings modern gadgetry to the group's traditional brute-force approach. This revision process balanced legacy characters with fresh dynamics, ensuring the narrative accommodates an expanded roster without diluting the core team's interactions. Thematically, the screenplay explores legacy through arcs reflecting the aging of action heroes like Barney Ross, who grapples with passing the torch amid personal losses, reinforced by dialogue that underscores the irreplaceable bonds of the team.[17] Loyalty emerges as a driving force in the script's character motivations, with betrayals and redemptions highlighting unwavering allegiance among the Expendables, even as they confront global threats that test their endurance.[18] These elements are woven into the dialogue and plot progression, portraying the protagonists not just as invincible fighters but as veterans confronting mortality while reaffirming their fraternal code.Casting
In August 2021, Lionsgate confirmed that core members of the ensemble would return for the fourth installment, including Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen, and Randy Couture as Toll Road.[19][20] These actors had been central to the franchise since its inception, providing continuity amid the series' tradition of rotating high-profile talent.[21] The same announcement introduced several new additions to inject fresh energy and action prowess into the team, with Megan Fox cast as Gina, a CIA operative and love interest for Statham's character, marking her entry into the franchise.[22] Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson was also revealed as Easy Day, a former Army Ranger joining the mercenaries, representing his prominent step into the series' ensemble action format following prior roles in films like Den of Thieves.[22][23] Tony Jaa, known for martial arts expertise in films such as Ong-Bak, was announced alongside them to bolster the fight choreography with his Muay Thai background.[22] In late October 2021, Iko Uwais, the Indonesian martial artist from The Raid series, joined as the primary antagonist Rahmat, a former soldier turned arms dealer, enhancing the film's global action diversity.[24][25] Levy Tran was later attached as Lash, another CIA agent, adding further representation with her stunt and martial arts skills to the increasingly international and gender-balanced roster.[26] Casting faced hurdles with returning alumni, as Antonio Banderas, who played the comedic Galgo in The Expendables 3, was unable to reprise the role due to scheduling conflicts with other commitments.[27][28] This led to script adjustments, including rumors of Wesley Snipes—another Expendables 3 veteran as Doc—potentially returning, which were ultimately dispelled as he did not join the production.[29] To address the gap and introduce a younger dynamic, Jacob Scipio was cast in November 2021 as Galan, Galgo's son and a new Expendable recruit, preserving the character's humorous essence while refreshing the ensemble.[30][31]Filming
Principal photography for Expend4bles commenced on September 29, 2021, in London, England, where exterior scenes featuring city landmarks such as Big Ben and Tower Bridge were captured.[32] The production then moved to Sofia, Bulgaria, utilizing Nu Boyana Film Studios for interior sets and major action sequences, including a large-scale desert aircraft hangar and runway built to represent Libyan locales.[33] Additional exterior shots were filmed around Sofia, with the Bulgarian coast doubling for other international settings.[33] In November 2021, the cast and crew relocated to Thessaloniki, Greece, for two weeks to shoot coastal scenes on a constructed set on the city's east side, standing in for Libyan environments depicted in the plot; during this time, two crew members were injured in a stunt accident, causing minor delays but no significant interruptions.[34][35] Filming wrapped on December 3, 2021, after approximately two months of shooting.[36] Director Scott Waugh, drawing from his experience as a former stunt performer—including doubling for Robin Williams in Hook (1991)—oversaw the action choreography, emphasizing practical effects for high-octane sequences.[37] Stunt coordinator Alan Ng led the coordination of intricate fight scenes, explosions, and vehicle chases, incorporating Hong Kong-style martial arts influences to differentiate the combat from prior installments in the series.[38][39] Production adhered to COVID-19 protocols throughout filming, resulting in minor delays but no significant interruptions to the schedule. Several cast members, including Jason Statham and Iko Uwais, participated in their own stunts to enhance authenticity in the hand-to-hand combat sequences.[40]Post-production
Following principal photography, which wrapped in December 2021, post-production on Expend4bles commenced, overseen by director Scott Waugh and producer Sylvester Stallone. The editing process was led by editor Michael J. Duthie, who emphasized tight pacing for the film's action sequences to heighten tension and momentum across over 1,500 visual effects shots. This involved refining cuts to balance rapid-fire combat with character moments, ensuring the ensemble-driven narrative flowed seamlessly despite the project's scale. Visual effects work was extensive, with Worldwide FX delivering 897 shots, including CGI enhancements for large-scale explosions, vehicular destruction, and environmental extensions in key set pieces like nuclear threat sequences and submarine interiors. The studio collaborated with NBFX for full CG elements in underwater and high-stakes action, alongside contributions from FX3X, Axis Studios, and Peerless for compositing and matte paintings that integrated practical stunts with digital augmentation. These efforts aimed to amplify the film's over-the-top aesthetic while maintaining a grounded feel for the mercenaries' world. Sound design, handled by Gord Hillier, incorporated layered audio for gunfire, blasts, and ambient tension, with re-recording to achieve immersive Dolby Atmos mixing that underscored the chaos of battles. Color grading was performed by Vanessa Taylor at Company 3, applying a desaturated, gritty palette to evoke a battle-worn tone, with rich shadows and muted highlights to enhance the raw intensity of the visuals. The film's title was finalized as Expend4bles during this phase, reflecting a playful numeric pun on the series. The final runtime was set at 103 minutes.Soundtrack
Composition
Guillaume Roussel, a French composer known for his work on action-oriented films such as 3 Days to Kill (2014) and Black Beauty (2020), was selected to create the original score for Expend4bles. His involvement was publicly announced on April 26, 2023, marking a departure from Brian Tyler, who had composed the music for the franchise's first three installments.[41] The score's style was influenced by director Scott Waugh's directive to abandon Tyler's established orchestral motifs in favor of a more aggressive sound incorporating rock and hip-hop elements, aimed at heightening the film's themes of high-stakes heroism and intense action sequences.[42] This approach blended Roussel's typical lighter orchestral tendencies with edgier, contemporary rhythms to underscore the narrative's tension and ensemble dynamics.[42] Composition occurred during post-production, which followed the completion of principal photography in late 2021, allowing integration of the score with the film's sound design for key action cues. The main theme, in particular, draws inspiration from the franchise's longstanding motifs of rugged camaraderie and explosive confrontations, adapting them to the new stylistic framework.[42]Track listing
The original score for Expend4bles was composed by Guillaume Roussel and released digitally on September 22, 2023, by Millennium Media Records.[43] The album features 12 tracks, totaling 26 minutes and 26 seconds. The following table lists the tracks with their durations:| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New Squad | 2:01 |
| 2 | A Horrible Loss | 2:27 |
| 3 | Here We Go | 1:50 |
| 4 | Introducing Decha | 2:12 |
| 5 | Marsh Runs the Show | 2:40 |
| 6 | Trouble Ahead | 2:14 |
| 7 | Bike, Explosions and Death | 3:13 |
| 8 | Battle on the Deck | 2:12 |
| 9 | The Final Duel | 1:41 |
| 10 | Finding Ocelot | 1:12 |
| 11 | Redemption | 1:57 |
| 12 | Expend4bles Main Theme | 2:43 |