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The Expendables 4, also known asExpend4bles, has been the least successful entry in the action thriller franchise known for starring iconic action stars, including Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren. Starting from 2010, the franchise has released four movies so far and has also expanded into comic books and video games. However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding the film series, the latest installment faced both commercial and critical setbacks.
The film was heavily panned by critics for its plot, action sequences, visual effects and particularly due to the absence of the original cast. Talking about the movie in a recent interview, Dolph Lundgren, who plays Gunner Jensen in the franchise, revealed the real reason for its failure.
Read More:Before Refusing Expendables, Jackie Chan Rejected Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock’s $159M Cult Classic to Protect His Image
Dolph Lundgren On WhyThe Expendables 4Failed
In a recent interview withScreen Rant, actor and martial artist,Dolph Lundgren, reflected on the reasons the fourth installment inThe Expendablesended up being a major failure. Expressing his dissatisfaction with the film’s performance, Lundgren cited Sylvester Stallone’s absence as one of the key reasons contributing to its failure.
He shared that although he was able to identify the issues with its script, he could not“weigh in on”it. However, he suggested that Stallone would have kept such things in check.“I know Stallone wasn’t involved like he usually is,”he said, emphasizing that theRockystar maintains a certain standard with a movie when he is involved.
“He just played a character in it, and when he’s in charge, the quality is going to be pretty good, it doesn’t drop below a certain level. But he wasn’t involved.”
The Oscar-nominated actor had been significantly involved in the production of the first three films in the franchise. In addition to his on-screen presence, he directed the firstExpendablesfilm and co-wrote the scripts for all the first three movies as well.
However,Sylvester Stallonereportedly disassociated himself fromThe Expendables 4due to creative differences. Although he returned to the sequel, he had limited screen time in the movie. And the lack of the original stars was one of the many reasons the movie was heavily panned by critics.
Read More:“Can’t we just do you and me?”: Jackie Chan Wanted Sylvester Stallone to Ditch Jason Statham, Megan Fox for Expendables 4
Why Sylvester Stallone Was Not Significantly Involved inExpend4bles
Earlierreportssuggested that Sylvester Stallone initially withdrew fromThe Expendables 4due to his creative differences with Millennium Media chief Avi Lerner. These disagreements were reportedly on a new director, the script, and other“qualitative elements”related to the film.
It was also claimed that theRambostar was concerned about the underwhelming response to the movie and was contemplating leaving the film. However, considering Lerner and Stallone’s dynamics, some sources claimed they would sort things out.
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The Millennium Media chief also addressed these issues, saying,“We’ve got disagreements with Sly, but we’ve had them for over a year and a half.”Soon, Stallone also hinted at his return to the franchise. While Patrick Hughes was initially slated to direct the movie, Scott Waugh was announced as the film’s director in 2021.
Dolph Lundgren highlighted the issue with the decision in his recent interview as he shared,“The director was replaced, like, a month before shooting.”Waugh also received criticism for his direction, withThe Expendables 4being labeled a“huge waste”of some of the most talented Hollywood stars.
The Expendablesfranchise is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV +.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3450
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
