Update: Sorry, Cage fans. Stallone said his comments were taken out of context from an earlier junket and Cage is not involved with the project, Deadline reports. Check out the original story below.
Considering the first two films in The Expendables franchise have grossed a combined $550 million-plus worldwide, there’s no chance this series is coming to a halt. We got confirmation last week that producers were intent on a third film in action franchise and now we’ve got an update from Sylvester Stallone himself. Following initial rumors, Stallone, in an interview with El Pais, revealed that none other than “master actor” Nicolas Cage has been confirmed, while he’s still holding out hope for Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Mickey Rourke. Check out his translated quote below.
We are preparing the film with the same passion and commitment as the previous two. We have confirmed Nicolas Cage, a master actor who gives a veneer intellectual group. Hopefully we can realize to Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Mickey Rourke. That is the great mission of the producer. We will continue with the same narrative scheme, the agility and the frenzy, which are inherent to the saga. What will definitely be the last? I can not guarantee. In principle it would be two deliveries, but the affection of the people encouraged us to work on a third. I guess as long as we amused ourselves by offering fun and people, we can continue playing ‘The Expendables’. For now we are not as expendable as it should and as some critics want.
Sly Stallone
Considering the mostly positive critical reaction to the last film, I’m curious as to why he felt the need to take a jab at critics. It’s been clear from the onset these films are entirely critic-proof, but if this third film can indeed continue the uptick in quality, I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Cage battle it out. Ford still seems like quite a stretch, but the actor isn’t too picky when it comes to his roles as of late, so perhaps if the paycheck is big enough, he’ll take part.
What do you want to see in a third Expendables films?