Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic action star, recently addressed his role in The Expendables 4, and the verdict is clear: he won’t be a part of it. In a recent interview, Schwarzenegger stated that appearing in the entire trilogy of testosterone-fueled action throwback movies, at the request of Sylvester Stallone, was more than he had ever anticipated. Therefore, the idea of returning for Expendables 4 is out of the question.
Schwarzenegger explained, “It’s done, and I’m not in it. I said, ‘You know what, we have done this, and I’m out of it.’ And [Stallone] really understood. I did [the first Expendables] as a favor to Sly. I shot it on a Saturday for two hours quickly in a church with Bruce Willis. Sly said, ‘Oh, can you do Expendables 2?’ and I did that for a weekend. Then it was expanded for Expendables 3. And that was it. We’re going to do something together one day.”
The Legacy of The Expendables Trilogy
The Expendables Trilogy brought together action movie stars from the ’80s and ’90s, featuring major roles or cameo appearances. One memorable moment in the original Expendables (2010) occurred when Schwarzenegger joined Bruce Willis for a cameo scene.
Their characters, Barney Ross (Stallone) and Trench (Schwarzenegger), engaged in a competition for a mercenary contract, with CIA agent “Mr. Church” (Willis) overseeing the affair. Fans delighted in seeing these three action icons onscreen, engaging in meta-machismo banter, and this scene played a significant role in launching the successful franchise.
In The Expendables 2, Schwarzenegger and Willis had more substantial supporting roles. Trench and Church came to the team’s aid during a crucial moment and displayed their firepower in the final battle to recover plutonium from terrorists. Willis exited the franchise after Expendables 2, but Schwarzenegger returned for the third film, once again participating in a few dialogue and action scenes.
However, Trench’s cameo appearances became increasingly minimal with each subsequent installment. It seems Schwarzenegger felt that the welcome, both on and off-screen, had been exhausted. He and Stallone have collaborated on other projects, such as the 2013 jailhouse action flick Escape Plan, which garnered only moderate success at the box office.
What to Expect from The Expendables 4
In The Expendables 4, Jason Statham will transition from a co-star to a lead role, as confirmed by Sylvester Stallone. The film will also feature Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Megan Fox, alongside returning franchise veterans Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, and Randy Couture.
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Additionally, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, Andy Garcia, and Iko Uwais will make appearances, with Uwais portraying the movie’s villain. Directed by Scott Waugh (known for Act of Valor), the plot revolves around The Expendables team facing off against an arms dealer who commands his private army—a classic Expendables storyline.
The anticipated release date for The Expendables 4 is September 22nd. Fans can look forward to another action-packed installment in this beloved franchise, albeit without Arnold Schwarzenegger’s presence.
