The Fate of Jason Statham's Blockbuster Action Franchise Finally Revealed Actorsvaultpro

Marcos Melendez is an entertainment journalist who has been active since 2017. His past work can be read on Collider, Escapist, ScreenRant, CBR, and Full Circle Cinema. He is currently a News Editor for MovieWeb.

Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone‘s blockbuster action franchise may actually still be alive 15 years after the first film released in theaters. Although critics have never been fans of the series, it certainly has its fans, especially on streaming. The franchise’s future has been uncertain since the 2023 sequel, but it now seems like fans will be treated to more explosion mayhem soon enough.

It has been announced that Lionsgate has officially secured the rights to make future installments of The Expendables franchise, whether that be on film or television. The studio had previously disturbed the past four films, but it now has seemingly full control of the action property. A deal was struck with Millennium Media to acquire the franchise, as well as the upcoming Rambo prequel starring Noah Centineo. It is unclear if Lionsgate has concrete plans for The Expendables, but as Stallone has winded down on the action front, Statham could be poised to lead another installment.

The most recent film, Expend4bles, introduced several new faces to the crew, including Megan Fox. Unfortunately, critics were not thrilled with the star-studded endeavor, garnering a franchise-worst 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were more open to it, giving it a 67% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. That positive audience reception did not reflect strongly at the box office, as Expend4bles only managed to gross $37.9 million at the end of its theatrical run. With a $100 million budget, it was an alarming sign that the franchise may be at its end, but it seems Lionsgate might have other plans.