Sylvester Stallone & Jason Statham’s The Expendables Is Coming Back, But Not How You Expect

The last The Expendables film was released almost three years ago and the franchise is already gearing up for a comeback with a twist. A new Expendables movie is in development, but it won’t center on Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, or any of the other male action icons.

What is the latest update for the new Expendables movie?

An all-female Expendables spin-off, titled The Expendabelles, is back in the works after more than a decade in development hell. The new film was announced at Cannes 2026 by Eclectic and HVG (via THR), as they seek financing and distribution partners.

“We are thrilled to finally bring Expendabelles to life alongside our incredible partners at Hollywood Ventures Group, who share our passion for reimagining this property on a much larger cinematic scale,” said Heidi Jo Markel, founder of Eclectic Pictures. “There has always been a strong global appetite for female-driven action franchises, and we believe the time is now to introduce a bold new generation of elite operatives into this universe. What excites us most is the opportunity to elevate the material by pairing it with top-tier creative talent and delivering a fresh, stylish, adrenaline-fueled experience for worldwide audiences.”

“We see this as an opportunity to honor the DNA of what made The Expendables resonate globally, while evolving it in a way that feels both timely and commercially compelling,” said HVG co-founder Glenn Gainor. “This is a world audiences know, but we’re introducing them to it in a way they’ve never seen before.”

According to the report, The Expendabelles will be set in the 1990s and serve as an origin story for the franchise. The film is planned to be a “stylized, action-driven cinematic event designed to expand the mythology of the franchise while standing firmly on its own.”

The film will be executive produced by HGV co-founder Sandy Climan, Thirteenth Studios’ Joe Smith, Nelly Kim, Kroll, Stephen R. Foreht, and John Yarincik.

The Expendables franchise has collected over $855 million at the box office with four films. A previous version of The Expendabelles was to be directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) before being shelved.