Written by Dude
In the fallout of the Expendables films, studios have been scrambling to make their own ensemble action films in an attempt to cash in on their success. Here we take a look at the ones currently filming.
Ten
David Ayer’s Ten, which had temporarily been retitled Breacher, has rounded up one hell of a cast. As we’ve reported the film as about a squad of DEA agents (Ten of them it’s assumed) being hunted down by a lone assassin.
Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Josh Holloway, Malin Akerman, Olivia Williams and Joe Manganiello have joined the film since Arnold signed up.
Not all of the actors roles are clear, we do know that Arnold will be playing the leader of the squad, according to David Ayer, his character will be heavily tattooed, with a grey buzz cut and be far more villainous than other characters he’d played. Holloway will be the roughneck Medic on Arnold’s team, Olivia Williams will be a cop investigating the deaths and Terrence Howard will also be one of the team members, who wants to back stab Arnold and run away with his share of the loot (literally the most likely movie character to die in the history of cinema).
Filming commenced October 20th, which will last three months. Unlike The Expendables 2, there is no ratings controversy, this will be rated R from the get go.
Homefront
One of Arnold’s potential love children, Jason Statham has his own eclectic ensemble currently shooting. The Sylvester Stallone scripted/Gary Fleder directed Homefront has added the villainous team of James Franco, Wynona Ryder, Kate Bosthworth and Frank Grillo (Rachel Leffarve and Omar Miller also have small roles in the film)
Although Frank Grillo is a tough dude, they’ll need to stack up the villain side a bit more as they’re still severely under matched against the guy who punched Uri Boyka through a helicopter.
The plot concerns former DEA agent Phil Broker (The Stath) who moves his family to a quiet town, where he soon tangles with a local meth druglord Gator (Franco). Ryder and Grillo will play bikers who work for Gator, while Bosthworth will play Gator’s methhead sister.
A set photo of Grillo, can also rule out a PG-13 rating here too.
Red 2
The sequel to 2010’s sleeper hit has a new director, Dean Parisot, known for the amazing Galaxy Quest. Bruce Willis, Mary Louise Parker, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich will return , this time joined by Catherine Zeta Jones, Lee Byun Hung, David Thewlis and Anthony Hopkins.
There’s no definitive plot synopsis yet, however some of the new cast members will join the team as opposed to being all nemesis. Anthony Hopkins will play a mad scientist and David Thewlis will play an arms dealer named The Frog. The film has a release date of 3rd August 2013. Taking the Expendables slot.
Fast 6
At the exponential rise in quality of each Fast/Furious film, this one may be an awards contender. There’s no plot beyond two heist crews competing for the same target (According to Diesel, they can’t fit all the plot into one film *Rolls eyes, makes jerking off motion*). Vin and co. return to take on a heist crew led by Luke Evans and The Raid’s Joe Talsim, Michelle Rodriguez’ Letty is revealed to be alive and for good measure Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, aka the best part of the entire franchise is back, this time with soon to be action legend (And legendary pisshead) Gina Carano as his partner.
You can watch them fight a giant tank on May 24, 2013.
Machete Kills
I’ll let the plot synopsis speak for itself;
“ “The second film in the Machete trilogy finds Machete mourning the loss of [SPOILER], slain during a run in with the cartels. Machete is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man. Machete must battle his way through Mexico to take down a cartel leader, Mendez the Madman, who threatens to fire a missile on the US. Machete foils Mendez’s plot only to find that the missiles are remote wired to and triggered by the madman’s still beating heart. The only man who can disarm the missile is eccentric billionaire arms dealer, Luther Voz, who has hatched a plan of his own to spread war across the planet with a weapon in space. Machete takes on Voz and his army in order to dismantle his master plan for global anarchy”
There’s nothing I can possibly add to this. Open Road Films will distribute instead of 20th Century Fox who released the first Machete. Click the link to see the insanely large cast.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Not at all a film to watch out for, you may want to check it out if you’re a fan of Daniel Bernhardt. He’ll be appearing as something called “District 9 Tribute Boy”.
Finally, some news tidbits, for your pleasure;
James Cameron may finally be returning to our genre! His production company Lightstorm has picked up the right to Taylor Stevenson’s novel, The Informationist. The film concerns a woman with a particular set of skills being recruited to rescue a Texan Oil magnate’s daughter in the jungles of Africa. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Taken meets Tears of the Sun. I can dig it.
Gina Carano has a few more ensemble films in her future. The first being In the Blood, also co starring Stephen Lang as her equally, if not more, badass father and Danny Trejo as Big Biz, the equally, if not more gangster who kidnaps her husband.
The new Die Hard movie has a release date! No, not A Good Day to Die Hard, but Olympus Has Fallen! Film District will release the film April 5th, 2013.
Lastly, test screenings for Sly and Arnold team up The Tomb are yielding very positive reviews. The film is definitely going to be rated R and Stallone and Arnold will finally fight on screen!