If The Expendables 4 is failing to explode at the box office – and it is, pulling in a franchise-worst $8.3 million on opening weekend – there could be a few factors at play. One of the biggest is that series stalwart Sylvester Stallone doesn’t have as big of a role as he did in the previous entries. Now, The Expendables’ heir apparent, Jason Statham, has stepped in to explain the lack of Sly.
In an interview with Cinema Express, Jason Statham said Stallone’s smaller presence in The Expendables 4 works, but it is definitely not enough.
“In this particular history, he is absent for reasons we are not talking about. we have to go through the ocean without him. There is something bad about not being around. So, we manage, history is history, we try with all our might, but the best days are when he is on the set.”
On the role of the franchise and how The Expendables 4 fits the mold, Jason Statham remarked,
“Expendables is a franchise where you come to have your coke and your popcorn, enjoy yourself. You are looking at thrills, heart and also laughs. That is the triple threat of Expendables and I feel we have been able to establish the fun factor in this movie, when you get to laugh, get to be on the end of your seat, but you also get to be rooting for these characters.”
Despite the fact that Jason Statham is obviously ready to direct “The Expendables” in a new direction, fans of the franchise may not be interested in it. Reception to the fourth film was low – especially due to Stallone’s limited screen time – and it can only continue to decrease, since Stallone said that “The Expendables 4” will be his last appearance in the role of Barney Ross.
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For box office comparison, the first Expendables took in $34.8 million on opening weekend, while the second and third movies saw $28.6 and $15.9, respectively.