The Expendables 5: Guns, Grit, and a Glorious Goodbye – Or Just Another Flop in Waiting?

The Expendables franchise once promised the ultimate bro-down of action icons—Stallone, Statham, Schwarzenegger, and more—blasting through bad guys with enough explosions to level a small country. But after Expend4bles (2023) limped to a $51 million worldwide gross against a $100 million budget, the series is on life support. Enter The Expendables 5: Rumors swirl of a two-part finale in 2025 and 2027, with Sly Stallone scripting a “love letter” to the genre. As of October 1, 2025, it’s all smoke and mirrors—no greenlight, no cast announcements, just fan wishlists and X hype. Is this the explosive send-off we deserve, or a zombie sequel shambling toward irrelevance? Let’s reload and review the intel.

Quick Recap: From Bulletproof to Box-Office Bomb

The saga kicked off in 2010 with Stallone’s The Expendables, a $82 million earner that assembled grizzled vets for a pulpy rescue op. Expendables 2 (2012) upped the ante with Arnie and Willis, grossing $314 million and earning a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes for its self-aware schlock. Expendables 3 (2014) bloated the cast with Gibson, Ford, and Banderas, but peaked at $214 million amid mixed reviews (32% RT). Then came Expend4bles—Scott Waugh directing a “new generation” squad (Statham leading, Megan Fox, 50 Cent, Iko Uwais)—which critics eviscerated (14% RT) for “lackluster CGI” and “cheap effects.” It debuted to $8 million domestically, cratered 69% in week two, and became Lionsgate’s summer embarrassment. Stallone faked his death in the plot (only to return), mirroring the franchise’s undead persistence.

Status Update: Rumors of Resurrection, But No Official Pulse

No official confirmation as of now—Lionsgate is radio silent post-flop. But whispers persist: Stallone is “actively working” on the script, per Dolph Lundgren in early 2024 interviews, teasing a two-parter where Part 1 (legacy crew) drops in 2025 and Part 2 (soft reboot with new blood) in 2027. It’s billed as the “largest ensemble” yet, a 3+ hour epic split for maximum carnage, with legacy kills to honor the genre’s “man-on-a-mission” roots. Randy Couture (Toll Road) hyped early development in late 2024, floating Guy Ritchie as director for a Statham reunion vibe. Fan-made trailers on X and Facebook peddle fake 2025 releases with Jackie Chan and The Rock, but those are pure AI bait.

On X, the vibe is split: Nostalgic fans list it in “best 2025 movies” dream rosters alongside Alita 2, while skeptics joke Stallone’s clinging to life “for Expendables 5.” One thread even pairs Cardi B with Sly and Marlon Wayans for a surreal cameo pitch. Overall, chatter’s light—mostly bots and wishful thinking, no insider scoops since spring 2025.

What Could Expendables 5 Look Like? (If It Dodges the Grave)

No plot deets, but expect a high-stakes global op: The team hunts a rogue AI arms dealer or cyber-terror cartel, blending old-school brawls with modern drone swarms. Two parts allow for epic arcs—Part 1 wraps legacy stories (STALLone’s Barney Ross finally retires… or dies for real?), Part 2 passes the torch to Statham’s Lee Christmas leading fresh faces. Fan-casting runs wild: Henry Cavill, Hemsworth, or even Cena for muscle; Weaver from the unmade Expendabelles spin-off. Ritchie directing? It’d inject Lock, Stock-style wit into the boom-boom formula. Runtime rumors hit 150+ minutes per part—think Avengers: Endgame for ’80s action nerds.

Strengths: Nostalgia Overload and Untapped Potential

If it fires, this could be the fix Expend4bles needed: Lean into meta-humor (STALLone roasting his age), amp the practical stunts over CGI slop, and deliver kills that honor icons like The Dirty Dozen. The two-parter format screams ambition—a proper eulogy for the ensemble action era. Couture’s tease of Ritchie adds edge, potentially saving Statham from straight-to-streaming purgatory. For fans, it’s catnip: More knife fights, one-liners, and that skull-logo swagger.

Weaknesses: Franchise Fatigue and Financial Fumbles

Expend4bles‘ stench lingers—why risk another $100M bomb? Critics slammed its “dated” vibe, and audiences (B CinemaScore) tuned out the forced youth injection. Stallone’s “last ride” pledge for 4 already feels bait-and-switch; killing Barney properly could break his “unkillable hero” curse, but only if scripted right. No female-led pivot (RIP Expendabelles) risks alienating 2025 crowds. Plus, X’s fake trailers erode trust—another delay, and it’s DOA.

Final Verdict: 4/10 Chance – Load Up on Skepticism

The Expendables 5 dangles the dream of one last glorious clusterbomb, but after 4‘s implosion, it’s more likely a ghost story than a blockbuster. If Stallone pulls it off as a two-part swan song, it’d be a 7/10 retro romp—explosive, heartfelt, and finally letting go. Until Lionsgate bites (maybe post-Cliffhanger 2 in 2026), treat it like a rumor mill grenade: Fun to toss around, zero detonation. Craving ’80s throwbacks? Rewatch Expendables 2 or hit Road House (2024) for modern grit.

Dream cast for the reboot squad? Or is the franchise finally expendable? Drop your clips below!

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