Lionsgate and Millenium Films have released the first trailer for The Expendables 3 that includes more than a roll call for its cast. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, will reprise their roles alongside newcomers Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Ronda Rousey, Harrison Ford, and Mel Gibson. Stallone worked with the writers of Olympus Has Fallen, Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt, on the screenplay with Patrick Hughes directing.
The trailer expands on the train scene shown in the previously released teaser and introduces the new twists for the third installment in this franchise. Mel Gibson will be our villain this time around as Conrad Stonebanks, one of the co-founders of the Expendables crew alongside Barney Ross (Stallone). The two have since had a falling out of sorts in which Ross let Stonebanks escape. Now Stonebanks has captured some younger members of the crew and Ross must call upon some old friends and some young blood for one last mission. One of the new additions will be Luna (Rousey), the first woman to join the Expendables, and the trailer hints at a technology specialist. Still, most of the action will likely involve shootouts, vehicle stunts, and massive explosions (none of which are in short supply during the two-plus minutes of footage above).
Despite Expendables 3 being the apparent conclusion to this story, we at mxdwn Movies have speculated that we will see more films from this franchise. Specifically, we know that director Robert Luketic is working with writers Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith on an all female spin-off, The Expendabelles. No cast has been announced for The Expendabelles although, if Rousey feels like reprising her role, Luna would be a good way to tie the two teams together.
The Expendables 3 will release in theaters on August 15. Rothenberger and Benedikt’s followup to Olympus, London Has Fallen is scheduled for October 2, 2015.