In a blockbuster announcement that dominated conversations at Cannes Film Festival 2026, Hollywood revealed that the The Expendables franchise is officially expanding with an all-female spin-off titled Expendabelles.
The project, described as a “female-driven expansion” of Sylvester Stallone’s iconic action universe, is being developed by Eclectic Pictures and Hollywood Ventures Group with the backing of Lionsgate, which acquired the franchise rights in 2025.
Announced during the festival’s opening week, Expendabelles marks one of the most ambitious genre experiments in recent blockbuster history, reviving a concept that has remained in development limbo for over a decade.
The film will serve as an origin story set in the late 1990s during the height of Y2K-era tension and geopolitical uncertainty — a choice that promises a fresh, stylized take on the franchise while standing firmly on its own cinematic identity.
A Decade in the Making
The journey to Expendabelles has been long and complicated.
The concept was originally conceived in 2014 alongside Millennium Films by Heidi Jo Markel, Patrick Muldoon and Julie Kroll — the same creative team behind Legally Blonde.
At the time, the project was envisioned as a story about female mercenaries posing as escorts to rescue a kidnapped nuclear scientist. That version was ultimately shelved, with Millennium producer Jeffrey Greenstein later admitting the challenge was “trying to find a way to justify why we’d have a woman team.”
Then came projects like Ocean’s 8 and Ghostbusters, which demonstrated that female-led franchise films could attract global audiences.
That momentum, combined with renewed interest in retro 1990s aesthetics, revived Expendabelles — now reimagined as a late-1990s origin story built around Y2K paranoia and global instability.
Cannes 2026 Announcement: The Official Reveal
The formal announcement came at Cannes 2026, where producers presented Expendabelles as part of a slate of major commercial projects.
Eclectic Pictures founder Heidi Jo Markel stated:
“We are thrilled to finally bring Expendabelles to life alongside our incredible partners at Hollywood Ventures Group. There has always been a strong global appetite for female-driven action franchises, and we believe the time is now.”
HVG co-founder Glenn Gainor added:
“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. This is a world audiences know, but we’re introducing them to it in a way they’ve never seen before.”
Production & Studio Backing
The project has earned major support from Lionsgate, which acquired the full rights to The Expendables franchise from Millennium Media in 2025.
This partnership gives Expendabelles access to the studio’s global distribution network and large-scale action production resources.
Expendabelles Production Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Expendabelles |
| Franchise | The Expendables spin-off |
| Setting | Late 1990s (1999–2000) |
| Core Theme | Y2K anxiety, geopolitical uncertainty, cyber-terrorism |
| Format | Standalone origin story |
| Production Companies | Eclectic Pictures, Hollywood Ventures Group |
| Studio Partner | Lionsgate |
| Status | Packaging phase / casting underway |
| Cannes Announcement | May 2026 |
Executive Producer Lineup
The production team includes several experienced industry names.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Producer | Heidi Jo Markel (Eclectic Pictures) |
| Co-Producer | Glenn Gainor (Hollywood Ventures Group) |
| Executive Producers | Sandy Climan, Joe Smith, Nelly Kim, Julie Kroll, Stephen R. Foreht, John Yarincik |
The Late 1990s Y2K Setting: What It Means
The decision to set Expendabelles in 1999–2000 gives the film a distinct identity compared to the mainline Expendables movies.
The story is expected to capture a world on the edge of the millennium, where fears of global digital collapse mixed with real geopolitical crises — from post-Soviet instability to global cyber-security anxieties.
Producers have described the film as “a stylized, action-driven cinematic event designed to expand the mythology of the franchise while standing firmly on its own.”
The setting also creates opportunities for a more analog style of espionage and combat. Instead of hyper-modern surveillance and AI-driven warfare, the film could lean into satellite phones, Cold War weapons caches, dead drops and old-school covert operations.
Y2K-Era Narrative Elements
| Element | How It Drives the Story |
|---|---|
| Y2K Bug Fears | Governments scramble to prevent infrastructure collapse |
| Pre-Social Media Spycraft | Operatives rely on analog tradecraft and physical intelligence |
| Cold War Residual Tensions | Rogue actors exploit post-Soviet instability |
| Early Internet Vulnerability | Cyber-terrorism emerges before modern safeguards |
| Geopolitical Flux | Arms deals, black-market operations and UN interventions |
Casting: A New Generation of Elite Operatives
Casting details remain tightly guarded, though industry speculation suggests the producers are targeting a high-profile ensemble.
Potential names linked to the project reportedly include actresses across multiple generations and action backgrounds.
Possible Casting Categories
| Category | Possible Talent Pool |
|---|---|
| Action Veterans | Gina Carano, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana |
| Drama & Action Crossover | Charlize Theron, Kate Beckinsale |
| Rising Stars | Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma Mackey |
| Martial Arts Specialists | Rina Takanashi, Iko Uwais, Angela Mao |
| Comedy-Action Bridge | Rebel Wilson, Awkwafina |
No official casting confirmations have been announced yet.
Why This Time Could Actually Work
Industry analysts point to several reasons why Expendabelles appears more viable now than during its original 2014 development phase.
What Changed Since the Original Attempt
| Factor | 2014 Version | 2026 Version |
|---|---|---|
| Female Action Market | Unproven | Proven by films like Atomic Blonde and The Hunger Games |
| 1990s Nostalgia | Limited | Strong global demand |
| Streaming Era | Still developing | Massive international reach |
| Studio Backing | Millennium only | Lionsgate + HVG partnership |
| Production Budget | Roughly $30M estimated | Estimated $80–100M |
| Audience Expectation | Uncertain | Strong appetite for female-led action |
Expendables Franchise Evolution
| Film | Year | Lead | Box Office (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Expendables | 2010 | Stallone | $170M+ |
| The Expendables 2 | 2012 | Stallone | $105M+ |
| The Expendables 3 | 2014 | Stallone | $82M |
| Expend4bles | 2023 | Stallone | $51M |
| Expendables 5 | 2026 | Stallone (reported) | Rumored summer/fall release |
| Expendabelles | TBA | All-female ensemble | In development |
Production Timeline & Release Outlook
With the packaging phase underway and Lionsgate’s support behind the project, Expendabelles is expected to move toward a full greenlight relatively quickly.
Industry estimates currently suggest the following timeline.
Projected Production Timeline
| Phase | Expected Period |
|---|---|
| Packaging & Casting | Q3 2026 – Q1 2027 |
| Pre-Production | Q2–Q3 2027 |
| Filming | Q4 2027 – Q1 2028 |
| Post-Production | Q2–Q3 2028 |
| Marketing Campaign | Q3–Q4 2028 |
| Theatrical Release | Late 2028 / Early 2029 |
The film is reportedly being positioned not only as a commercial action spectacle but also as a potential awards-season contender in technical categories like stunt choreography and action design.
Lionsgate appears eager to blend the franchise appeal of The Expendables with the stylish action sensibilities seen in projects like John Wick and Atomic Blonde.
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