It seems that old dogs like the Expendables movies from Lionsgate can still learn new tricks, or at least bring in some fresh blood. The surprisingly long-running series has seen its fair share of veteran actors over its 10+ year history, which many would agree is arguably the franchise's biggest draw. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jason Statham have all enjoyed that limelight over the years, and things look to be about the same for the upcoming 4th chapter. But now, somebody new is joining the star-studded cast, and he might give the seasoned action heroes a run for their money.
Indonesian actor, stuntman, and martial artist Iko Uwais will take part in Lionsgate's The Expendables 4, joining other new faces like Megan Fox. But rather than joining with the heroes, he'll be the new villain this time around. It takes one look at his career to instantly realize he's a perfect fit for such a role. But even without that knowledge, it's clear he's up for the task, as proven by a series of gritty set photos teased by Statham praising Uwais' abilities.
Statham posted the images to Instagram, offering a mix of heavy action shots between himself and the newcomer as well as some much more light-hearted behind-the-scenes pictures. From an intense knife fight to the duo sporting wide grins for the camera, it's clear there's a lot of respect there between the English actor and his new costar. As if it wasn't obvious enough, Statham even added his own words of admiration in the caption. "A real honour to spend some screen time with the incredibly talented [Iko Uwais]," he wrote. "A true master of his game and a powerhouse of speed and skills that take a lifetime to achieve. Massive respect for all that you do brother."
The Expendables as a series was primarily created as an homage to classic action movies from the '80s and '90s, bringing together action stars from those eras and beyond to team up as an ensemble cast that was likely a dream come true for anybody who grew up watching them. Co-created by Stallone himself alongside screenwriter and producer David Callaham, the films have pretty much all been successful, proving that sometimes, the audience really just wants to have a good time.
Uwais, who looks overjoyed to be taking part in the upcoming sequel, has enjoyed a respectable career in martial arts movies over the years. From hits like The Raid, The Raid 2, and Netflix's Wu Assassins series to even a small appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the nimble actor clearly knows what he's doing and has plenty more fight left in him. Hey, if Statham vouches for him, that's got to be good enough for everyone else.
The Expendables 4 looks to be just as much of the pulse-pounding action flick that fans have grown to expect from the series. But more of the same isn't always a bad thing, and all the photos released so far by Stallone are just as exciting every time he teases more. Sometimes all an audience needs is some good old-fashioned punching and shooting to get through the day.
The Expendables 4 is set to release theatrically in 2022.
Source: Jason Statham/Instagram