Lionsgate
There are only so many aged action movie stars left to add to The Expendables sequels, but what about all those past-their-prime TV actors who played heroes on the small screen? Well, they’re actually getting their own spin-off project, according to Deadline. Sylvester Stallone, the star and producer of the Expendables movies is now developing a show for Fox, which reportedly will do for action TV series stars what the big screen version has done with guys like Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Wesley Snipes and Chuck Norris. The plot is similar to that of the first movie, an elite mercenary team of vets on a mission to stop a terrorist.
Just imagine the has-beens that could make their comeback via this concept. Let’s consider the biggest equivalents from the 1980s. As Deadline noted, Mr. T is essential. So is Tom Selleck, who they also name. But here are some of my own desired additions: Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man; The Fall Guy), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider; Baywatch), Jan-Michael Vincent (Airwolf), Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) and Tom Wopat and John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard). Don Johnson is probably available, too.
If they need some ’90s guys, definitely Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) and David Caruso (NYPD Blue). Actually Caruso is a good bet given that he more recently starred on NCIS: Miami, part of the television franchise produced by Shane Brennan, who will be this Expendables series’ showrunner. Now, how about a young recruit? They should just reuse Kellan Lutz. The best thing about this being a TV series is that not all of them need to be regulars. Every week could bring in a nostalgia-feeding guest star.
While not officially greenlit, Fox has ordered a script, which will be written by Greg Coolidge (Ride Along) and Kirk Ward, who will also serve as executive producers alongside Stallone. Avi Lerner, who is a producer of the Expendables movie series, including the planned fourth and fifth installments plus the all-female Expendabelles, is also on board.