American action star, writer and director, Sylvester Stallone, is already talking about a sequel to his summer blockbuster The Expendables, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The Rocky star has confirmed he will reprise the role of Barney Ross, but will not be writing or directing this time around. Stallone co-wrote the original movie with David Callaham, and went on to direct and star in the hugely successful movie about a group of elite mercenaries who overthrow a brutal dictator.
However, even before the original opened, he’d been working on an idea for the sequel. He’s met with directors , and says they’re “going to try something that’s quite radical,” and are planning to add new characters and reduce the role of older characters.
The script for the new movie has reportedly been written by David Agosto and Ken Kaufman (Space Cowboys, Curious George), said a source.
Apart from Stallone, no other actors have been confirmed for the sequel. The original film starred a bevy of male action heroes including Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, and Randy Couture – along with cameos from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Mickey Rourke. Jean Claude Van Damme reportedly kicked himself for turning down a role.
Released last year, The Expendables earned $224 million in worldwide box office. The second instalment will be released in 2012.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Stallone will be providing the voice of the lion in Zookeeper, due out on July 8. In May, he starts shooting Headshot, an action movie in which he plays the role of Hitman, due out in 2012.