Expendabelles Spin-Off Announced

Eclectic Pictures and Hollywood Ventures Group (HVG) have announced an all-female spin-off of The Expendables, titled Expendabelles. The film will be an origin story set in the late 1990s amid Y2K-era tension. The concept, developed by Heidi Jo Markel, Patrick Muldoon and Julie Kroll, moves forward with Lionsgate’s support after the studio acquired franchise rights last year. Producers are in packaging, seeking distribution and financing.

Hollywood Reporter

The Expendables debuted in 2010 with a worldwide gross above $100 million. A 2014 Millennium Films proposal featuring female operatives never materialized. Subsequent releases—*The 355* (2022) and 2019 *Charlie’s Angels* reboot—earned $27 million and $73 million worldwide, underscoring market challenges for female-led action franchises.

Hollywood Reporter

Heidi Jo Markel (Eclectic Pictures) and Glenn Gainor (HVG) lead production. Executive producers: Sandy Climan, Joe Smith, Nelly Kim, Julie Kroll, Stephen R. Foreht and John Yarincik. Lionsgate holds franchise rights.

Hollywood Reporter

The Expendables (2010) grossed >$100 million worldwide; *The 355* (2022) earned $27 million; *Charlie’s Angels* (2019) earned $73 million globally.

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Markel said the project meets demand for female-driven action and will introduce a new generation of elite operatives. Gainor noted the spin-off honors the original franchise’s DNA while updating it for contemporary audiences. The producers confirmed active development with talent and financing negotiations.

Hollywood Reporter

The box-office returns of *The 355* and *Charlie’s Angels* show market risk for female-centric action franchises, prompting investor caution.

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• “trying to find a way to justify why we’d have a woman team.” — Jeffrey Greenstein, Millennium Films

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• “We are thrilled to finally bring Expendabelles to life alongside our incredible partners at Hollywood Ventures Group, who share our passion for reimagining this property on a much larger cinematic scale,” — Heidi Jo Markel, Eclectic Pictures

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• “There has always been a strong global appetite for female-driven action franchises, and we believe the time is now to introduce a bold new generation of elite operatives into this universe. What excites us most is the opportunity to elevate the material by pairing it with top-tier creative talent and delivering a fresh, stylish, adrenaline-fueled experience for worldwide audiences.” — Heidi Jo Markel, Eclectic Pictures

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• “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.” — Glenn Gainor, Hollywood Ventures Group

Hollywood Reporter

The sources provide a consistent description of the project; no contradictory reports have been identified.

Hollywood Reporter

The team will finalize roster and secure distribution deals in the coming months, with production slated after financing is confirmed and a mid-2020s release target.

Hollywood Reporter