How many action beefcakes can you cram into one movie? The Expendables 4 pushes it to the limit, cramming an assortment of genre icons, plus a raft of relative newcomers, into a story where the explosions come before the thinking.
The Expendables series began back in 2010, envisaged by Rocky and Rambo figurehead Sylvester Stallone. With every subsequent movie, Stallone, his cast and crew have expanded the Expendables ranks, layering a healthy dose of nostalgia over your popcorn.
The fourth movie is released in Cineworld this week, including 4DX and Superscreen engagements. Here's your essential recap of faces both familiar and unfamiliar.
Sylvester Stallone is... Barney Ross
The de facto leader of the ragtag Expendables brigade, Barney steps aside in this latest instalment and appoints Lee Christmas (see below) as the new team leader. Franchise instigator and action icon Sylvester Stallone may have less screentime as Ross in the fourth Expendables movie but he's still on board as producer and creative chief.
Jason Statham is... Lee Christmas
Britain's finest, Jason Statham, portrays Barney Ross' loyal sidekick and second-in-command, one who has been there since the inception of the Expendables. In the fourth movie, Lee Christmas as appointed as the new team leader by the absentee Barney, meaning we're poised to get more gruff one-liners than ever before.
Dolph Lundgren is... Gunner Jensen
The unpredictable and volatile Gunner Jensen has long suffered post-traumatic stress from his combat experiences. Actor Dolph Lundgren, who has been with the franchise since the beginning and also sparred with Sylvester Stallone in 1985's Rocky IV, says the character has now sobered up. We're not getting that impression from the poster...
Tony Jaa is... Decha
Thai martial arts legend Tony Jaa, renowned for the bone-breaking likes of the Ong-Bak series, portrays new team recruit Decha.
50 Cent is... Easy Day
Another new recruit to the Expendables squad, gun-toting Easy Day is played by rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent.
Megan Fox is... Gina
Ex-Transformers star Megan Fox portrays Gina, an expert CIA agent and Lee Christmas' other half.
Randy Couture is... Toll Road
Want something destroyed? You've got to pay the Toll. The team's demolitions expert is played by UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture.
Andy Garcia is... Marsh
Oscar nominee Andy Garcia portrays Marsh, another CIA agent and another new member of the team.
Jacob Scipio is... Galan
British actor Jacob Scipio, best known for his villainous role opposite Will Smith in Bad Boys for Life, plays new face Galan and will be looking to inject some youthful energy.
Levy Tran is...Lash
Vietnamese-American actor Levy Tran, who has appeared in both the Purge and Fast & Furious franchise, plays the no-nonsense Lash, ameliorating the boys' own atmosphere.
Iko Uwais is... Suarto Rahmat
Indonesian actor and martial artist Iko Uwais stunned with his balletic abilities in the hard-hitting Raid movies, directed by Gareth Evans. He now plays the ruthless Suarto Rahmat, against whom the Expendables are pitted.
Are you ready to reunite with the Expendables? Click the link below to book your tickets for The Expendables 4, on release at Cineworld from September 22nd.
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