Why The Rock Skipping The Expendables Was A Win For Him—But A Disaster For The Franchise

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, renowned as one of the leading action movie stars globally, had once been speculated to be part of Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables film series. With his roots in WWE wrestling and transition into cinematography, Johnson has been boosting film franchises since his debut role in The Mummy Returns in 2001. Subsequently, he became a vital addition to blockbuster series such as Fast & Furious and Jumanji. Given his status as an internationally recognized actor and significant box office attraction, it was logical for Johnson to share the screen with action stars like Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger within Stallone’s ensemble action collection.

The Expendables movie series honors the legacy of high-octane action flicks by assembling the genre’s top performers for pulse-pounding, action-filled escapades about an elite squad of mercenaries. Although Johnson possesses the qualifications to match the caliber of the series actors, his possible participation was only theoretical, and despite him showing interest in joining the cast, it never materialized. Given that the franchise has produced four films and The Expendables 5 seems increasingly uncertain, it’s highly probable that The Rock will not be included in the series.

The Rock Wanted To Play A Villain In The Expendables Movie Franchise

Johnson Spoke About The Expendables In A Reddit AMA

The idea of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson potentially appearing in an upcoming Expendables movie was initially discussed back in 2014 during a Reddit AMA he held to promote his role in Hercules. During the session, Johnson expressed interest in joining Sylvester Stallone’s franchise, but not as a member of the mercenary team. Instead, he wanted to portray a villainous character. With no intention of playing the hero, he made it clear that he desired to track down each and every one of them, saying, “Your souls should go to heaven because your butts are mine.

In the scenario, it’s clear that Johnson seemed enthusiastic about defeating Stallone’s Barney Ross, but there were certain members of the Expendables team whom he expressed a willingness to let off lightly. The Rock hinted that Ronda Rousey’s character, Luna May, from Expendables 3 would be spared because she would serve as his training partner. In jest, he also suggested that Terry Crews’s character, Hale Caesar, would survive so they could compete in peg popping together. Given Rousey’s background as a UFC and WWE fighter transitioning into acting, much like Johnson, this may have contributed to his decision to spare her.

The Rock Would Have Been A Huge Asset To The Expendables

Johnson Has A Great Track Record When It Comes To Box Office Success

Including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the cast of The Expendables would have significantly boosted the franchise, given his immense popularity as a leading actor today. With box office receipts totaling over $14 billion (according to The Numbers), Johnson’s filmography is filled with one successful movie after another, and most of his films have been financial successes. Known for attracting large crowds to theaters, having The Rock in a film alongside Stallone and an ensemble cast featuring some of the greatest action stars ever would have created an irresistible cinematic experience.

Initially, the first Expendables movie seemed like a dream team of the top action stars from the 1980s. However, as the series progressed and less captivating stars were introduced, it started to lose its initial buzz. Introducing a star as dynamic as Dwayne Johnson, playing a villain, could have added excitement to the series and re-attracted viewers who had grown disinterested. Given his status as one of today’s most influential action heroes, watching The Rock battle it out with Rocky would have been an unforgettable spectacle.

The Expendables 3 & 4 Needed More Than Just Better Villains To Be Good

One-Dimensional Characters And Poor Development Weakened Later Villains

Regrettably, as time went on, the quality of the “Expendables” series began to decrease, and “The Expendables 3” and “Expend4bles” needed significantly stronger antagonists to rival the greatness of the initial films. If Johnson had been part of the cast in a captivating villainous role for one of these sequels, they might have turned out much better.

The third installment of “The Expendables,” titled “The Expendables 3,” marked a decline for Sylvester Stallone’s franchise. To achieve a more family-friendly rating by changing from an R-rating to a PG-13 (as reported by Collider), the series lost some of its edge by omitting violent scenes from the original film. In this movie, Ross and his team confronted their former co-founder, Conrad Stonebanks, portrayed by Mel Gibson, who had gone rogue. Although Conrad’s character showed promise, he ultimately felt quite ordinary, and there was potential for Gibson to be utilized more effectively in other roles.

The latest installment of the franchise fell short compared to its predecessors, as Expend4bles flopped at the box office and garnered two Razzie Awards for Worst Supporting Actor (Andy Garcia) and Worst Supporting Actress. In this film, Andy Garcia played a corrupt CIA agent named Ocelot, who aimed to benefit from starting World War III, while Iko Uwais portrayed one of his henchmen, Suarto Rahmat. Despite Uwais’ impressive martial arts abilities, showcased in films like The Raid, the villains once again felt shallow and underdeveloped.

At This Point, The Expendables Needs The Rock More Than He Needs The Expendables

Johnson Has Been Busy Since He First Expressed Interest In The Expendables

Over the last ten years, ever since The Rock initially showed an interest in becoming part of the Expendables franchise, I’ve had quite a ride. From embodying the beloved character Luke Hobbs in the Fast & Furious series, to lending my voice to the blockbuster movie Moana, and even stepping into the DC Extended Universe as Black Adam, I’ve been blessed with an abundance of opportunities. The Christmas action comedy Red One, however, turned out to be a rare flop for me. Yet, despite that setback, I remain one of the most consistently successful actors working in the industry today.

Essentially, it’s clear that The Expendables franchise would greatly benefit from having Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on board, more so than he might need it. If Sylvester Stallone were to reunite the team for a potential Expendables 5 at some point, he would have to pull off something exceptional to maintain viewer interest and anticipation. It’s worth mentioning that while adding Johnson to the cast in the past would have been a guaranteed success, the reality is that there’s a possibility Stallone might not get a positive response if he asked Dwayne Johnson to join the project today.

2025-05-10 15:25