If you asked someone to pinpoint an archetypal ’80s action hero, chances are they’ll gravitate to either Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both are screen legends in their own right, and have amassed a string of blockbuster roles that are equal parts ludicrous and endearing.
With The Expendables franchise, Stallone seized the opportunity to cram them both into the same movie – along with a host of fellow action icons – for a movie that played to all their respective strengths: explosive action, light-hearted fun and, ahem, sly one-liners. But with Escape Plan, director Mikael Håfström took those stereotypes and reshuffled the deck, creating a focused thriller that while flawed, still managed to extract the best from Schwarzenegger.
That was three years ago and today, Deadline brings word that Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films is plotting a bona fide sequel, with Stallone attached to reprise his role as hardboiled in-mate Ray Breslin. It’s a pretty surprising development; Escape Plan only mustered $137 million at the worldwide box office, thanks in large part to the combined star power of both Stallone and the Austrian Oak. No word yet if the latter will follow in the footsteps of Stallone, though Deadline notes that the Creed star will adopt a supporting role this time around.
With plans already in place for Escape Plan 2 to begin shooting in March of next year, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films is keen to set the wheels in motion sooner rather than later. Lionsgate Premiere is the studio attached to release the sequel on these shores.
