The Expendables trilogy has really helped aged action stars resurrect their careers. Could a spin-off focusing on an all female team give rise to more female driven action flicks? Millennium Films, the production company behind the Expendables is looking to expand with The ExpendaBelles according to sources. Producer Avi Lerner names actresses such as Meryl Streep (The River Wild), Cameron Diaz (Charlie’s Angels, Knight And Day) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil Franchise). The project is currently looking for a director while a script is in place. Writers best known Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith for Legally Blonde have provided the script. Oddly enough, the film could actually have ties to it’s male equivalent. Milla already has a role in Expendables 3, so there could be hints to this spin-off already in third installment. You might be shocked to see names like Streep and Diaz named here. However, these are the same people that got Jackie Chan and Harrison Ford to sign-on for Expendables 3. Anything could really happen at this point. They also mention possible names such as Sigourney Weaver (Aliens), Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) and Geena Davis (The Long Kiss Goodnight). This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Weaver’s name linked to these franchises.

The project previously had the working title Female Expendables and Haywire actress Gina Carano (Fast And Furious 6) was attached at the time as it’s lead. Katee Sackhoff (Riddick, Battlestar Galactica) was also linked at one point for a role. Streep seems like a solid candidate for the matriarch character in the film. However, It was previously suggested by Sly Stallone that he was trying to get Sigourney Weaver to play his ex-wife in Expendables 3. As she was also in the mercenary business. C0-owning the Expendables brand with Stallone’s character after a messy divorce. Weaver is also mentioned here in the new report. So we can’t rule her out just yet. Plus, I’m sure action junkies would love to see Sigourney kicking ass again. Streep seems to be game for any interesting roles and it’s not likely she’s getting action film offers like this on a regular basis. Diaz hasn’t really made a action films since her days in Charlie’s Angels. It could be exciting to see her jump on board and take a break from making lukewarm comedies. When it comes to Jovovich it would be nice to see her shooting up humans instead of the dull zombies of Resident Evil.

When in comes to a director one name that was suggested that makes perfect sense. That is Lexi Alexander who directed Green Street Hooligans and the underrated genre gore-fest Punisher: War Zone (also at Lionsgate). While War Zone wasn’t a perfect film, it’s action scenes were balls-to-the-wall and entertaining as hell. Since it looks like everyone involved with the film will be female. The studio might as well hire a female director with action chops. Since it’s doubtful they’ll be able to get Kathryn Bigelow to make it.

SOURCE: DEADLINE