The action titans assemble for Expend4bles. Starring Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, 50 Cent, and Megan Fox, the fourth entry in this locked-and-loaded franchise hits after a nine-year gap between sequels. Directed by Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Hidden Strike) from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart, and Max Adams, this latest installment holds the potential to be the most action-packed film in the series yet -- and that's saying something considering the previous offerings.
Ahead of the release of Expend4bles, CBR caught up with the film's stunt coordinator Alan Ng, who has worked on renowned films like The Karate Kid, The Spy Next Door, and Hidden Strike. Ng revealed more about the movie's stylized fight scenes and how they compare to stunts from other Expendables movies. He also revealed which star surprised him the most with their natural ability for action and stunts.
CBR: Thanks for your time, Alan. I'd like to start off by discussing a little bit about your background. What inspired you to go into the world of stunts? Was there a specific performer or movie that influenced you?
Alan Ng: Thank you for having me. I grew up watching all the old-school Hong Kong action stars like Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon and Fist of Fury, as well as Jackie Chan's Police Story and Project A. I grew up watching their films and idolized them because they were like real-life superheroes, and I knew that's what I wanted to do.
Stunt people are the unsung heroes of action movies. Please tell us more about who was part of the team for Expend4bles and what they brought to the production.
Everyone on my team was fantastic. We included a bit of Hong Kong style into the fight scenes to add something different, and my team helped me accomplish that. It was a real team effort.
You worked on Hidden Strike and now The Expendables 4. Both are similar in that they feature a fair amount of gun and hand-to-hand combat. What is the process you went through to ensure the action scenes in Expend4bles are unique from other films in the genre?
It was great working with the director, Scott Waugh, again from Hidden Strike. We really appreciate the freedom he gave us to create a different type of action for Expend4bles. It's a lot bloodier, and there's a lot more killing than Hidden Strike.
We gave a lot of thought to all the actors and the characters they were playing to create their own style for the fight. For example, Jason Statham's fighting style is different [from] the previous Expendables [movies], and Iko Uwais' choice of weapons is very unique. We were given a lot of freedom from Scott to create something different and unique.
The previous Expendables movies featured some death-defying stunts, including one where Jason Statham drove a truck and the brakes failed, so he ended up driving it into the water. Without giving away any spoilers, what were some of the stunts that pushed the envelope here, and how did the team cope with it?
I guess you will have to find out. [Laughs]. We always try to push the boundaries for every film, but safety is the most important thing. So, through experience and meticulous planning with the team, we ensure that we can prevent any accidents.
The Expendables series has always had a strong focus on practical effects instead of special effects. What was the balance like for this film, and what does that challenge mean for you and your team?
For me, it was easy as we had such amazing and talented actors [who] can actually do a lot of their own action stunts. The fight scenes for Jason Statham, Iko Uwais, and Tony Jaa are very practical. No effects were used as we tried to keep it very Hong Kong style, where the actors do most of their own fights and stunts. The special effects team did a great job and were very professional. We worked closely with them on certain fight scenes.
Iko Uwais and Tony Jaa are renowned fight choreographers and stunt performers. How did you work with them on their scenes in this movie? Was it a collaborative approach?
It was fantastic. Iko and Tony are so experienced and talented in their art. When creating the scenes, we were all on the same page. When it came to the direction of the style for the fight scenes, we barely needed to say anything when choreographing as it came so naturally to them. It was so easy to work with them because they are so professional and talented.
The majority of the cast in Expend4bles have action movie experience. Which actor surprised you the most with their ability and why?
It would definitely, hands down, be Jason. He moves so well and picks up the fight choreography straight away. He knows which angles showcase his movements in the best way. Jason did the fights himself -- he took the hits and the falls. He is like the old-school Hong Kong action stars.
According to the dates listed for production, it lasted from October to December 2021. For a film of this scale, what were the pressures to get the stunts right in that time frame?
There was a lot of pressure as we came on board when shooting had already started, so we didn't have a pre-vis, but Jason trusted us to create the fight scenes without even seeing any pre-vis or footage. He would arrive on set, run through the fight, then make a few changes. We would film the fight scenes with no rehearsals. I'm very grateful that Jason and Scott put so much trust in me and my team to create some awesome fight scenes in such a tight time frame.
We know that Sylvester Stallone said this is the last Expendables movie. How involved was he in this movie since this is a franchise that's closely associated with him?
It was great working with Stallone, especially [since I was] growing up watching his movies. I mostly focused on Jason, Tony, Iko, Megan Fox, and Levy Tran's fights.
What can you tease about what fans expect from Expend4bles?
A lot of blood, explosions, action, some old and new faces, and some epic fight scenes. The audience has waited nine years for a sequel, and they won't be disappointed.
Expend4bles explodes in theaters on September 22.