While it might cause conniptions for those who have to keep jamming a numeral into a word when writing about the new ‘Expendables’ movie –– yes, it really is officially called ‘Expend4bles’ (did M.C. Hammer come up with that one? We all know he’s 2 Legit 2 Quit) –– it’s reassuring to know that the action icons are back, even if their numbers keep dwindling.

The franchise has seen some wobbles of late; poor box office for the third outing and creative drama behind the scenes of this one, but the hopes are that this one could boost things back up.

And, as this trailer makes clear, the team behind the movie has heard fan demands for an R-Rated ‘Expendables’ outing, so this will be full of the explosions, blood and guts you’re… hoping for?

What’s the story of ‘Expend4bles’?

Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'Expend4bles.'

Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'Expend4bles.'

A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in this new outing Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by some fresh faces (if one can truly call Andy Garcia a “fresh” face, though he’s still a welcome one.)

The Expendables are the world’s last line of defence and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

And they’ll need every skill and bullet/knife/tank/plane they can scrounge up as, wouldn’t you know it? Terrorists have absconded with some nuclear weapons. And if the team can’t stop their evil plan, the result could be World War Three.

Related Article: First 'Expend4bles' Trailer

Who are the new recruits?

Megan Fox as Gina in 'Expend4bles.'

Megan Fox as Gina in 'Expend4bles.'

New to the franchise are Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and, as mentioned above, Andy Garcia.

‘The Raid’s Uwais is set to star as the villain, a former military officer with his own army and a side-line in arms dealing, something which the titular team will be hoping to put an end to in the only way they know how... by blowing everything up.

Fox, meanwhile, is clearly Lee Christmas’ (Statham) new romantic partner as well as his colleague, one with a particularly violent approach to foreplay.

Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'

Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'

Not present this time? Bruce Willis, for entirely understandable reasons following his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis and subsequent retirement from acting. And Arnold Schwarzenegger has already confirmed he doesn’t appear, since he was busy with comedy action series ‘FUBAR’. And also, he didn’t want to.

Here’s what Arnie told Parade Magazine about that:

“It’s done and I’m not in it. I said, ‘You know what, we have done this and I'm out of it.’ And [Stallone] really understood. I did [the first ‘Expendables’] as a favor to Sly. I shot it on a Saturday for two hours quickly in a church with Bruce Willis. Sly said, ‘Oh, can you do ‘Expendables 2?’’ and I did that for a weekend. Then it was expanded for ‘Expendables 3’. And that was it. We’re going to do something together one day.”

And Stallone, who has decided to also depart the franchise, will have a much-reduced role this time, passing the baton to Statham as offscreen producer and onscreen team leader.

Scott Waugh is directing, with the script credited to Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams.

‘Expend4bles’ will explode into theaters on September 22nd.

Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen in 'Expend4bles.'

Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen in 'Expend4bles.'

Andy García as Marsh in 'Expend4bles.'

Andy García as Marsh in 'Expend4bles.'

Randy Couture as Toll Road in 'Expend4bles.'

Randy Couture as Toll Road in 'Expend4bles.'

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Easy Day in 'Expend4bles.'

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Easy Day in 'Expend4bles.'

Tony Jaa in 'Expend4bles.'

Tony Jaa in 'Expend4bles.'

Iko Uwais as Suarto in 'Expend4bles.'

Iko Uwais as Suarto in 'Expend4bles.'

Jacob Scipio as Galan in 'Expend4bles.'

Jacob Scipio as Galan in 'Expend4bles.'

Levy Tran as Lash in 'Expend4bles.'

Levy Tran as Lash in 'Expend4bles.'

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