In one of today’s more jovially nutty stories, it seems Expendables Producer Avi Lerner has got, to paraphrase Frank Sinatra, high hopes, as he wants Meryl Streep for his all-female spin-off. Well either that or he’s taken something. The news came today when Mr. Lerner spoke to the Bulgarian press and the story was picked up via Deadline. There were always certain names that would be discussed for Lerner’s spin-off, which he is calling ‘The Expendabelles’. Names like Sigourney Weaver, Gina Carano, Michelle Rodriguez, Linda Hamilton, etc. However Meryl Streep is somewhat of an odd first shot. That said Streep has done action before in 1994 film The River Wild, so could the former iron lady be swapping iron for lead?

Two other names Lerner was interested in getting onboard were Resident Evil’s Milla Jovovich (hardly a surprise) and Cameron Diaz. Remember though this is all just talk at this stage. Before anyone starts donning the tanktops and stocking the bazooka, Lerner has a long way to go with his project. The film has a working script, penned by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde) and Lerner hopes to have a female director to match. This is an admittedly interesting project to see play out and after Helen Mirren traded her crown for a pistol in the RED series, who is to say Streep might not want to blow some things up too. This is after all the year that Harrison Ford joined The Expendables 3! It would indeed be entertaining to have Streep win another Oscar, only this time for a film where she goes face-to-face with Cameron Diaz in a knife fight. Ah, isn’t cinema a strange beast?

Stick with Starburst for any new information on this potentially explosive spin-off.

Share your comments below or on Twitter @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local Starburst Magazine stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. Our issues are also available as iPad editions, and can be downloaded via Apple HERE.

CLICK THE DOCTORS FOR OUR LATEST ISSUE!