Sylvester Stallone has been discussing the underwhelming box office performance of The Expendables 3, describing the decision to make it PG-13 as a “horrible miscalculation”.
Absolutely unequivocally yes,” says Stallone, when asked by Crave Online if future instalments should be R-rated. “I believe it was a horrible miscalculation on everyone’s part in trying to reach a wider audience, but in doing such, diminish the violence that the audience expects. I’m quite certain it won’t happen again.”
One sticking point Sly would have with an “R” certificate, is that it would make it harder to plausibly keep all the lead characters alive, although he sounds as though he might not be above bumping someone off next time out…
“In an R-rated film, it is difficult to believe that none of the heroes die,” explains Stallone. “I personally just believe that the characters become identifiable and their demise could put a dark cloud over an audience exiting the theatre after seeing the film. But that may change in Expendables 4.”
Stallone also went on to reveal that he had hoped Mel Gibson might direct the third film, only for the star to take the role of chief villain instead. Perhaps he’ll be persuaded to step behind the camera for an R-rated Expendables, further down the track…
