Robert Luketic to Direct “Female Expendables” The ExpendaBelles

The female take on The Expendables -- called The ExpendaBelles, of course -- now has a director: Robert Luketic.

Luketic’s most recent credit is Paranoia, which starred Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman, and Harrison Ford. He’s also made films like Legally Blonde and Monster-in-Law, and in fact Deadline reports that the ExpendaBelles script is from Legally Blonde writers Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah. Earlier reports had indicated that a writer named Dutch Southern had penned the screenplay, so it’s not clear whether or not Smith and McCullah did a page-one rewrite or just a polish.

Additionally, Deadline says that no actresses are locked in for the film yet, which doesn’t jibe with previous talk that Gina Carano and Katee Sackhoff had both been cast. Meryl Streep, Cameron Diaz, and Milla Jovovich have also been said to be in talks for the film.

Katee Sackhoff, who may or may not be in The ExpendaBelles...

Here’s the logline, as per Deadline: “When America’s Navy SEALs are wiped out trying to penetrate the island lair of a deadly despot who has captured one of the world’s top nuclear scientists, it becomes clear that there is no such thing as the right man for the job and that this is a mission so impossible that only women can handle it. The only way in: some of the world’s deadliest female operatives must pose as high-class call-girls shipped in by private plane to satisfy a dictator - and instead save the scientist and the day.”

Production begins this summer.

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