Female Edition of THE EXPENDABLES Finds its Director

PARANOIA and 21 director Robert Luketic has just signed on to direct the upcoming female edition of Sylvester Stallone's action franchise THE EXPENDABLES, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Aptly titled THE EXPENDABELLES, the project hails from Millennium Films and features a script from Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith -- the writing team behind LEGALLY BLONDE.

The film follows "female operatives who have to pose as call girls in order to rescue a nuclear scientist who is being held hostage."

Casting is expected to begin shortly, with a summer start date being eyed. As previously reported, Meryl Streep, Cameron Diaz and Milla Jovovich were initially believed to be in talks for the film. As of now, there's no word on if they're still in the mix.

Lionsgate will release the next film in the franchise, THE EXPENDABLES 3, on August 15, 2014. The third installment stars Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, Glen Powell and Kelsey Grammar.

Luketic has also helmed THE UGLY TRUTH, LEGALLY BLONDE, KILLERS, MONSTER-IN-LAW and more.