Nic Cage On Board For 'The Expendables 3'; Clint Eastwood, Wesley Snipes & Harrison Ford Being Approached

nullSo, was 2010's over $270 million worldwide haul for "The Expendables" the indication of franchise starter, or just the result of a novelty concept doing well in the marketplace? We'll find out this Friday when the numbers roll in for the supersized "The Expendables 2," but it looks like producer Avi Lerner is feeling very confident, with an eye already on "The Expendables 3." And not only that, he has a name apparently already signed, and a wishlist of folks he wants (but probably won't get) for the third installment.

“We’ve approached Clint Eastwood to be one of the guys, we’ve got a character in mind for him. We’re talking to Harrison Ford. [And we want] Wesley Snipes when he comes back from prison. I’ll give you one more name, we’ve got Nicolas Cage to play [one of the characters],” he told Total Film. Yeah, good luck getting Eastwood and Ford, but we suppose a man can dream. As for Cage, we're not surprised since he seems to sign on to anything these days, and presuming Snipes' ego is humbled after his stint in jail, this is probably as good a project as any with which to get his mojo back.

But that's not all. One actor from the first movie is welcome to come back…provided he can keep his personality in line. “And we’re going to bring Mickey Rourke back, if he won’t be too crazy. I like Mickey. And of course, all the existing stars [will return],” Lerner said.

If this happens, they're going to need a much bigger poster, catering table and team of nurses and doctors on set. Though we imagine the insurance company on "The Expendables 3" if/when it ever happens is going to be very happy. But in short, the message here is: don't mess with a good formula.

However, nothing is certain until numbers roll in. "The Expendables 2" will have to do big business and we'll see if audiences really want more or got enough of the geriatric action the first time out when it opens on August 17th.