Sylvester Stallone has confirmed filming for the franchise spin-off Expendabelles will kick off early next year.

Speaking at a press conference in London for the third installation of the explosive franchise The Expendables, the Rocky star joked that Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar) might star in the forthcoming spin-off. ¡°Are the Expendabelles really part of a divorce? Say Sigourney Weaver was my wife and she inherited half of the Expendables? I lost the house and my mercenaries!¡± he teased.

As The Expendables 3 features its first female team member, played by mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey, Stallone confirmed that Rousey won¡¯t be the only non-actor to join the Expendables. The team needs brawn, as well as acting chops. ¡°We can¡¯t totally depend on actresses for Expendabelles, because you¡¯re gonna need a certain kind of physicality to pull this off¡± explained Stallone.

He added: ¡°We¡¯re in un-chartered waters ¨C perhaps we¡¯re gonna need other MMA fighters, women that are known to be tough. It needs to be something that holds it¡¯s own and isn¡¯t just a use of the Expendables name.¡±

A script for the upcoming film is being penned by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde, The Ugly Truth), with Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) rumoured to star.

The Expendables is not the only franchise turning things on its head and planning an all-female cast for the film¡¯s reboot. Ghostbusters may live to see another day on the big screen, with Sony Pictures allegedly talking to Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, regarding a remake. Word on the street is that the hilarious stars of Bridesmaids may feature in the film, with Melissa McCarthy as Venkman, and Kristen Wiig as Egon, which leaves us Maya Rudolph as Ray. However, it is all speculation at this point.

Stallone¡¯s ¡°biggest, baddest action movie of all time¡± The Expendables 3, hits Aussie cinemas this Thursday August 14, and also stars Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford.