It's no secret, the Expendables 4 may need a big lift to get needed success in the box-office. Last look, the franchise was not really in good shape garnering only a little over $200 million sales worldwide in Expendables 3 - about $100 million short of the over $300-million showing of Expendables 2. Could Manny Pacquiao boost the sales despite Floyd Mayweather loss?
But the movie's main man, its progenitor, Mr. Sylvester Stallone commonly dubbed as Sly did a beautiful hat trick to save the franchise: sign-up Manny Pacquiao as cast. However, recent developments may be pointing to the other direction. No confirmation has been made by Pacquiao's camp. None except a pre-"Fight of the Century" warning from his business manager that says Hollywood may have to wait.
And Sly's dream of putting Pacquiao and Justin Bieber - a huge Mayweather fan - in one setting could be but wishful thinking. Of course, the "Rambo" star may have to make do with the legendary Hulk Hogan as lead antagonist.
This is largely understandable given that Pacquiao's popularity is at its peak. And at its most vulnerable.
Recently, a pair of irate Americans is suing Manny Pacquiao in a multi-million dollar suit for failing to disclose his shoulder injury. That should keep the champion's legal team busy - if not take away a few of the Filipino champ's millions.
And perhaps more importantly, Mayweather Jr. has opened up about his willingness for a possible reunification with his arch-rival in the ring next year. Again, this should stretch the Filipino boxer's schedule to the thinnest possible.
Putting a nail to the coffin is Pacquiao's shoulder injury. Yes, a Hollywood debut is hazy at best right now given the fact that Manny Pacquiao is facing surgery for a torn rotator cuff after his recent dramatic loss in the hands of Floyd "Money" Mayweather, last May 2 in the MGM Grand. And may need more than just weeks to recuperate.
Added to that, there is still no immediate confirmation from Pac-Man's camp if he is going to make good his promise to take part in the Expendable franchise. To note, Sylvester Stallone - Expendable's main guy - along with Mr. Olympia bodybuilder superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger got the eight-division-world boxing champion's nod when they visited his quarters in Macau before the Algieri fight last year, a fight where the Filipino champ succeeded.
Even before his recent loss, Pacquiao's business manager Eric Pineda confirmed that although Pacquiao is interested in landing a role in the Expendable flick, it is not the boxing superstar's immediate priority. It appears his eyes are set on politics. Philippines will soon have its nationwide presidential elections by 2016, an event where the boxer worshipped by millions of his countrymen is reportedly running for a senate seat.
And Pineda minced no words in making the distinction. The business manager said that prior commitments "will inevitably get in the way of Pacquiao's Hollywood debut."
By the looks of it, a Manny Pacquiao in Hollywood could be like wishing upon a star. But who knows? The big Manny Pacquiao fan in Stallone could pull it off. Then perhaps we could see the Filipino champ pummeling Bieber in Expendables 4 after all.
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