So why hasn't one of the best action directors been tapped to direct a film in the franchise? The aim of this petition is to gain the attention of the individuals in charge of The Expendables franchise and at least bring to their attention Ryuhei Kitamura.

Ryuhei Kitamura is a name for those into cult action films. His international claim to fame was the genre-bending-and-mixing film VERSUS (2000). With his shot composition, editing, Kitamura showed that on a shoe string budget he had it all to make eye popping kinetic scenes of action. From VERSUS, Kitamura went on to direct for Toho Co. Ltd. a live action adaptation of the manga AZUMI, which showed growth for the director in experimenting with camera movements and composition (due to a bigger budget) while filming the action with a different atmosphere (Where as VERSUS was a fun and pulpy, AZUMI went for emotions of loss and entrapment within Japan's warring states period). Ryuhei Kitamura even directed the cut scenes for popular video game METAL GEAR SOLID (specifically METAL GEAR SOLID: THE TWIN SNAKES). Kitamura's resume is filled with films which are action in genre and yet show a versatility which is almost unmatched today.

Ryuhei Kitamura is also a director who is effectively bilingual, with experience in American independent film. In 2008, he directed THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, an adaptation of a Clive Barker short story starring then-up and commer Bradley Cooper. In 2012, Kitamura directed NO ONE LIVES, an indie horror film staring Brodus Clay of WWE fame. Kitamura went to film school in Sydney, Australia, further backing his proficiency in English.

I firmly believe that if Ryuhei Kitamura were to direct the fourth Expendables film, we would see an action film which is truly legendary. He grew up with 80's action flicks, and he will treat the production with the utmost respect, love, and artistry. Lets get the attention of Sylvester Stallone and Avi Lerner to help them make EXPENDABLES 4 the best one YET.

Recommended Links:

Ryuhei's Wikipedia Page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuhei_Kitamura

ULTIMATE VERSUS - full film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSpfdMum960

AZUMI - full film -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pcJGF643us

ARAGAMI - full film -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5CKtH0ftK0