LOS ANGELES, Jan 19 – The makers of the action-comedy Red, starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman, have just hired the writers to create a sequel.

The film has made US$164.7 million worldwide. The sequel will be written by the writers of the original Red, Jon and Erich Hoeber.

With the success of 2010’s films such as Red and Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables, featuring casts of mostly 50-year-olds and earning combined totals of US$439.2 million, Hollywood is taking notice of older audiences, according to a Variety report.

After years of the 40-something movie-goer being ignores, the baby boomer demographic is now being considered by the industry as a significant revenue source. Approximately one-third of upcoming productions are geared with the older audience in mind.

Statistics in 2009 from the Motion Picture Association of America noted the 40-and-up demographic made up 37 per cent of the US film-going public, compared to the 25-to-39 range, which bought only 20 per cent of tickets.

Research organisation Screen Engine notes that older audiences see films as a primary source of entertainment and have maintained their rate of movie-going. They also have more cash.

The research claims that tickets sold to younger audiences are gradually declining, due to increased online activity, video games and higher ticket prices.

Younger movie-goers are also more likely to view films after-market, as seen with Scott Pilgrim vs the World and Kick-Ass.

Stallone is planning a sequel to The Expendables, tweeting that Jean-Claude Van Damme will possibly join the next cast along with tough guy actors like 43-year-old Jason Statham, who told Collider he is ready for another installment of the film. – AFP