The Expendables 2

News

Stallone says Expendables 2 will be R-rated [19th March 2012 00:00:00]

The Expendables 2 will be R-rated according to Sylvester Stallone, quashing previous rumours that the upcoming sequel would be aiming for a family-friendly certificate to maximise its potential audience.

Giving The Stallone Zone a concise comment on the matter, Stallone said: "After taking in all the odd rumours and hearsay, EXPENDABLES II is an R." Which sounds pretty conclusive to us.

The film had previously been thought to have been toned down due to the involvement of Chuck Norris. The grizzled action star had reportedly insisted that the script involve no swearing if he were to sign on to make an appearance.

Indeed, Stallone himself had previously confirmed that the film would be a PG-13, telling AICN as much in a brief statement earlier in the year. "The PG-13 rumour is true," he said, "but before your readers pass judgement, trust me when I say this film is large in every way and delivers on every level."

It could yet be the case that Norris' no-swear rule has been adhered to, but that the R-Rating is a result of the inevitable glut of blood-spattered violence. We can only hope so, anyway. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Mickey Rourke is out of Expendables 2 [19th October 2011 11:12:07]

Mickey Rourke may have cut his usual fee for The Expendables as a favour to his old pal Sylvester Stallone, but it seems his goodwill isn't going to extend to the sequel.

Rourke has left the project because he wasn't offered enough money to make it.

We're officially crushed.

It's a MASSIVE shame, Rourke was by far the best thing in Expendables - his speech about his time in Bosnia involved such great acting it felt weirdly out of place.

Sure, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and possibly Nicolas Cage and John Travolta will be joining the rest of the Expendables crew for the follow-up, but it's simply not going to be the same without Mickey. Rourke is going to make something called Seven Psychopaths instead. It's about a screenwriter who kidnaps a gangster's dog.

Oh, Mickey, what a pity. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Schwarzenegger films just four days on Expendables 2 [10th October 2011 20:35:02]

Cameras are already rolling on The Expendables 2 but if you were expecting Arnold Schwarzenegger to have a larger role in the sequel you're going to be disappointed.

The Governator looks set to play only a brief part once more, albeit longer than his role in the first film.

That scene - lasting just one minute and 47 seconds from entrance to exit - saw his character Trent Mauser handle some verbal sparring with Mr Church (Bruce Willis) and Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone).

It was filmed overnight as Arnie had a proper day job back then running California.

At least that means Schwarzenegger should get a little more of the action this time, spending a whole four days on set for The Expendables 2. Give the guy a break, he's just about to start shooting Last Stand. Besides, Chuck Norris has arrived in Sofia so there'll be no shortage of aged hardman filling up the screen. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Nic Cage and John Travolta for Expendables 2 [14th September 2011 10:28:05]

Sylvester Stallone has stated he wants to re-unite Face/Off leads Nic Cage and John Travolta in Expendables 2. Currently, the only thing standing in the way is scheduling.

Oh, and he's also confirmed that Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme will definitely be appearing in the action sequel. And we can reveal that this news story is so awesome you should probably read the rest of it through a pair of binoculars as it may well explode in a shower of win.

Stallone said: "We'll have a big showdown between me and Van Damme, which has been anticipated for a long time, so it should be a good one." "We've got Chuck Norris and I think Nic Cage," he continued. "We're trying to work out different scenarios. I like using people that had a moment and then maybe have fallen on some hard times and give them another shot." Which, to be fair, is a bit of a back-handed compliment really.

When pressed about rumours Travolta would be appearing, Stallone said: "It's possible. The one thing I've learned is what is a fact on Monday is a complete fallacy on Tuesday. A lot of it is scheduling. It's not financial." We're personally hoping that scheduling will also allow Billy Blanks and Ted Prior to appear. Well, we can dream, can't we? Source: www.totalfilm.com

Expendables 2 lands Schwarzenegger and Willis [8th September 2011 17:52:33]

Have we landed on Planet Hollywood? Sure seems like it with news that Bruce Willis will play the main villain in The Expendables 2 and Arnold Schwarzenegger will also have a substantial role in the film.

The former burger bar buddies (Arnie is no longer part of the Planet Hollywood business) both had cameos in Sylvester Stallone's first film.

It was a brief but very witty exchange in a church, so TF welcomes their increased involvement in the new film.

Schwarzenegger's role hasn't been announced yet but Willis' bad guy can count on support from his second in command Jean-Claude Van Damme. Shooting starts in Bulgaria next week, with filming also due to take place in China. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Expendables 2 to shoot in China? [25th August 2011 09:22:31]

After reports that martial arts master Donnie Yen had been offered a role in the follow-up to the most testosterone-pumped movie in action history, China has now been indicated as a possible shooting location.

Variety reports that Nu-Age and Millennium are in talks with a Chinese distributor to co-produce The Expendables 2, which they will do on the condition that Yen officially signs on.

If the deal goes through, The Expendables team will head to China, at least for some scenes.

The Simon West-directed second outing is due to start filming in Bulgaria next month.

Donnie Yen is the latest prospective addition to a growing dream-team cast that could also include John Travolta, Chuck Norris and JCVD, as well as the line-up from the original.

The Expendables 2 is set for release in the UK on 17 August 2012. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Expendables 2 adds Chuck Norris and John Travolta [31st July 2011 17:46:22]

The head of a Bulgarian film studio where The Expendables 2 is to start shooting in September has name-checked a few new actors who will be appearing in the film.

"Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, John Travolta, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke. Who else? Of course, Bruce Willis,"

David Varod, CEO at Nu Boyana Studios, told news website Novanite in an interview.

As well as adding John Travolta and Chuck Norris to the list of stars, Varod also talked of director Simon West in glowing terms.

"He is also a name. He is already here and has started working on the film," Varod said, before adding. "I believe the sequel will be better than the first movie." It was already widely reported that Jean-Claude Van Damme would play a secondary villain in the film, with Willis the main baddie.

Here's hoping Travolta also pulls villain duty so we can see more of what made Face/Off such a great action flick. Source: www.totalfilm.com

Simon West will direct The Expendables 2 [16th June 2011 05:58:26]

Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider director Simon West has signed on to helm The Expendables 2.

The OAP actioner is the follow-up to last year's relatively successful (at least money-wise) buddy movie, which teamed numerous '80s action stars ? among them writer Sylvester Stallone ? for numerous rounds of bloody violence.

We can't imagine that formula will get messed with much for the sequel, though Stallone ? who will return for the sequel ? has mentioned he'd like Bruce Willis to play the film's villain.

West himself has devoted much of his career to blowing stuff up, which makes him pretty much perfect for the director's chair.

The Expendables 2 is expected to also star Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li and Terry Crews. It has been pegged for an August 2012 release. Source: www.totalfilm.com

The Expendables sequel gets a release date [1st April 2011 09:19:42]

The Expendables 2 just got official.

It may not have anybody in the director's seat at the moment, but Lionsgate have announced at the CinemaCon event that the follow-up to The Expendables has a release date.

The action follow-up, surprisingly called (wait for it) The Expendables 2, is scheduled to hit cinemas on 17 August 2012.

While the former Rambo won't be calling the shots behind the camera this time, Sylvester Stallone has already told his legion of followers on Twitter that the script, while still in development, has "a more hard edged tone- An Extreme case of Male-Pattern-Baddness".

Which, y'know, seems fair enough. Source: www.totalfilm.com