The Expendables II

[GeneChing]

Sylvester Stallone talks 'Expendables' sequel
Actor tells THR he's ready to mint another film franchise
By Carl DiOrio
Aug 15, 2010, 02:07 PM ET

At the cusp of a fifth decade of action-movie mayhem, Sylvester Stallone says his No. 1 opening with "The Expendables" ranks among his top career thrills. The muscle-bound multihyphenate chewed the fat with THR's Carl DiOrio about the successful launch of the Lionsgate-distributed picture, which follows the exploits of a group of foreign mercenaries featuring some of the past decades' biggest action stars.

THR: So "The Expendables" opened bigger than anything else you have directed. It seems you're still setting personal bests.

Stallone: I didn't do this all by myself. It was a movie about teamwork, and the team helped make it a success. I always say that if you are a star -- even a faded star -- the light never goes out. You just need to rekindle it.

THR: Have you written a script for a sequel to 'The Expendables'?

Stallone: It's plotted out in my mind's eye. I believe this group has to continue to evolve; it just can't become the same people. So how do you get new people introduced into the group, and how do you have some of the other people leaving? Those are the challenges.

THR: So the challenges remain, eh?

Stallone: My proudest moment ever was not "Rocky," it was the last Rocky picture, "Rocky Balboa." To be able to meet the challenge of completing that series after all these years, that was great. But this one here tops that -- not in an emotional way but for excitement. This should have never happened. (Producer) Avi Lerner really took a big gamble on me with this when nobody else would. I know because I heard about it every day! He kept worrying about the reviews.

THR: 'The Expendables' was never going to be a critical darling.

Stallone: Most action films tend to rub people the wrong way. This is not to disparage critics, but the more physical and brutal an action film is, the least well it is received. It's actually a barometer I use. That, and how many times I hurt myself.

THR: Things turned out well enough though.

Stallone: I never thought we would win this weekend, as we were up against some tough competition. I told Lionsgate and (CEO) Jon Feltheimer and Avi that I'm so grateful how those guys just dug in. Lionsgate hung tough and opened the purses. The campaign worked because it was honest. What you saw in the campaign was what you got. This movie is pure escapism. You just buckle up and enjoy a rocket ship ride down memory lane.

There's already rumors of adding JCVD & Seagal to the cast.

[doug maverick]

but you never know...stallone and jcvd already had some bad words over it. with stallone calling him crazy and jcvd said all stallone talked about was money and not what character he would play.

[GeneChing]

Maybe you're right, Doug. JCVD should stick to films like JCVD now.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Van Damme refused to lose to Li in Expendables fight
By WENN.COM
Last Updated: August 17, 2010 9:01am

Jean-Claude Van Damme refused to appear in Sylvester Stallone’s all-star action film The Expendables, because he would have to lose a fight to Jet Li.

Stallone corralled a hitlist of Hollywood hard men to appear in the film, but Universal Soldier star Van Damme turned him down, because the Belgian martial arts expert failed to get the movie's satirical undertones.

Stallone tells Britain's Sunday Times, "I wanted to set Jean-Claude against Jet Li, but he didn't want to lose to Jet.

"He didn't think that was cool. But that's why it would be cool; to have Jean-Claude beaten by the other man. Hey, they could have a rematch. But Steven Seagal and Van Damme, they weren't really into our gallows humour."

Van Damme may well be regretting his decision to star alongside Stallone, Jason Statham, Li, Dolph Lundgren and Mickey Rourke in The Expendables - the movie shot to number one in America at the weekend.

[doug maverick]

kurt russell was also offered a role, but turned it down cause he felt (rightly so) that there wouldnt be enough screen time with all the actors involved.

[Jimbo]

If they could get him, I think Seagal would make a good villain in Pt. 2.

[doug maverick]

its not if they can get him...cause they dont want him..stallone thinks both him and van damme are nuts.

[doug maverick]

ok i just started caring about part 2

Film News
Donnie Yen Joining The Cast Of THE EXPENDABLES 2?

by Hugo Ozman, August 21, 2011 5:34 AM
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Action, Asia

According to Hong Kong newspapers, while Donnie Yen and his family were on holidays in the US recently, he was invited to dinner by producer Avi Lerner. Reportedly, Lerner has offered Yen a 'tailor-made' role in the upcoming sequel to THE EXPENDABLES, which is due to commence shooting in October.

A spokesperson from Yen's company confirmed that there was in fact an offer, and went on to say that Yen may be interested in THE EXPENDABLES, but because he currently has a number of projects to choose from, he will not decide until he sees if the script appeals to him or not.

Back in the early 2000s, Donnie Yen was already working in Hollywood, appearing in films such as Shanghai Knight and Blade II (for which he also acted as fight choreographer). Of course, he is a much bigger star now following the recent success of Ip Man 1 & 2 and BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS.

[Shaolinlueb]

get Jacki Chen in there too. Have a 3 way fight of Jacki, jet, and Donnie. OMFG I would die a happy man.

[GeneChing]

Firstly, it annoys me that it cost someone's life and a someone else's career.

Secondly, it annoys me that they got Jet's body count wrong.

Chuck Norris fact: Biggest body count in 'Expendables 2'
By Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
Updated 8/21/2012 10:04 PM

The Internet is filled with Chuck Norris "facts" proclaiming the action star's legendary toughness, like "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun — and won" or "There is no chin under Chuck Norris' beard, just another fist."

Chuck Norris returns to the silver screen in 'The Expendables 2,' with a growing legacy, and following, thanks to the internet meme "Chuck Norris Facts."
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These might be exaggerations. But one fact is undeniable: In the action-star heaven of The Expendables 2, Norris is the one who tallies the biggest bad-guy body count when he takes out a mini-army single-handedly, saving his trapped co-stars.

"It's pretty cool," says Norris, 72. "I deserve the most kills. I'm the oldest guy out there. I'm 39 with 33 years of experience."

He's also Chuck Norris.

The Expendables 2 is the nation's No. 1 movie, earning $28.6 million on opening weekend, and features mega-watt stars like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But Norris' legend has its own spotlight because of the Internet hype that started about seven years ago as his film career was waning.

Norris' personal favorite: "They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard."

With a buildup like that, Norris "demanded the ultimate entrance," says director Simon West.

"The worldwide phenomenon of these Chuck Norris jokes set him up as the ultimate hero," West says. "You couldn't meet him at a bar. It had to be on a battlefield with defeated bad guys all around him."

The Missing in Action star and karate champion is retired and lives on a working cattle ranch near College Station, Texas, where he trains his 11-year-old twins, Dakota and Danilee, in karate (naturally, they will soon be black belts). But he returned to star with his action pals, "many whom I've known for 30 years," he says.

West says it would have been "tragic" if Norris had declined the offer. "Not to be able to brag that I had Chuck Norris would have broken my heart."

Norris' arrival immediately caused ripples on the Bulgarian set last year. Martial arts star Scott Adkins found that his own full beard would have to go.

"When people saw it, it was like, 'I don't know if Chuck's going to be happy with that. He's the one with the beard,' " Adkins says, laughing. " 'The Beard' has got the beard."

Adkins switched to a goatee.

Naturally, Norris was asked to provide his own Chuck Norris tall tale for the script. "It was Sly who said that these 'facts' are everywhere, let's put one in a scene," says Norris, "After I gave it to him, he laughed and gave me a big bear hug."

The entry: Norris is bitten by a cobra and, after five agonizing days, the cobra dies.

[GeneChing]

Funny how little we heard about this when the film came out.

'Expendables 2' Faces Second Lawsuit in Stunt Gone Wrong
November 30, 2012 17:39:43 GMT

Nuo Sun, one of the stuntmen injured in an explosion scene on the Bulgarian set, is suing for 'great mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering'.

"The Expendables 2" is deeper in legal trouble. Millennium Films and other parties involved in the movie are facing another lawsuit as the result of a stunt that went wrong during the filming on Bulgaria's Ognyanovo Reservoir last year.

A stuntman named Nuo Sun, who was believed to be standing in for Jet Li, was injured in an explosion scene that killed fellow stuntman Kun Liu. Sun said in his 12-page lawsuit, that "explosives and other similar ultra-hazardous activities" caused a tragedy on top of a rubber boat during the second unit filming that took place October 27, 2011.

"As a direct and proximate result of defendants' negligence, carelessness and unlawful conduct, plaintiff was hurt and injured in plaintiffs health, strength and activity, sustaining severe shock and injury to and upon plaintiffs nervous system, neck, head, body, arms and legs, all of which injuries may be permanent and all of which injuries have caused and continue to cause plaintiff great mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering, for which plaintiff seeks general damages," the filing stated.

Represented by Robert M. Klein, Sun is seeking damages in loss of income and earnings past, present and future. He's also seeking general damages in excess of $25,000, medical costs past present and future, legal costs and whatever else the Court decides.

Millennium Films, Barney's Christmas Inc., Second Choice Productions International and Second Choice Production Services who are named the defendants have yet to comment on the lawsuit. After the incident, they released a statement, saying "Our deepest condolences go to the family of Kun Liu. His passing is tragic. Our sympathies also go to Nuo Sun, who was seriously injured as a result of the same explosion. We have been informed his condition has stabilized. He has been transported to Munich, Germany, where he is receiving top medical care from the best specialists."

Liu's family also filed a lawsuit against the defendants earlier this year. They were suing for $25,000 as well as compensation for funeral expenses and for the loss of Liu's "society, love, comfort, attention, services and support."

[GeneChing]

This was the honorable thing to do for Jet.

Dead stuntman’s family receives HK$5.8m donation from Jet Li
Wednesday August 9, 2017
12:37 PM GMT+8


Stuntman Liu Kun was a double for Jet Li during filming for ‘The Expendables 2’ in Bulgaria in 2011. — AFP pic

HONG KONG, Aug 9 — Jet Li has donated HK$5.8 million (RM3.17 million) to the family of his stunt double, Liu Kun, who was killed on the set of The Expendables 2 in 2011.

While there has been no official comment, Hong Kong entertainment sites reported that the martial arts star had intended for the donation to remain a private one.

It is unclear when the donation was made, but the news comes after Liu’s parents, Liu Zong Yu Liu and Bai Yan Mei, were awarded a meagre HK$195,000 after a protracted court battle lasting four years.

They had filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2012 against Millennium Films and the movie’s stunt coordinator, following their son’s death in October 2011.

The 26-year-old stuntman, who came from Shangxi Province, lost his life while filming on the Ognyanovo dam in Bulgaria.

He died from wounds he suffered from an on-set explosion nearby.

At the time of Liu’s death, the Bulgarian press reported another stuntman who was the double for Sylvester Stallone was seriously injured during the explosion.