Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Chuck Norris and Scott Adkins. According to the official website of studio Millennium Films, these are the actors confirmed to appear in “The Expendables 2”, a sequel to 2010’s Box-Office hit that reunited the greatest action stars of the 80’s and 90’s, directed by Simon West (“Con Air”), replacing Stallone, who decided to keep only actor duties in the follow-up.
The movie will be shot in Bulgaria and China, and, according to Bulgarian studio Nu Boyana, that is also producing, will follow the Expendables confronting another team of mercenaries, led by Van Damme‘s character. Adkins will be one of his men. Norris will have a cameo, similar to Willis’ and Schwarzenegger’s in the first movie, whereas the two actors – especially Willis, who plays the corrupt CIA operative Mr. Church – will have bigger roles. Li, who apparently did not want to return to the role of Expendable Yin Yang, will only participate of the China filming, while most of the cast will also appear in Bulgaria.
Schwarzenegger’s co-star on James Cameron’s “True Lies”, Tom Arnold, has also apparently received an offer to appear in the movie. Other actor from the original movie expected to return is Steve Austin, who played the hitman Don Paine, who died in the original movie. According to rumors, he’d play Paine’s twin brother who wants revenge against Stallone’s character.
Other actors rumored to be be contenders for roles in the movie are Donnie Yen, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Lambert, Christian Slate, John Travolta, Tom Sizemore, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Carl Weathers, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Charlie Sheen, Lorenzo Lamas, Jeff Speakman, Olivier Gruner, Ryan Seacrest and Taylor Lautner. Actress Tamara Ecclestone has also been linked to the part, possibly in the role of Mickey Rourke’s character’s daughter, named Fiona.
According to Stallone, the movie will be “a love letter to martial arts movies” and explore more the other members of the team. He also confirmed a fight scene between Lundgren and Van Damme.
“The Expendables 2” will be released on August 17, 2012.
