The Expendables 2; This time Bruce & Arnie will be ‘Substantial’ characters...

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So Mr. Willis and Mr. Schwarzenegger have signed the papers and will be performing substantial roles this time around. Of course there’s a lot of ambiguity about the word substantial, as used to describe the roles the 2 action legends will have in this film. You can be an important and substantial character without a huge amount of screen time; witness Idris Elba’s impressive turn in this year’s Thor for example. Definitely a very important, ‘substantial’ character, but that didn’t mean he had the lion’s share of the screen time. Still for those who were only basing the level of Arnie and Bruce’s involvement in The Expendables from the trailers, and were hence extremely surprised when the film ended with barely a glimpse of either, this should prove welcome news.

Prime Arnie

Contemporary Willis

I remain unconvinced that the movie going world is as desperate for a return to the big screen of the ex-Governor of L.A (yes California) as we would be led to believe. (certainly a fair number of men of ‘a certain age’ will be looking forward to it, but his choice and quality of movie before he went on sabbatical wasn’t drawing the crowds.) That said this movie, much as we expect The Avengers to be next summer, should prove much more than the sum of its, not inconsiderable, parts. Willis continues to be a draw in the right role and has 3 likely hits on the way in Die Hard 5, R.E.D 2 and G.I Joe 2 (as Joe himself).

Chuck Norris

With Sylester Stallone returning, alongside Jason Statham, Jet Li (apparently) and Dolph Lungdren, Mickey Rourke and Terry Crews the film stands every chance of besting the impressive $275m take of the first movie. Especially with Stallone not doing everything it should have a little more focus and, yes, action. Rumours persist about the adding of Jean Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris to the mix.

Prime Van Damme

 Personally I still think adding Jackie Chan to the cast would help matters greatly, both in terms of an extra dose of appeal, especially (Ironically given his age) with younger film goers and his undoubted skills as choreographer of stunning and original fight scenes: and I’m still marvelling at the total and utter ignoring of the extra bums on seats that putting some of the premium female action talent around into this film would add. Where’s Michelle Yeoh? (Off doing ‘better’ things I know) but surely a film that reunited Chan and Yeoh as well as Willis and Jovovich would attract a wider audience? What? Oh, can’t water down the testosterone eh? OK then, Tony Jaa anyone? (Carl Weathers (Rocky I-III, Pedator and Michael Jai White (Spawn, Dark Knight, Black Dynamite) were kind of born for this too right?)

Black Dynamite on Adult Swim... whole episode preview...

Chan's still the Man

Tony Jaa

The expendables 2 is being directed by Simon West (Con Air, The Mechanic, The General’s Daughter) and is due to kick ass & take names on the 17^th of August 2012. So far women and men under 40 are extremely optional; both onscreen and in the audience! 

Michelle Yeoh

The Lady; trailer for Luc Besson’s biopic of Aung San Suu Kyi; starring Michelle Yeoh

So much more than a pretty face