CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the doc series “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose,” about the rise and bitter fall of the major league legend, the MLB’s all-time hits leader, only to be banned from the sport because of gambling. Streaming on MAX and on HBO since July 24th.!—break—>
Film News: Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger Sign on For ‘The Expendables 2’
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CHICAGO – Like most instances in Hollywood these days, one gun-filled, explosive, action-packed film is never enough; not when a sequel can be made that promises the same exciting sequences and macho heroes. That is why it is no surprise that Lionsgate has given the green light to a sequel for the 2010 film “The Expendables,” titled “The Expendables 2,” and two of the biggest action stars of all time will join the fun.
News surfaced this morning that the sequel will definitely include Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and, the governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Deadline first reported the news this morning, stating that the roles Willis and Schwarzenegger signed on for are “substantial” and that they will have plenty of screen time in the sequel.
This is some interesting news for fans of the first film as the advertisement and trailers of the original pushed the fact that Bruce and Arnold were both in the film, when in reality their roles were short cameos. The news that the roles will be substantial means that this is the first large role Schwarzenegger has signed on for since the 2003 sequel “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Now that Arnold is no longer Governor of California, he has said he wants to get back into acting, and “The Expendables 2” will be that first big role for him.
Of course, the first film was not big just because of Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger. The film pushed the action into fifth gear with actors like Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke. The first film played up on the history of these actors in a poster that tallied all of the actor’s kills from previous films resulting in a total of 1,593 deaths before “The Expendables.” It made an amazing $275 million worldwide.
Willis and Schwarzenegger will both continue making action films after “The Expendables 2” as well. Willis, who is currently working on “G.I. Joe 2,” is said to be taking on John McClane again in “Die Hard 5.” Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger will continue working as an actor again when he stars as Sheriff Ray Owens in the western “Last Stand.”
“The Expendables 2” is set to begin production next month and planned for a 2012 release.
By TIM MARTENS
Contributing Writer
HollywoodChicago.com