THE EXPENDABLES 2 (Simon West, 2012)

[Jox]

Sly arrived in Sofia
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=132529

[Jox]

http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/09/30/116 ... xpendables

Filming of stunts on the Expendables 2 - the long awaited sequel to last year's smash hit - has started in Sofia at Nu Boyana studios with the main stars set to begin shooting scenes on Monday October 3.

[Simon]

First Picture of Dolph as Gunnar for Expendables 2!!!

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news ... endables-2

[Jox]

First Picture of Dolph as Gunnar for Expendables 2!!!

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news ... endables-2

See above

http://nuboyana.com/2011/09/the-expenda ... nu-boyana/

Posted on September 30, 2011
Filming of the sequel to “The Expendables” has started at the Nu Boyana Film Studios facility in Sofia.

Started with stunts, should go with the cast next week...

Update about the locations from Bulgarian fan Slavkov

They are shooting in BG in the Nu Image studio in Sofia, in the winter resort Bansko, at the airport in Plovdiv (the second city in population in BG), and near Lovech (a real bridge has been developed near Devetashka Cave which is one of the biggest caves in BG and a famous sightseeing for the tourists. After the shooting is finished Sly promised that they will not destroy the bridge over river Osum but he'll leave it as a present to the BG country and there are rumors that the prime minister of BG will come along with Sly for the opening of the bridge. This range will be used for outdoor shootings.) Here are some photos of that cave and the near range:

[T100]

First on set video and a French promo poster(see link below video)!

http://filmgeek.fr/2011/09/29/le-congre ... ine-apres/

[Jox]

Sweet

Footage source comes from novatv.bg

It seems that Les Weldon, who wrote HIDDEN AGENDA and produced DIRECT CONTACT, COMMAND PERFORMANCE and CONAN, will have a bigger hand on this one as a producer since he's been living and working in Bulgaria for a while.

Sounds like part of the story would be set in New York and part of it in Burma (finishing off Rambo's last mission?)...
From Slavkov:

It is said that the action takes place in Burma (the same as in Rambo 4) where the team of expendables are going to take revenge over the death of a fellow team member (probably Tool) who was killed by the Burma dictator and apparently save the country from him, and the New York sets in Nu Boyana studios will also be used later in the production. Sly comes in front of the camera on Monday!

Randy Couture on TE2 before he flew to Bulgaria

Sherdog: “The Expendables 2” is expected to come out next summer. Have you started shooting that yet?
Couture: Getting ready to leave for Bulgaria. That’s where it looks like we’ll be shooting the bulk of the movie. It looks like we’ll start shooting on Oct. 1, so I’ll leave Saturday to do my week of prep work and fittings. I’m very excited about this script and the group of guys they’ve put together. Just about everybody is back for “Expendables 2,” which is remarkable. Simon West is going to be directing this time, and he’s a tremendous action director. It’s going to be a blast.

Sherdog: It was cool to see that group of guys on screen at the same time -- like you said, guys who many of us grew up watching. And now it seems even more names are attached to the project. Are we really going to see Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris, plus pretty much everybody else coming back?
Couture: It looks that way, yeah. It looks like those guys and even some others are going to be in this one. And we’re looking at bigger [parts] for Bruce and for Arnold [Schwarzenegger].

Sherdog.com: As we mentioned, you have been on set with guys like Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham and Jet Li, and they all have some type of combat training. As I recall, Stallone has stated that you were definitely the “baddest” guy on set, which is to be expected as a five-time UFC champion. I thought it would be fun for you to answer that from your perspective. Which guy on “The Expendables” crew could handle himself for real if need be?
Couture: I think all the guys are athletic and have the ability to take care of themselves in just about any situation. But I think of all the guys in the cast, probably the guy who is closest to being ready to step into the cage and fight is Dolph. He’s a huge guy, first of all, and he’s been involved in martial arts for a long, long time. He’s done the sparring, and he’s still training at a very high level. He brings a trainer with him who is a wrestler and an MMA guy. So of all the guys, I’d say Dolph is probably the one who would acquit himself very well in the cage.

[whiteandblank]

Can't wait to see this! I think Dolph did really well in his role, albeit limited!

[Mosquito]

Hell yeah! It's a real torture to wait so long before it'll hit the theaters. *sigh*

And... it will be my very first Chuck Norris movie.

[Jox]

http://eleven.com.au/eleven/NewsArticle ... -movie.htm

Arnold Schwarzenegger shapes up for movie

Sunday, 02 October 2011

Arnold Schwarzenegger is on a strict diet and exercise plan to ensure he’s ready for The Expendables 2.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been running “faster than traffic” to get in shape for The Expendables 2.

The action hero had a small part in the original movie and has signed on to appear in the sequel. He’ll play a character called Trench again, although the details of the role haven’t been revealed.

However, it seems Arnold may have a larger part this time round as he’s been spotted frantically training ahead of shooting.

“He was seen in the main street of Brentwood, Los Angeles, dressed in high tech compression latex togs… literally running faster than the traffic, arms and legs pumping furiously as a trainer holding a stopwatch timed him pumping up for his new Expendables 2 flick,” a source told National Enquirer.

“The man was running like a machine, or cyborg!”

The Expendables 2 will also see Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Jason Statham reappearing. That’s said to be part of the reason Arnold is on a fitness drive.

He’s worried that the years spent as Governor of California have left him out of shape.

“Arnold’s not about to be upstaged by his superstar co-stars. He’s started a strict, intense exercise/diet regimen – and it’s working. He and his trainer have been power running down that long boulevard near his home, and they really do run faster than the cars. Arnold looks amazing – in better shape than men less than half his age!” another insider explained. © Cover Media

[Jox]

I think Ross Clarkson (THE MECHANIK, UNDISPUTED II & III, DIRECT CONTACT, NINJA) will be the director of photography for second unit

Cast-Follow Up's, Leaked Story, ETC. ***SPOILERS***

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764651/boa ... #189201551

Alright guys. I'm gonna use this thread as a way to follow the casting rumors, confirmations and more. I'm also going to try to match up the character's in the script with the casting rumors.

I can't reveal my association with the film in order to protect my job (FIRST BIG HOLLYWOOD GIG), but as a former film student with recommendation from a former Lionsgate Script Supervisor, I've been keen with the script and the casting development.

Good news is that Stallone hasn't been screwing with the script and story on a near daily basis as he did for the first film. He's very excited, as is Simon.

So here you go, and please don't crucify me for the SPOILERS. I'll also list the size of the role on a 1-10 scale.


DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT MAJOR PLOT POINTS SPOILED FOR YOU!

Sylvester Stallone (10/10) as Barney Ross, leader of THE EXPENDABLES
After a CIA Job gone wrong, Ross starts a personal war against Vilain and his group of murderous mercenaries, as well as rescue Fiona, Tool's daughter.

Jason Statham (10/10) as Lee Christmas, 2nd in Command of THE EXPENDABLES
As Ross's closest friend, Christmas supports Ross in his vendetta. Ross also sees him as his successor for his eventual retirement/death.

Dolph Lundgren (9/10) as Gunnar Jensen, Rehabilitated Strong-Arm of THE EXPENDABLES
Despite saving Lee and Ross in Gazak, he is often seen as the least trustworthy of the expendables and the mental weak link which Church sees to exploit.

Jean Claude Van Damme (8/10) as Vilain, Ruthless Gun-for-Hire and MAIN VILLAIN
An EXPENDABLE who was kicked out by Ross for murdering a former teammate, he gets his revenge by killing Tool. When he takes on a job of suppressing the Gazak revolution, he finds himself at odds with both The EXPENDABLES and Tool's bloodthirsty daughter.

Randy Couture (7/10) as Toll Road, Demolition Expert of THE EXPENDABLES
With a newfound faith following his survival of the first film, he follows Ross and Christmas to avenge Tool, yet still hindered by his rigorous superstitions.

Bruce Willis (6/10) as Agent Church, Corrupt CIA Agent
Seen as responsible for Tool's death and their ambush from Vilain, he is forced to be the brains of their revenge operation whilst manipulating the Expendables against one another once Tool's daughter is kidnapped.

Terry Crews (6/10) as Hale Caesar, Weapons Specialist of THE EXPENDABLES
Another loyal member of THE EXPENDABLES, he is seriously wounded when kidnapping Church. Yet he stays with the group for their final stand.

Liam Hemsworth (6/10) as Easton, Iraq War Vet and EXPENDABLE in Training
A War Hero and Sniper, his first mission with the team is Gazak. However, in the resulting vendetta, his inexperience puts the team at risk.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (5/10) as Trent Mauser, Former Rival of THE EXPENDABLES
A former rival of Ross, he joins the team to help kidnap Church and avenge the death of mutual friend Tool. However, he may have an underlying motive to his newfound friendship with the Expendables.

Vin Diesel/ The Rock ??? (5/10) as Stone Miller
A role obviously meant to set up for a third film, he is introduced to Ross by Argo at the end of the film as possible "new blood" for the team. He asks Ross when he can start and Ross states after his vacation.

John Travolta (5/10) as President Dogot, dictator of Gazak
A dictator who sees his 30-year reign coming to an end, Dogot turns to Vilain to suppress a people's revolution at any cost.

Nicolas Cage (4/10) as Buffer, Gazak contact and leader of Gazak's Uprising
Chain-Smoking and Expletive-Heavy, he assists the Expendables with their revenge mission in Gazak as it will help them gain momentum to overturn Dogot's rule.

Michael Biehn (4/10) as Agent Corazzo, CIA Agent in charge of retrieving Church
Following the kidnapping of Church and the CIA "package", Corazzo is assigned to tracking down the Expendables and retrieving their property.

Donnie Yen (3/10) as Sin Ho-Sik, Vilain's Martial Art Expert
Silent but deadly, he's one of the top fighters in the world and works as Vilain's spy to follow the Expendables after the CIA job.

Mickey Rourke (3/10) as Tool, Mentor of THE EXPENDABLES
Returning to action as per Church, he is killed by Vilain during their Gazak mission.

Jet Li (2/10) as Ying Yang, Martial Arts Expert of THE EXPENDABLES
Having quit the Expendables following the events of the first film, Ross and the Expendables travel to China to recruit him back to the team.

Chuck Norris (2/10) as Richter Argo, former EXPENDABLE
At Tool's funeral, he inspires Ross to get revenge for Tool yet he cannot join as he must watch over Fiona.

Christopher Lambert (2/10) as Needles, Vilain's Torture Expert
Creepy and relentless, it's a small role relegated to torturing Fiona and using Stockholm Syndrome to seduce her. She turns the tables to escape from Vilain's clutches.

PURSUED CAST MEMBERS:
Michael Pare (1/10) as Kennedy, Arms Dealer and former Expendable
A former expendable who is now wheelchair bound, he supplies the Expendables with top grade weapons and gear for their CIA missions and Fiona's rescue.

Lorenzo Lamas (1/10) as Polo, former EXPENDABLE living in Burma
A suicidal former Expendable, he aids Ross's dangerous entrance into China. He is killed by Ho-Sik as he awaits for the group's return.

[Tom]

If that's all true that sounds brilliant. But it sounds a little bit too much like a well researched bullshit session. Hopefully it isn't. I'd expect Dolph's role to be bigger, so hopefully this is true. The inclusions of Biehn, Pare and Lamas would also be welcome little bits of icing on a totally badass cake! Lamas is well known for his love of bikes, so it'd be easy to see him riding with the Expendables.

[Jox]

Apparently the footage leaked on Bulgarian TV was taken illegally and David Varod will take legal action against NovaTV.
http://www.novini.bg/news/24391-%D0%B4% ... D0%BD.html

This says Sly is rewriting the script, that he's staying in a luxury house with 5 bodyguards (Arnold will have 7 and JCVD & DL chose none) and all kind of training equipement
http://www.blitz.bg/news/article/119454

Apparently Dolph isn't filming right away and the big action scenes will come by the end of the month.
http://paper.standartnews.com/bg/articl ... cle=383777

[RIGGINS]

So I don't understand. Has Dolph already arrived to Bulgaria for shoting in TE2?!

[MacGyver]

Jox, can you confirm if this cast/character list is real?

[Jox]

So I don't understand. Has Dolph already arrived to Bulgaria for shoting in TE2?!

Yes!

Jox, can you confirm if this cast/character list is real?

I can't confirm it but it looks very plausible. What I'm not sure is about how Sly denied the storyline that appeared during Cannes and yet for all we know it seems the script is still very very similar...