THE EXPENDABLES 2 (Simon West, 2012)

[Jox]

Yin Yang wanted to start his own family, right? So he runs off with Lacy. That's why neither of them are in the sequel.

Though I can't find an "official" word on it, it's becoming more and more obvious that Jet Li is not returning in the sequel and that Donnie Yen might have the task to "fill his shoes" so to speak.

[Jox]

Shelly Johnson is credited on IMDB as the Director of Photography. He was responsible for the cinematography of CAPTAIN AMERICA THE FIRST AVENGER, THE WOLFMAN and JURASSIC PARK III among others)

[GeneralMcFaiL]

With Conan bombing there is going to be a HUGE amount of pressure for this film to deliever now.

[Jox]

Pretty much everything still up in the air: cast, start date, screenplay...

http://moviemavericks.com/2011/08/donni ... ndables-2/

It seems like Expendables 2 is having a rough time locking down talent. I spoke recently with Jean Claude Van-Damme’s agent and there is still no offer for him. And I’ve confirmed from Chuck Norris’ people that he is in a similar boat as Yen, basically there have been talks but nothing substantial. John Travolta’s people are claiming he is also not attached to Expendables 2 and that it is just rumor.
Luckily for us as fans the shooting schedule has been pushed back to October, so there’s still plenty of time for these “rumors” to turn to truth. It seems they are throwing out a very wide net, so it’s practically guaranteed that some of these guys will get caught up in it. I just hope the script doesn’t suffer from all the rewrites.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/enterta ... ction.html

'Expendables' sequel to be China co-production

Last year's Sylvester Stallone action movie "The Expendables" was the 10th-highest-grossing release of the year in China, collecting $32.1 million in one of the world's fastest-growing film markets.

But Nu Image, which financed the movie, collected less than $1 million from the country. The reason: Unable to secure one of the Chinese government's approximately 20 revenue-sharing slots per year for imported pictures, the independent studio had to sell rights to a local distributor for a flat fee. The valuable revenue-sharing slots are primarily taken by major studios like Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures.

Seeking to leave less money on the table with its planned "Expendables" sequel, Nu Image is now in talks to partner with a Chinese distributor and shoot some scenes in that country. The studio believes it could generate about $8 million from the local company with which it works. Co-producing the movie with a Chinese partner would also guarantee the "Expendables" follow-up a release in China without having to navigate the byzantine system for exporting movies to the country.

The performance of the first film “whet the appetite for the second film as a co-production,” said Trevor Short, Nu Image’s chief financial officer. But to ensure that the movie will be co-financed by a Chinese partner, Nu Image not only has to add scenes in the sequel’s screenplay that can be shot in China, but also have the project approved by government censors. “It can’t be detrimental to China,” Short said of what the communist authorities look for.

The company tried to attract a Chinese co-production deal for its recent remake “Conan the Barbarian,” but were turned down. “They seem to have a problem with mysticism and fantasy,” Short said.

For much more on the innovative steps that independent studios like Nu Image are taking to capitalize on the booming Chinese movie market, see the story in today's Times.

-- Ben Fritz and John Horn

[GeneralMcFaiL]

I'm sure the whole production of E2 will be a circus now that Avi Lerner will be sweating bullets after the debacle that was conan.

[Jox]

Let's hope not! Sly is one of the few who knows how to take him and say no, thankfully.

[Jox]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111804 ... s|FilmNews

'Expendables 2' eyes China shoot
Scenes may be shot in country, pending local distrib pact
By DAVE MCNARY

"The Expendables 2" may be coming to China.
A rep for Nu Image/Millennium Films said Wednesday that the production company's in talks with a Chinese distributor to come on board as a producer on the sequel, which would lead to scenes being shot in China as long as a local actor's in the cast. Donnie Yen's been offered a part on the condition that the partnership deal goes through, which would make it far easier for "The Expendables 2" to be released in China.

The current start date for "The Expendables 2," also produced by Lionsgate, is Sept. 19 at Nu Boyana Studios in Bulgaria. Simon West is directing and Sylvester Stallone is starring.

Lionsgate has already set a U.S. release date of Aug. 17 for "Expendables 2."

[Jox]

according to a trusted member of the production team – Yen is atop of the wishlist the big boys are working from.
As reiterated by Twitch, “there is no deal yet” but Yen (“Ip Man”) is someone atop of the wish-list put together by director West, star Sylvester Stallone and producers Avi Lener and Boaz Davidson. With the film looking to lens in Asia, it makes sense we might see a couple of domestic big-timers amongst the cast – if even to suffice a nice tax break.
Other names on that list? The oft-mooted Chuck Norris and John Travolta (neither of whom are signed at this point, it’s “at interest level”), who I personally can’t see jumping through fiery hoops to be a part of this.
…As well as, according to our contact,…
”Lautner. Lambert. Cage. Slater… big list, man. Most offers yet to go out”

http://www.moviehole.net/201144460-excl ... ng-nuggets

CONCLUSION: they're still making deals for co-productions (China) and such and the meantime they're playing with their cast wishlist, talking to actors and throwing offers here and there but nothing definitive yet!

[Jox]

Steve Austin NOT returning in TE2 reports MovieMavericks, he will be in Arnold's LAST STAND:

At this stage of the game Steve Austin is not involved with Exp 2. Sly originally wanted to bring his character back, once he opted out of writing and directing, the script took another direction. I will not be doing Exp 2 as I am going to do Arnold’s movie in New Mexico. Rumor is Arnold is shooting a couple of days on Exp 2 but not confirmed. Hope you will follow me on The Last Stand.

http://moviemavericks.com/2011/08/steve ... vericks%29

[Jox]

Arnold and Bruce confirmed?
http://www.expendablespremiere.com/1/po ... les-2.html

[Jox]

Lionsgate is reportedly quite pleased with 19-year-old Lautner's work in the upcoming thriller "Abduction" and are pushing for him to be in the Simon West-directed movie. Stallone himself is said to be "impressed" by the young star's stunt performing abilities.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/21608/ ... endables-2

[Nathan]

:shock:

Lionsgate is reportedly quite pleased with 19-year-old Lautner's work in the upcoming thriller "Abduction" and are pushing for him to be in the Simon West-directed movie. Stallone himself is said to be "impressed" by the young star's stunt performing abilities.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/21608/ ... endables-2

Fuck that! And fuck that little nancy gay boy pretending to be a warewolf, what a pussy, do they really need a girly looking 19 year old brat in a movie with grizzled, fearsome action heroes? Please please please holy fuck don't let this shit happen, I will boycott the movie if he is in it for more than five minutes.

[GeneralMcFaiL]

Let's decode what Lionsgate really meant by that quote... Omg we cud totallyz get tha Laut crowd/demo 4 our next film, bieber4eva!!!!!


I wouldn't be shocked if an studio exec actually spoke like this btw.

[Jox]

We don't know how legit is that rumor btw, but coming from Lionsgate it's plausible.

[Jox]

Sylvester Stallone Jason Statham Arnold Schwarzenegger Bruce Willis Jet Li Chuck Norris Jean Claude Van Damme Dolph Lundgren Terry Crews Randy Couture Scott Adkins

is the cast listed on the new Millennium Films site... but note that the storyline listed is the old one that Sly said was not the plot (there's been even more script changes since), so even if realistic who knows if this list still 100% confirmed.