Tough Guy Roll Call, The Expendables

Posted by: Tony – Jun 22, 2010

The 80s and the 90s may be gone, and the hi-octane action flicks with sculpted warriors taking on entire armies that Hollywood produced during that span may have fallen out of favor in this age of CGI, plausible thrillers, and fight scenes consisting of so many quick cuts that it’s impossible to tell exactly what’s happening. However, Sly Stallone is still alive and well, and on the 13th of August he’s bringing one of the most appealing casts ever together for a rock ‘em sock ‘em battle royale that promises to be an action spectacle like those explosive assaults so many of us grow up watching. The man who pledged to “break” Stallone’s beloved pugilist in Rocky 4, Dolph Lundgren himself, has promised audiences across the globe “an old-school, kick-ass action movie where people are fighting with knives and shooting at each other.” I, for one, am ready for such a film, and it appears as though The Expendables may prove to be one of the biggest and baddest action films of all time.

First off, let’s take a look at the Hollywood heavyweights who have weighed in for the upcoming bout, a virtual who’s who of action stars led by Stallone himself, who directed the feature and stars as Barney "The Schizo" Ross. Ross is the leader of the mercenary unit referenced in the title, and he is backed by Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Jet Li as Yin Yang, and Dolph Lundgren as Gunnar Jensen. Rounding out the team are Terry Crews as Hale Caesar and Randy Couture as Toll Road. The Expendables are hired by Bruce Willis as Mr. Church, and they are equipped by the one and only Mickey Rourke as Tool, a former member of the team who now deals arms out of his tattoo parlor. The Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, cameos as Trench, an old rival who defers to Ross when Mr. Church comes looking to hire some firepower for a job in South America where a cold-blooded despot must be taken down. Of course things won’t go as planned, and I won’t be surprised if there is a double-cross awaiting The Expendables once the shooting starts, but that’s to be expected in a film of this nature.

Standing against Stallone and his team of mercenaries are David Zayas as General Garza, the evil dictator, and Eric Roberts as Agent Monroe, a corrupt operative who is working with Garza. None other than Stone Cold Steve Austin will portray Dan Paine, who will serve as Monroe’s imposing bodyguard. Garza’s lead henchmen, The Brit, will be played by Gary Daniels, an amazing martial artist who deserves a breakthrough role in a big picture. Like Rourke, Daniels will also be playing a former member of the team, but he isn’t looking to arm them, he’s itching for a chance to go to war with his former mates, and his physical prowess should thrill those unfamiliar with this tremendous talent. MMA stalwart Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira will also be on hand as one of the villainous thugs working for Garza, and one can only hope that he and Couture will get to square off at some point.

Stallone worked hard to fill out his cast with legitimate stars, and among those he offered parts to were Kurt Russel, Steven Segal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Wesley Snipes. Some of those performers weren’t able to participate because of scheduling conflicts, but others weren’t interested, and they may regret not suiting up for the carnage once The Expendables debuts in August. Based on the enthusiastic response to test footage and trailers, the producers are already looking to turn The Expendables into a trilogy. Stallone himself turned down the opportunity to helm a fifth Rambo film to focus on a sequel to The Expendables, so it seems likely that those who survive the first film will be gearing up for another battle sometime soon. Dynamite Entertainment has already published a comic book that serves as a prologue of sorts for the film, and the internet is abuzz with pictures, scenes, and other promotional materials, so if this movie is as exciting as it should be, it is poised to shoot up theaters the world over. Get ready for The Expendables, a film that boasts a cast brimming with absolute badasses and a throwback to the big action spectacles of yesterday.

Though it is possible that we have never seen such a line-up in any film, The Expendables isn’t the first film to boast a cast brimming with action stars. Here are some of the most significant pictures with an assortment of tough guys on hand to wreak havoc:

The Dirty Dozen starring Lee Marvin, Jim Brown, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, and Telly Savalas

The Wild Bunch starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, Robert Ryan, and Bo Hopkins

The Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brunner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach, and Robert Vaughn

The Great Escape starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn

And, last but not least, a personal favorite:

Extreme Prejudice starring Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, William Forysthe, and Rip Torn