Taglines: Choose your weapon.
The Expendables is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things arent quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.
Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as removing those hard to get at stains.
The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.
When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret.
They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Eric Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. And to perhaps save a soul: his own.
While some stars might rest comfortably on their laurels after having created not one, but two, global cultural icons – Rocky and Rambo – writer, director and star Sylvester Stallone continues to push the envelope. With the ensemble action epic, THE EXPENDABLES, Stallone has amassed a cast that would make even the most jaded action fan blush, pairing global martial arts superstar Jet Li with internationally known action stalwart Jason Statham, mining the worlds of Mixed Martial Arts and professional wrestling with Randy Couture and Steve Austin, and then doubling the muscle quotient with the addition of Terry Crews and iconic tough guys Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts. Under Stallone’s detailed direction, THE EXPENDABLES explodes into a gritty, adrenaline-fueled odyssey, harkening back to a time when every punch was real and brute strength and sweat were supplied by the actors themselves, not prosthetics or stuntmen. When it comes to action, these guys will show you how it’s done.
“This movie was shot with brains and brawn, not modern technology,” says Stallone. “ This is all about real fighting. Mano a mano. Keeping things as real as possible, instead of falling back on CGI. It’s the kind of filmmaking I grew up on, and that’s the way I direct.”
Says producer Kevin King Templeton, “This is a cast of real action guys, guys that look like they’re capable of doing what real mercenaries do. No CGI, no green screen, no muscle suits. These are real action guys with weight.”
Adds producer Avi Lerner, “There’s no other way to say it. This is a big movie. It’s got a testosterone-fueled lineup, big, big sequences, tough action, all starring a lot of actors doing what they do best. When you see explosions, they are real explosions. When you see a Stallone set that gets decimated, it’s really decimated. The actors are really there in it.”
From the beginning, Stallone was inspired by classic action films like THE DIRTY DOZEN, THE WILD BUNCH and DOGS OF WAR – movies defined by hard-hitting action, tough yet sympathetic characters and resonant, populist themes. “I wanted to tell a story about men who are out of sync with the world but who live their lives by a certain code,” he says. “They don’t have families, their personal lives are a train wreck – all they have is each other.”
Stallone was keenly aware that as a writer and director he was entering uncharted territory with THE EXPENDABLES. Unlike his projects in the RAMBO and ROCKY series, he had to build the mythology of the Expendables team from the ground up. He was also writing for an all-star ensemble cast, taking on the physically and emotionally challenging lead role of Barney Ross, and directing the entire film himself.
Producer Avi Lerner views the making of THE EXPENDABLES as yet another formidable challenge for Stallone in a career defined by them. “Sly is a risk-taker and he always has been,” says Lerner. “The first ROCKY was a risk for him. So was the first RAMBO. And now, to create a new character, to get into the physical condition he’s in, to direct and handle this amazing cast and difficult locations – that amounts to a huge risk. His career is full of taking risks and that’s what makes him such an icon. He’s not afraid.”
As he developed the story, Stallone found that the heart of the film centered on the theme of redemption. “These guys are definitely anti-heroes,” he explains. “At one time they had a code that they’d only go after people who deserved it. They killed killers. But then it became all about the money and they lost their way. With Rocky or even Rambo, there was a line they wouldn’t cross. Barney and his crew have crossed that line somehow, and they need to get back on the right side of it.”
By the time Stallone had a shooting script he was happy with, he had written over 100 drafts, completely reworked the direction of the film and either cut or drastically reworked major characters. Says producer Kevin King Templeton, “For Sly, it’s not just blowing something up. The script has to have heart and story. If it doesn’t have heart, he doesn’t want to be involved in it. ”
Stallone’s depth as a writer and director is the primary reason Jet Li, the globally known martial arts superstar, immediately agreed to play the part of Expendable Yin Yang, a role that Stallone wrote with Li in mind. “I respect him a lot,” says Li. “ He’s not just a great action man, he’s also a great writer. And I think his movies always show you great characters.”
A close-quarter, stealthy combatant who can attack his opponents virtually undetected, Yin Yang is a Vietnamese-American hoping to live his own version of the American dream; and Li imbues him with a quiet intensity. “My character is very straight forward, very simple,” explains the actor. “He’s single. He doesn’t have a family. But in his mind he’s always dreaming about the future. He constantly thinks about making money so that he can get married and have kids and save for their education, even though none of it’s happened yet.”
For the role of Lee Christmas, Stallone also had a particular actor in mind: Jason Statham, an international action star in his own right known for films like the TRANSPORTER series, CRANK and THE BANK JOB. “It’s very difficult to execute action in a believable, tough way, and Sly does it better than anyone,” says Statham. “ I really loved the concept of a bunch of regular guys with all these insecurities and problems of their own who are put in a situation where they need to focus and kick ass, as they say.”
As played by Statham, Lee Christmas is a knife-wielding killing machine who wears his heart on his sleeve and struggles as his relationship with his girlfriend Lacey, played by Charisma Carpenter, disintegrates. Explains Statham, “ Lee Christmas is a chap who’s very skilled with a knife but not so good with his relationship. He gets dumped and looks to Barney for advice, which becomes a situation that allows for a fair amount of humor between the two chaps.”
Stallone admits that casting someone considerably younger and of a different nationality in the “buddy” role was a bit of a gamble. “You never know if the chemistry is going to work,” he says. “But privately, I learned about a side to Jason that had not yet been tapped on film. Like anyone, he’s had some ups and downs and some hurts, and I wanted to bring some of that experience to the character. We see that underneath this impenetrable armor, Lee gets hurt.”
For Dolph Lundgren, winning the role of Gunner Jensen was a homecoming of sorts. Twenty-five years ago, he ignited the screen as Russian fighter Ivan Drago in ROCKY IV, only to find himself once again going toe-to-toe with Stallone. “Stallone created my career with the Ivan Drago character,” muses Lundgren. “Now here I am, a little bit older and once again Sly has created a multi-faceted character for me who is larger than life and kind of iconic.”
A formidable fighter who cannot control his impulses, Jensen exemplifies the toll that the Expendables’ violent, wayward lifestyle can take on a man. He’s become an emotionally unstable liability, undone by too much combat stress, adrenaline addiction and drug use. “W hen we first meet him, he’s really out on a limb. He’s gone too far, and Barney has to cut him out of the group,” explains Lundgren, who found the darker aspects of the character the least challenging to play. “I don’t mind killing people or crying,” he laughs, “but at four in the morning when I’m burned out emotionally, don’t ask me to be funny.”
When casting the role of Toll Road, the brawny intellect of the group, Stallone had trouble finding an actor who could convincingly exhibit sheer brute force. “I was looking for a mercenary, for a real man, for a guy who can fight,” he says. “Then I realized, ‘Why not actually cast the real deal?’” Stallone turned to Mixed Martial Arts superstar Randy Couture. “Randy provided a face and a look that is a roadmap to confrontation, battle, discipline, pain,” says Stallone. “Masculine with a glimpse of sensitivity in the eyes.”
“ Toll Road is kind of the glue that holds all these dysfunctional guys together,” says Couture. “He’s the guy who gets the coffee or the sandwiches and keeps everyone in sync.” The least experienced actor in the cast, Couture’s skills were put to the test when Stallone wrote a monologue for him about his ‘cauliflower ear,’ caused by over 20 years of professional wrestling. “The monologue was in some ways easy for me because I was telling the truth,” says Couture. “Every wrestler I know will be laughing when they see that scene.”
Terry Crews, best known for his comedic roles in television shows like “Everybody Hates Chris,” remembers the day he got the call from Stallone for a meeting. “ I was floored because I’m the biggest Sylvester Stallone fan of all time,” says Crews. “I love ROCKY. And I love the story of how he made Rocky just as much. I’ve always looked at him as an example of independent filmmaking. He’s the litmus test of whether you’re really, really willing to put everything on the line. I was honored.”
“Terry is an untapped wealth of talent, muscle and sensitivity,” reports Stallone. As long barrel weapons specialist Hale Caesar, Crews brings a tough, street-smart sensibility to the part that’s a far cry from his comedic work. “ Hale is from the hood,” he says. “You can tell by the way that he talks and the way he walks that he’s been through something.”
During production, Crews became well acquainted with Hale Caesar’s weapon of choice in the film: the AA-12 auto assault 12-gauge shotgun. Designed in 1972 specifically for the military, the AA-12 is capable of delivering 300 rounds per minute and is considered the most powerful weapon in the world by enthusiasts. Crews admits to having been a little intimidated. “The biggest thing for me was learning how to respect the weapon,” he reports. “You have to be very, very, very careful just loading the bullets. That sucker was total overkill!”
Stallone then turned to his old friend, Mickey Rourke, to play the small but pivotal role of Tool. Rourke, who made a highly praised comeback in 2008 with an Oscar-nominated turn in THE WRESTLER, plays a weary former Expendable who now runs the business of brokering clandestine missions out of his storefront tattoo shop. Explains Stallone about casting his friend, “I’m a little older than him, but we sort of grew up in the business together. We’ve had our ups and downs, know the ins and outs of our lives. He’s a very sensitive and unique guy, and I thought if he could bring some of that uniqueness to the character of Tool, it would be off the charts.”
The last piece of the puzzle was filling the role of Sandra, the woman Barney and Christmas leave behind in Vilena when their reconnaissance mission goes south. Sandra, who unknowingly becomes the catalyst for Barney’s change of heart, had to be tough, intelligent, beautiful and able to hold her own in a film dominated by testosterone. Brazilian actress Giselle Itié (pronounced “Eet-she”), who had studied boxing and jiu jitsu but had never done an action film, won the role after a worldwide casting call.
For the all-important supporting roles, Stallone called on the versatility of actor Eric Roberts for rogue ex-CIA agent Monroe, and on former pro wrestler Steve Austin for the role of Monroe’s sidekick and henchman, Paine.
With THE EXPENDABLES cast finally taking shape, Stallone began tailoring each role to fit the particular skills and talents of each actor. Explains Stallone, “Each of them are stars in their own right and needed to be served equally. But I have to say they all came to the table and put their egos aside. Everyone was on board to give 100% to their role. They made my job easy.”
Lundgren applauds Stallone for his willingness to collaborate. “When I first got the script, Gunner was a totally different guy,” recalls the actor. “But after meeting with Sly a couple of times, we came up with other ideas. Sly is an instinctive writer, so as soon as he sees something he’ll say, ‘Okay, maybe in the next scene you should be doing this because of what’s happening here.’ It’s a pleasure to work so organically.”
That hard work culminated in a thrilling moment on set, when the Expendables – Stallone, Li, Statham, Couture, Lundgren and Crews – arrived on set fully armed and dressed in SWAT gear to shoot their first scene together. “I felt like I’d been invited into the League of Super Heroes,” laughs Crews.
“I think everyone in the cast was a little star struck, including myself,” says Lundgren. “When you see us on screen together, you can feel the extra electricity. Those guys are all big. They’re all just as deadly in real life as on film. Sly really gathered these imposing, big personalities and formed them into one incredible team.”
As if that weren’t enough, Stallone had his eye on uniting two more titans of action cinema for a special cameo appearance in one key scene: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. “It was one of those ridiculous pipedreams,” says Stallone. “They’re old friends. But Arnold’s the governor and Bruce is a multi-million dollar actor. But I said ‘Well, why not? Let me just try.’”
Both actors were willing, but it took nearly six months after shooting was over to find a window when Governor Schwarzenegger had time off that matched up with Willis’ schedule. “We did it at like four o’clock on a Saturday morning in a church and nobody knew it was there. Everyone brought their own clothes. It was like stealth,” remembers Stallone. “And by seven, we didn’t exist. Boom, gone! They were fantastic.”
“It’s probably one of the best scenes in the movie,” adds Templeton. “The crew couldn’t believe it. The wattage in that room was unbelievable. You can tell why each one in their own right became stars. When you see the three of them together it’s just mesmerizing.”
The cast and crew spent the first month of production on location in Brazil, which provided the perfect backdrop for the fictitious island of Vilena. “The architecture, the landscape with the fishing villages and jungles and the uniqueness of the people provided us a look we couldn’t find anywhere else,” reports executive producer Les Weldon.
Brazil also provided production designer Franco Carbone with a facade that matched Stallone’s vision of General Garza’s palace. Carbone scouted hundreds of locations looking for a majestic piece of architecture before he settled on the 1920s, chateau-style mansion that serves as the centerpiece for Parque Lage, a public park situated at the base of the Corcovado, the mountain where the statue of Christ stands. This beautiful park, with its English-style gardens and little lakes, provided the perfect backdrop for Garza, the villainous dictator played by David Zayas.
While it was aesthetically ideal, Brazil did pose some challenges to the production, whether it was the delays caused by a less efficient filmmaking infrastructure, the logistically difficult locations, communication and language problems or assimilating with local crew members. Then there was the weather. Temperatures often topped 110 degrees with high humidity and monsoon-like downpours pummeled the set without notice, causing further production delays. “I have never seen it rain like that in my life,” recalls Templeton. “There were golf balls coming down. It was like seven inches per minute and it went on for hours.”
After a month of shooting in Brazil and a two week hiatus, the company moved to New Orleans where filming commenced at the Louisiana Film Studios in Harahan. As with Brazil, a majority of filming in New Orleans required practical locations and weather was once again a factor. While shooting at Fort McComb, a series of catacombs built in the early 1800s, a three-day torrential downpour flooded the location, resulting in the loss of several shooting days. But in the end, New Orleans delivered what it promised: character and color.
The Expendables (2010)
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Randy Couture, Giselle Itié, Charisma Carpenter, Gary Daniels, Amin Joseph, Hank Amos
Screenplay by: Dave Callaham, Sylvester Stallone
Production Design by: Franco-Giacomo Carbone
Cinematography by: Jeffrey L. Kimball
Film Editing by: Ken Blackwell, Paul Harb
Costume Design by: Lizz Wolf
Set Decoration by: Robert Gould
Art Direction by: Drew Boughton, Daniel Flaksman
Music by: Brian Tyler
MPAA Rating: R for strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language.
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: August 13, 2010
