It’s amazing how Sylvester Stallone convinced most of the biggest action stars in the world to joinThe Expendablesfranchise and let him be the main guy. In all four movies, his character Barney Ross has been the orchestra’s conductor, either carving the path for the rest to follow or ending up as the final hero who defeats the villain. It feels like the “boss of bosses” arrangement in the Cosa Nostra, like when Lucky Luciano formed The Commission in the early 1930s.
However, as is always the case with these arrangements, not everyone is always willing to come on board. They consider themselves lions who should stick to their territories rather than be led by another alpha. Others come on board, only to later disembark feeling they aren’t getting a good enough deal. The following list therefore includes action stars who either turned down Stallone’s offer completely or changed their mind at some point.
10Steven Seagal
Some actors can only kick butt on screen. Others can also do it in real life. Well, Steven Seagal falls under the latter. Heholds a 7th-dan black belt in Aikidoand is known for dispatching attackers without getting a scratch. As unrealistic as his movies often feel, he would have been a perfect addition toThe Expendablesfranchise, given his great run as an action star. Regrettably, he said no.
During an interview with The Big Issue,Seagal explainedthat he never joined the franchise because he “just didn’t like some of the people involved." When pressed further, he refused to name any names, simply adding that, “life is too short to work with funny people.” It’s unclear who Seagal was referring to asthere is no reported feud between him and any other major action stars.
Perhaps it is simply an ego thing, as he has a history of saying no. Martial arts fans will remember howhe was famously offered $20 million for a Las Vegas bout with Jean Claude Van Damme, but he wasn’t ready to rumble. Michael Buffer must hate the guy.
9Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis would have called a bluff if a fortune-teller had told him he’d become one of the biggest action stars of the ‘80s. He didn’t have the standard muscle requirement and beforehis casting as John McClaneinDie Hard,he was only known for his work in the comedy series,Moonlighting. Decades later, he would be playing the wisecracking CIA agent, Mr. Church alongside fellow renowned action stars.
Failed Renegotiation
In his introductory statement in the first installment ofThe Expendablesfilm series, Willis’ character makes a remark that would later reflect his behind-the-scenes woes.
“You don’t need to know my name. Only thing you need to know is the jobs real, and the money’s real.”
Away from the set, the job was real, alright, and the money was too, except it wasn’t enough. According to The Hollywood Reporter,Willis' lack of involvementinThe Expendables 3was cited asa disagreement over remuneration, with production sources indicating that the actorwas offered $3 million for four days of shooting in Bulgaria but felt he was worth $4 million.Mr. Church thus exited.
8Jackie Chan
Jackie Chanis known for being a funny guy(we could have bet Seagal was referring to him if he was in the franchise), and for being one of theaction stars who do their stunts. Despite achieving so much and accumulating a net worth of $350 million (according to Forbes), he continues to put his body on the line.
More About the Lack of Time…and Space
Screenrant reports thatChan was offereda role inThe Expendables 2but didn’t accept it becausehe was shootingCZ12and felt it was more of a priority. Chan later had another talk with Stallone and agreed to appear inThe Expendables 3if he could get more screen time.
However, he rethought and backed out. Another conversation would arise whenExpendables 4was being discussed, butChan felt that he and Stallone should just do a duo movie instead.He felt the franchise was too overcrowded and someone like him sure needed more space to jump around without crashing into a Dolph Lundgren. Unfortunately, nothing has materialized yet.
10 Martial Arts TV Shows Starring Real Martial Artists
For action fans, the perfect TV combo is real martial artists who can use their skill and know-how to heighten their already solid acting chops.
7Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich was once named the “reigning queen of kick-butt” and she has broken plenty of enemy bones since the ‘90s, mostly in theResident Evilfranchise.She is known to perform most of her stunts and is an expert in karate and kickboxing. Unsurprisingly, Sylvester Stallone approached her for a role inThe Expendables 3.
An Equally Great (If Not Better) Replacement Was Found
Fandomwire reveals thatJovovich was negotiating to play an unnamed female characterin the movie, but she eventually pulled out and chose to channel her efforts elsewhere. It’s unclear whether money or time was the issue, and there is no doubt she would have been a great fit. Still,it could be argued that Stallone got a better replacement in Ronda Rousey. The former UFC star was a bigger draw, and her presence in the movie helped sell way more tickets. Even so, we’d love to see Jovovich in a future installment.
6Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme is not to be messed with, and he has his father to thank for that. The Belgian actor was enrolled in a Shotokan karate school when he was only 10,enabling him to rise to the rank of 2nd-dan black belt in karate. As a teenager,he won the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Associationbefore acquiring the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title. Ultimately, he found himself in Hollywood and the rest is history.
Creative Differences
Givenhis impressive action resume, Van Damme was one of the first actors approached when the franchise began, but he chose not to do it becausehe wasn’t accorded the angles he would have loved. Hewanted his character to be pitted against Jet Li, but Sly didn’t think it was a good idea.Additionally, hewas also offered the role of Gunnar Jensen, later played by hisUniversal Soldierco-star Dolph Lundgren, but he didn’t think it suited him.The actor would later regret his decision, so when the chance came to play the villain ofExpendables 2, he took it. But then his character got the cheesiest name: Jean Vilain.
5Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen is yet another action star who can replicate his on-set actions in the real world.He is a tai chi expert, a skill that allowed him to land choreography roles in Hong Kong movies at an early age. He got his breakthrough role as an antagonist inOnce Upon a Time in China IIopposite Jet Li. Since then, his star has continued rising.
Not the Best Role
Ahead ofThe Expendables 2, Donnie Yen had become one of the world’s biggest action stars, thanks to his work in theIp Manmovies. He was perfect for the Stallone-led franchise, but he felt the offer wasn’t good enough.
Speaking to Coming Soon,Yen said:
“They wanted me to be in Expendables 2, but I just didn’t feel the role clicked. I was flattered that I was approached by the producers, but I just didn’t see the role they asked me to do being that intriguing.
Thankfully, we have had no shortage of Donnie Yen content to enjoy. The actor recently bossed the proceedings in theJohn Wickfranchise. So good was he thathis character is set to get a spinoff.
4Sigourney Weaver
Rather than star in pure beat-em-up films, Sigourney Weaverprefers films that blend action with other genres. Such an approach has benefited her greatly, asshe is among the few action stars to be nominated for an Academy Award. Her role as Ellen Ripley in theAlienfranchise gave her a lasting legacy, and she continues to impress with every new project.
Traditional Roles Aren’t Enticing
ForThe Expendables, Weaver was approached with an offerto be the love interest of Sylvester Stallone’s character, andshe didn’t think that was good enough.Most fans would feel the same way, as they’d probably have loved to see her wielding a machine gun if she had been cast.
The actress would later confess that she isn’t too pleased with the way Hollywood treats her:
“I seem to fall between the cracks. I’m not considered a legitimate action hero because I’m a woman. But I’m not considered in the same category with high-toned actresses like Glenn Close and Meryl Streep because I’m an action figure.
Rumors of a female-only spin-off would later surface, but nothing has materialized. Thankfully, there is no shortage of great Sigourney Weaver movies to watch.
The Best Action Movies With Female Leads
Action movies have long since been a male-centric genre, yet in recent years women have steadily shown that they can kick butt with the best of them.
3Wesley Snipes
When you see a Wesley Snipes character beating up criminals, you believe it. The actorhas a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan karate and 2nd dan black belt in Hapkido. He and a few others arecredited with popularizing martial arts in Hollywood, especially in the ‘90s, and contributing to the representation of Black actors in major action roles, breaking the trend of people of color being relegated to supporting roles.
Unavoidable Circumstances
The part of weapons specialist Hale Ceasar (played by Terry Crews) was specifically written for Wesley Snipes. Unfortunately,the actor passed up the opportunitybecause he got in trouble with the law. Snipes wasnabbed for tax evasion charges, forcing him to spend three years behind bars. Luckily, he would still get the chance to be part of the franchise, appearing inExpendables 3as Doc Death. The film eventhrew in a meta-joke,showing Snipes’ character being broken out of prison by his teammates.
2Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is more experimental than his fellow action stars. He isarguably a better all-round actor too, hence whyhe has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. Despite that, he is more recognizable for his butt-kicking roles in movies likeDesperadoandThe Mask of Zorro.
Unavailable Twice
Banderas appears inExpendables 3as the former Spanish Armed Forces soldier, Galgo.His appearance was meant to come much sooner,but he simply didn’t have the time. Interestingly,he was also meant to appear in the fourth installment, but that also didn’t work out because of scheduling conflicts. ComicBook.comspoke with the film’s director, Scott Waugh, who explained the decision to include Galgo’s son as a new character:
“So that character was originally written for Antonio, but Antonio’s availability didn’t allow him to be in the movie. So I didn’t want to get rid of that dialogue and that character because it was so quintessential to the comedic moments. And so we came up with this idea of, ‘What about if it’s his son?’”
We see the logic in that.
1Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn was on a roll in the ’80s, playing key supporting characters in James Cameron films likeTerminator, Aliens, andThe Abyss. He also gave memorable performances inTombstone, The Rock, Art of War, andPlanet Terror.For most of his career, he would be known for playing sinister military and authority figures.
Biehn There… Done That
Talking to EW,Stallone would admit that he was“looking for actors like Michael Biehn and Michael Pare, admitting that he “likes those kinds of guys.” Well, Sly might have yearned for Biehn’s services, but the actorno longer wanted to be part of group roles. He admitted that even though he had done it many times, he wasnever a big fan of playing the supporting role in group projects. Today, the author has settled for B-movies.
