“I can’t wait for the musical!” is what no one thought 35 years ago while watching Rocky Balboa box frozen sides of beef in Paulie’s meat locker for the first time. Nevertheless, Sylvester Stallone and boxing brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are producing a musical version of Stallone’s Academy Award-winning film with the help of Tony Award-winning writer Thomas Meehan ( The Producers ), lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty. The question is: Three-plus decades later, are you up for seeing ‘The Italian Stallion’ relive his glory days onstage?
How does the machismo-filled cast of Expendables 2 entertain themselves in between takes on the Simon West-directed blockbuster sequel? Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis pose for photos in abandoned airplane hangars . Chuck Norris updates his Facebook account with shoddy tourist pics in Bulgaria and Jean-Claude Van Damme, it seems, plays with toy guns.
Following the death of one stuntman and the injury of another, the film’s production company releases a statement clarifying previous reports. By Kevin P. Sullivan Sylvester Stallone in “The Expendables” Photo: Lionsgate Nu Image/Millennium Films has identified the stuntman who died on the Bulgarian set of “The Expendables 2” on October 27. Stuntman Kun Lieu was killed in an on-set explosion . The production company behind the all-star action sequel released a statement Tuesday (November 1) clarifying previous reports and updating the status of the second stuntman injured in the explosion. The second stuntman, Nuo Sun, was also injured in the explosion and was reportedly in critical condition when reports of the accident hit late last Thursday. A new statement released by Nu/Image Millennium Films updated his status, and Sun is now in stable condition in a hospital in Munich, where he was transported to undergo treatment by specialists. The statement also corrected claims made by Bulgarian newspapers that inaccurately identified the stuntmen as the doubles for Sylvester Stallone and Jet Li and asserted that the those stuntmen were nowhere near the set at the time of the incident. The production company also reconfirmed previous reports that neither the stars nor director Simon West were present for the accident. The full statement from Nu Image/Millennium Film follows: “Our deepest condolences go to the family of Kun Lieu. His passing is tragic. Our sympathies also go to Nuo Sun, who was seriously injured as a result of the same explosion. We have been informed his condition has stabilized. He has been transported to Munich, Germany, where he is receiving top medical care from the best specialists,” the statement reads. “Regrettably, Bulgarian language newspapers have incorrectly reported that stunt doubles for Jet Li and Sylvester Stallone were involved in the accident. This is absolutely false and inaccurate. At the time of the accident neither Li’s or Stallone’s stuntmen were on or near the Second Unit set, nor were any of the film’s main actors, director Simon West or any of the Main Unit crew. “Only Second Unit filming has been temporarily suspended and will resume shortly. The filmmakers continue to work with authorities investigating this accident. Main Unit production has not been interrupted and continues as scheduled.” “Expendables 2” is scheduled to hit theaters next August and stars Stallone, Li, Jason Statham , Bruce Willis , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme . Stay with MTV News for the latest updates on “Expendables 2.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Expendables 2.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
You might not think that Real Steel , the sci-fi action flick about a washed-up boxer and the junkyard robot he trains toward a fictional fighting championship, would carry much boxing credibility. But that’s where Sugar Ray Leonard comes in. The Hall of Famer was recruited by director Shawn Levy to choreograph the robot fights and most importantly, to advise the filmmakers on how to establish a humanistic relationship between the movie’s beleaguered trainer (Hugh Jackman) and Atom, the robo-underdog he takes on, that audiences will want to root for.
New images and behind the scenes peeks are steadily emerging over at The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ‘s Tumblr Mouth Taped Shut , including a new piece of maybe-poster art for the December 21 thriller. But there’s something familiar in the way Daniel Craig’s face is split by Rooney Mara’s shadowy profile. Was someone over at Sony marketing borrowing from the Apple playbook?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in George Clooney’s bed with a horse mask and a hangover? Thanks to a clever (or just strange) commercial from Norwegian bank DnB NOR, you no longer have to wonder!
Variety’s Showblitz reports that youngster Liam Hemsworth , who gets his biggest break since dating Miley Cyrus in next year’s The Hunger Games , has been cast in the sprawling ensemble of The Expendables 2 . Wait, you say — isn’t he, like, four or five decades too young for this film? At 21, Hemsworth is quite a bit less wrinkly than his co-stars. Let’s start guessing now who he’ll play: Sly’s son? A flashback version of Jean-Claude Van Damme? Mickey Rourke’s bicep? [ Variety ]
Earlier today came word that Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme might be joining Sly Stallone & Co. for The Expendables 2 (although the reported cast listing at Millenium Films now reads “TBA”). Now it seems Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis are onboard to reprise their cameos from the first film, with bigger parts this time around. (Expanded Expendables !) So let’s just take a minute and regroup: Who isn’t onboard or under consideration to join the beefy action sequel?
Also in this Tuesday edition of The Broadsheet: Johnny Depp could produce and star in two blockbusters… Freaky Deaky gets a massive cast overhaul… Chris Hemsworth goes to the races… and more ahead.
Forget The Dark Knight Rises ; what you’re really interested in this morning is some fresh artwork for the remake of The Thing ! OK, probably not. But! The Thing remake is coming — excuse me, The Thing “prelude” to the 1983 John Carpenter film is coming, and it finally has a teaser poster. One that does a good job of recalling the original, without sullying its name (cough, Straw Dogs ). Click through for a look.
