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Simon West to direct The Expendables 2

By Webmaster on June 25, 2011 / 1 min read

British director Simon West (Con Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) has signed on to helm The Expendables 2 for Lionsgate and Avi Lerner’s Nu Image/Millennium Films.

The Expendables 2 has been in development in recent months with Lionsgate announcing that the sequel would open domestically on Aug. 17, 2012.

The first Expendables movie grossed $102 million Stateside and another $170 million outside the United States. Sylvester Stallone directed The Expendables, which also starred Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Steven Austin and Mickey Rourke with a brief appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Expendables 2 is expected to also star Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li and Terry Crews.

Let us know your thoughts on this news by using the comments below.

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  • EricOctober 25, 2011

    I really hope Sly.,.you read this. By now, you are filming in Bulgaria. You are putting all your heart and passion into this film. I ask one thing; that you stand behind Simon at the monitor and tell him how to move the camera during action scenes. You have a way with directing fighting or action sequences that make the viewer go, "wow". Simon (from his latest work, not old work) does not shoot action in am edge of your seat full framed shot. He shakes the camera too much and he does close ups when it is not needed. He also pans the camera and the action or fighting gets lost and all and all it takes away the "wow" factor you achieve so well. So I trust you will be sitting next to Simon after each take watching the monitor and no letting him direct the sequences that you do so well. If I know you well...and I believe I do. It will all be a collective venture. Make us proud Sly!

  • MarkOctober 5, 2011

    I hope Simon won't forget the small details that stallone does so very well in his films. We all have seen action and car crashes but stallone also made moments in the film that were either touching or had meaning or parts of himself in the film. If you look at any of his films his hands have touched they all have been well perceieved alot of that also has to do with the small stuff. Rather than just looking at the over all picture he gets into the nitty griddy as well. and either the props or saying his own feeling in it that make his movies have a touch more than those others out there. So all im saying is make sure Simon that you ask for stallones imput and have to change things a bit to have his magic that he does so well. So that the 2nd movie comes out a success. If you leave out the filling and only show us the outline and throw in all the other regular stuff in action films but forget the little important things along the way in the show then it will be like any other action film. Keep it real another words in some areas.

  • WaleedSeptember 21, 2011

    Schwarzenegger, Stallone & Van Damme (The Big 3) with Lundgren, Norris and Li ...this is the biggest megastar KA-BOOM in the universe ever! Bring on Hulk Hogan too please.

  • Luis PadillaSeptember 13, 2011

    i think michael bay and Jerry Bruckheimer should participate in this movie

  • DiegoSeptember 8, 2011

    Silvester is the best!

  • DiegoSeptember 8, 2011

    Excellent idea to include van dame and Norris, Seagal and only need to include would be the best!

  • tharrouniatisAugust 24, 2011

    bonjour je suis un admirateur de Monsieur Sylvester Stallone et j'aimerai bien pouvoir le rencontrer j'ai vue tout ses film et il est super.se serai super de pouvoir le rencontrer merci d'avance nicolas

  • KatieAugust 23, 2011

    I have been and always will be a fan of Sylvester Stallone. He is a true man of film. I'm sure if he picked Simon West to direct the film that he did it with much thought and care. I'm so excited about the second movie. I have seen the first one and I have it on dvd. I can't wait to see the second one when it comes out in August 2012!

  • abbasAugust 23, 2011

    you know it will be vvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy great that sylvester stallone to be reading this.i will be too glad if he meets me now i cannot go such places where he lives if you are really there on the website please please please i am despertate to meet you i know somedey i will meet you

  • Brianna ThompsonAugust 15, 2011

    WOW! I really love your casting ideas for The Expendables II Travis!

  • Travis PhelanAugust 15, 2011

    My Casting Ideas For "The Expendables 2": Returning: Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross. Jason Statham as Lee Christmas. Jet Li as Yin Yang. Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen. Terry Crews as Hale Caesar. Randy Couture as Toll Road. Bruce Willis as "Mr. Church" (Larger/Bigger/Expanded Role And "The Super-Villain"). Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trent Mauser (Larger/Bigger/Expanded Role). Mickey Rourke as Tool. Charisma Carpenter as Lacy. New Additions: Nicolas Cage (A Washed-Up But Useful CIA Agent Who Is Chasing "Mr. Church"). John Travolta (The #2 "Super-Villain" And A Corrupt CIA Agent Who Is Tied/Associated With "Mr. Church" And Is Like His Right-Hand And Best Friend). Jean-Claude Van Damme (A Major Villain). Tom Sizemore (A Major Villain). John Cena. Randy Orton. Olivia Wilde. With: Clint Eastwood. & Chuck Norris. All of This Is Nothing But Simply Just Casting Ideas of Mine But No Matter Who's In It, I 100% Truly, Absolutely, And Definitely Will See This on It's Very Opening Day In Theaters on Friday August 17, 2012 NO.....MATTER.....WHAT! "The Expendables" = My #1 Very Most Favorite Action/Thriller Film of All Time And Is One of My Very Most Favorite "MOVIES OF ALL-TIME" (Both And Seriously, 100% No Joke Whatsoever) & "The Expendables 2" = My #1 Very Most Anticipated Film of The Entire 2012!

  • Paco M.O.August 13, 2011

    I can´t wait more! I hope to see Van Damme in this sequel, and if Bruce Willis will act too this movie just will rock! Keep the good work Sly! God bless you brother! greetings from México!

  • Don JuanitoAugust 3, 2011

    What was it this man started out with? $106? The man is a genius!

  • Evgeni from RussiaJuly 22, 2011

    Hello Sly! I think that E2 would be a great movie. Going to a 'star' of the film is just super! Good luck in the future!

  • Michael HyamJuly 21, 2011

    Stallone you rock...keep up the good work...cant wait for E2... i think Simon is a good choice!

  • DaveJuly 21, 2011

    Whether its Simon or Stallone directing it wont matter, stallone will make this movie as hypnitising to watch as all his other action packed films. He would have to be one of the most disiplined and driven actors and individuals in the industry, he has my respect.

  • JanneJuly 20, 2011

    I think Simon West is a good choice for directing"The Expendables 2".He has already shown us that he can deliver action with"Con Air".That film is almost perfect in action genre.Perfect casting,good plot,hilarious moments/dialogues and more importantly great action. If only he/they would drop Dolph Lundgrean who can`t act and put VanDamme (who can surprisingly act when he wants to) in the mix then the film could be even better than the first one. And just for heck of it put Rutger Hauer in it too as a main baddie.That guy rocks too even though his films seldom does =) Anyway I´m just happy that there`ll be another Expendables.

  • ShimulJuly 17, 2011

    I think in Expendables 2, if they're gonna bring in the big guys of action, then they ought to give them some meaty roles as well. I mean, in the first film, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenneger were given a 'miss if you blink' role. Mickey Rourke and Dolph Lundgren were not utilized properly and we couldn't see those Jet Li skills, just its and bits. I'm a big fan of Sly. But then there's an old saying- 'too many cooks spoil the broth'. Although the first one was a well directed action movie, but people should not compare it with Rambo. And Jason Statham had the major role alongwith Sly. But definitely I'd love to see how it goes in the sequel..! It'd be great to see Jean Claude Van Damme, of course in a more purposeful role. As for Jackie Chan. I guess he'd not fit, coz his genre is Comedy mixed with Action. Jet Li is enough, provided he gets to do a bit more..

  • Oliver Soravia, DPJuly 11, 2011

    Hi Miguel, as a cinematographer myself I know exactly what you mean - I think it`s true that, in comparison to Rambo4 and Rocky Balboa, there`s a difference in quality to "the expendables". But it`s not that he did a bad job as the films director. It`s the screenplay that`s not comparable to that of Rocky Balboa or Rambo4. But in doing those 3 films one after another, as a writer, director and actor, and still keeping his physical fitness, he certainly did a masterpiece of work as a filmmaker. Is there any other out there doing the same? Let "the expendables" be what it is, a good made action movie - with a little less piece of soul as the rest of his films. That`s ok.

  • Oliver Soravia, DPJuly 11, 2011

    There`s no doubt that Simon West is a great Director. But I don`t think he can bring in that spirit of melancholy Sly did on all the films he directed himself.

  • Mike FJuly 11, 2011

    John Cena Dwayne Johnson JCVD Arnie Vin Diesel Let's see some of these guys in E2!

  • BritneyJuly 9, 2011

    Alright! Cannot wait to see this. Ought to be great to see the team back together for another go around. and the best part is I won't be on deployment when it hits theaters. Completely excited.

  • brianJuly 7, 2011

    how about you cast a prior army combat veteran that also "has the look" of the expendables. i am a long time fan and i could meet that criteria!

  • MIGUEL FROM SPAINJuly 7, 2011

    IM WRITTING FROM SPAIN. I´M A SHORT-FILM-MAKER MYSELF. I DON'T THINK THAT SIMON WEST IS A GOOD DIRECTOR. HE MAY BE A VERY COMERCIAL ONE AND ONE WHO HAS THE SKILLS TO MAKE A "HOLLYWOOD MOVIE" LIKE "CON AIR" ETC.. BUT "CON AIR" IS TOO FAR FROM BEING EVEN A DECENT MOVIE. WHY NOT CHOOSING GUYS LIKE: McTIERNAN, De BONT, DAVIS, CAMERON, BIGUELOW (GIRL), FLYNN, VERHOEVEN, DONER, ETC I´M STALLONE´S NUMBER 1 FAN. AND HE MADE AN INCREDIBLE JOB IN "RAMBO 4" AND "ROCKY BALBOA", BUT HE DID NOT IN "THE EXPENDABLES."

  • BenJuly 4, 2011

    if Simon provides the same quality work for this film as he did for Black Hawk Down(executive producer) then this movie will be incredible. the first one was an awesome movie, but he just needs to make sure that the sequel is not "cheesy" and gives these action stars the respect and honor that they're due. I'm definitely looking forward to the movie.

  • kyle stoutJuly 3, 2011

    the only one capable of creating a Expendables 2 and directing it is Sylvester Stallone also needs to have original cast especially Stallone and Statham

  • EricJuly 2, 2011

    Simon West is not a guy that reassured many people, if Mr. Stallone inspect the work of Simon, ok the confidence we can have it. For the cast, it's great that the guys from the first film back. For the new Jean-Claude Van Damme and (if the rumor is true) Bruce Willis is great, but you hire in américian and Europe, his would be to engage in Asian also: Jackie Chan (with the team of Barney) and Donnie yen (as bad).

  • GrasshopperJuly 1, 2011

    I have a chopped 50 Mercury you can borrow for the film. Let me know!

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