It's not out until Friday, but with the way The Expendables has been tracking at the box office, the idea of a sequel doesn't seem all that ridiculous. "We all want to do it, we are already working on it and I'm ready to go. [...] I have done over 350 movies in my life and this is definitely the biggest," said producer Ari Lerner without a shred of hyperbole. Assuming The Expendables lives up to its name, though, and treats its cast like a pack of Kleenex, which tough guys should appear in the sequel? Movieline plays casting director ahead.
Jean Claude Van Damme
JCVD was famously asked to appear in The Expendables but turned the role down -- it later went to Dolph Lundgren; naturally -- because the actor felt Stallone and his merry band of mercenaries should be "saving people in South Central." Done. Hire Shane Black and write that sucker up for the sequel!
Carl Weathers, Hulk Hogan & Mr. T
Having the aforementioned Lundgren on board for The Expendables means the film acts as a de facto Rocky IV reunion. Why stop there? A sequel to The Expendables will have to be at least three times as big as its predecessor, so round up Stallone's other famous Rocky opponents: Weathers, Hogan and Mr. T. Figure the sequel to kill off Mr. T and Hogan in the first reel -- brings their prices down -- but keep Weathers around long enough to give Stallone a tender embrace on a beach.
Kurt Russell
Speaking of reunions: Tango and Cash, anyone? The funny thing about casting Kurt Russell in a sequel to The Expendables is that he's actually a respected actor... and not Randy Couture.
Steven Seagal
When Stallone was casting The Expendables, Steven Seagal was nowhere. Now though with the "success" of Lawman and his upcoming appearance in Machete, the hands-on faux-casting director is ready for a second third act.
Jesse Ventura
The Expendables features one governor in Arnold Schwarzenegger, so the sequel will have to keep that quota going. Enter former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. Yes, we live in a country where these two men were elected to office. If Ventura passes, there's always Eliot Spitzer.
Mel Gibson
Just seeing if you were paying attention.
ยท 'The Expendables' Set to Return [IGN]