“The Expendables” will be back and better than ever this summer – exploding back into theaters for a second go.
However, this time around, the burly mercenaries will enjoy the additional muscle power of Arnold Schwarzenegger (who had an extremely brief cameo in the original film) in his first major role since leaving his post as Governor of California – and his co-stars say he’s still got it.
“I am so happy that this is [Arnold’s] big comeback movie,” Terry Crews told Access Hollywood’s Scott Mantz at Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego. “You know, right after the whole ‘Governator’ thing, he’s just right back into it. He’s a star. He’s a major, major worldwide superstar.
“I had the pleasure of having some scenes with him — because in the last movie, I didn’t — which was so cool [this time],” he added. “He was the best, man. The energy was crazy!”
Terry said the former “Terminator” had no problem falling right back into the filming groove and kept his co-stars in stitches.
“It was like the one-liners just kept coming — you start to understand what he was all about and why he is a superstar,” Terry said. “He’s one of the guys that created the whole genre. He gets it. He’s nothing but magnetic personality, 100 percent.
“I just tried to learn. I just tried not to get sucked into the vortex of Arnold,” he continued, laughing.
Dolph Lundgren also gave Arnold rave reviews, and said the actor had no problem holding his own alongside his fellow legendary action stars.
“I could tell when he showed up — like all of us — when you walk in and there’s Chuck [Norris] and there’s Bruce Willis and Sly [Stallone] and everybody else — it’s a bit daunting to be part of this gang,” he said. “You have to live up to this now. But I think [Arnold] came into it really well, and some of the stuff is really funny. It’s, you know, vintage Arnold. That’s why we love him — it’s going to be great.”
Returning “Expendable” Randy Couture has high hopes for the action film.
“I think everybody’s going to love it. It’s very, very good,” the UFC star said, adding that Arnold’s role is a bit “tongue in cheek.”
“It’s great,” he explained. “Same with Bruce [Willis]. [It’s great having] Bruce getting involved, actually picking up a gun and joining the team and helping us out when we needed help.”
“The Expendables 2,” which also stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, Jean Claude Van Damme and Liam Hemsworth, hits theaters on August 17.
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