Gemäss Twitch sollen Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, 50 Cent, Kurt Russell, Forest Whitaker, Steven Seagal, Scott Adkins und eben Jean-Claude Van Damme dem Film eine Absage erteilt haben. Auf der nachfolgenden Pressekonferenz erklärt uns Van Damme warum er die Rolle in Sylvester Stallones Testosteron Action Knaller “The Expendables” abgelehnt hat:
[…] To be in the movie, and after JCVD and EAGLE PATH and it was between that, he said: “I want you to be in THE EXPENDABLES” and I said: “Whats my character?” And he go: “You know JC, you gonna make lots of money, doesnt matter, you gonna make money. And we go: BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.” […] Yeah, I understand, but I would like to know what am I doing?” […] “Well you know, you gonna talk with Jet Li and you gonna have a fight.” And I say: “Keep It.” And he thinks I am a kid. He go: “You know, you win the fight, then I am coming in and Boom, Boom, Boom.” And I said: “What do you mean? BOOM, BOOM, BOOM? Whats my story?” […] “Who gives a fuck, you gonna make money.” And I said: “SLY I cannot work this way.” And then he hang up on me. Then I call him back like an idiot, an idiot […] He go: “Ey, this is very insulting, and you insulting me, you.” […] I said: “SLY, when I saw ROCKY I put the bun on my head and I run like I think I was Rocky.” That was my end story with THE EXPENDABLES. […] But Stallone is a very very smart man, he’s got a big heart, truly. And he’s a brilliant writer and a brilliant director! That’s why I asking all those questions about characters […]