by: Chris Eaton source: Twtich
Who will fill the Asian gap left by Li?
Expendables 2, this time under the direction of Con Air’s Simon West, is prepping to start shooting in a few months, is going to need to continue casting. Twtichhas reported that Expendables original star, Jet Li, has decided not to return to take part in the sequel. Li, along with Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham were the top stars of the original film. The supporting cast of Terry Crew, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and Randy Couture filled out the rest of the team. So with the one major martial artist gone from the film, who do you get to fill those shoes? Some have suggested Jackie Chan. But Chan’s style dosen’t really fit what Li brought to the film. There is rumor though that one man is currently in talks to join.
That man: Donnie Yen
Yen, currently one, if not, the top action stars in China today. His martial arts work in film is almost untouchable currently. If you don’t believe me, go Netflix Ip Man 1 & 2, Flash Point, Dragon Tiger Gate, and his most recent release, Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen. Donnie Yen is undoubtedly, THE MAN. If he decides to join the cast of The Expendables, it would be his biggest American role to date. Having previously appeared in Highlander Endgame and Blade 2. Sadly, he hasn’t been given much exposure state side, and his biggest film exposure came from the Jet Li film Hero. None the less, I feel that Donnie Yen would make an great addition to Expendables 2. He’d be joining rumored new cast members John Travolta, Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme.
Expendables 2 starts filming in October for an August 2012 release
