Sylvester Stallone talks about having a healthy ego with Arnold Schwarzenegger and how the latest installment of The Expendables is unique in every sense
Mel Gibson is the principle antagonist in The Expendables 3. Tell us something about his character.
Usually the greatest enemy of all time at one time they are close and there has been a betrayal. So now it gets personal and conflicted and that is what I have with Mel Gibson’s who play Camron Stoneback. He was always like my brother, we had the same tattoo. We talked and he just goes off the reservation and I think I have taken him out before but he is back. He survived the assault years earlier and he is hearing seek revenge.
What do the new characters bring to The Expendables 3IJ
I bring in a bunch of ‘gung ho’ very very exuberant, fearless new expendables that I don’t care about and they don’t care about me. There are no emotional ties and that is one of the important points of the movie, that when they get hurt, they do it on their own watch and I am not obliged to them. I have spent my whole life with them. That is the theme that runs through the whole movie, like you are just here for the money. If you get hurt it’s your bad, not mine. He is very cold to this new team and eventually he starts to warm up to them. It’s like they are bad fish but kind of like children.
Does the introduction of the younger expendables bring any changes in the way the ‘old school’ guys functionIJ
It is very tough to cast because they are very physical. So they need to have that ability that they know that are in for a hard time and this is no place for broken nails, its about broken tooth, broken jaw, broken leg. So they brought in Kellan lutz, who is a real physical specimen. A great guy and has this great screen appeal, Victor Ortiz, a professional fighter, Rhonda Rousey and world champion MMA who can actually do what you see. And when you see her on screen doing these incredible feats, there is no wire, that is her. There is glen how is kind of…not the brain but the high tech guy of the group. All of the sudden expendables have become tech savvy. Whereas, the old guys used to just kicks the doors and blow up things. So that is the difference. We have been brought in the new age by the new guys. They think our old fashion ways are ridiculous.
Why was this right film for you and why was it finally time to collaborate together with ArnoldIJ
It is hard do find something in this genre that is different, and this one was different. And even though this is contemporary it is futuristic at the same time. The most important thing is who are the playersIJ Who is going to be your competition, your antagonist and your buddy in thisIJ And Arnold of course, and when he complied it was green lit. There was no one else that was considered, he was the guy.
Why does your working with Arnold such a fruitful relationshipIJ How do you best manage to bring out the best out if each otherIJ
Because we have very healthy egos. We are very competitive. Everything that we have accomplished in our liver is through struggle and overcoming the odds and just not willing to settle for second best. Well if you get two of those kinds of personalities together, it will be good for the film and for the both of us. If you see Ali fight any one else you will not care. But if you see Ali fights Joe Fraser everybody has to see them. Because it is two indomitable forces and out of that can become a great scenario.
How do you think Patrick Huges has contributed to the movie and made it different from the earlier ExpendablesIJ
This Patrick Huges, the young director I told him not to think of the first two Expendables, as a continuance and approach it as an original and bring new sensibilities. If you trying to catch up to somebody and imitate something it is just going to dull you. So it has been done in the music, the image the casting.