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*Neither of these casting choices are shocks – Mel Gibson was reportedly in talks in June and Antonio Banderas’s named was dropped on Twitter by Expendables boss Sylvester Stallone – but official confirmation has come that both will join **The Expendables 3.
The news comes on the heels of 'Willisgate', with Bruce no longer part of the third Expendables cast and Harrison Ford hired in his place. Gibson seems to be relishing the chance to play bad guys at the moment, with a showy villain role in Machete Kills and now this. Perhaps he’s trying to spin his decidedly murky reputation in Hollywood and make a comeback by playing up his dark side. We’re not sure that’ll work, but who knows?
Whether Banderas will be on the side of good – represented by Stallone’s Barney Ross and the rest of the MVP OAP AWOL types, blended with some of their younger regulars and some new faces – or evil remains to be seen.
As of now, the roster reads: Stallone, Ford, Gibson, Banderas, Jason Statham, Milla Jovovich, Mickey Rourke, Kellan Lutz, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Victor Ortiz and Ronda Rousey. Patrick Hughes will be marshalling the madness shortly, ready for a release in August next year.