Casting
Jean-Claude Van Damme was personally offered a role by Stallone, but turned it down.
[3] This reportedly led to
Dolph Lundgren being cast instead. The role accepted by
Forest Whitaker was originally conceived as a role for
Wesley Snipes but later rewritten for Whitaker.
[4] Due to a scheduling conflict prior to filming, Forest Whitaker was replaced by
Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent) for the role of Hale Caesar,
[5] who was then in turn replaced by former NFL player
Terry Crews.
[6]
Stallone wanted Sandra Bullock to play the role of Agent Diane Lickson yet Bullock's schedule did not work with the film, and she could not participate.
[7]
Ben Kingsley was offered the role of Monroe before Eric Roberts was cast. The role may be combined with that of Agent Will Sands.
[8]
The role of the man who hires the Expendables, Mr. Church, has been very difficult to cast. Initially offered to Schwarzenegger, he declined in favor of a smaller cameo in respects to his political career.
[9] The role was then offered to Kurt Russell whose agent replied that he was not interested in "Ensemble acting at the moment."
[10] Currently, Stallone is looking to find a big action name to cameo as Mr. Church with rumors suggesting that the role has been offered to friend and fellow former Planet Hollywood co-owner
Bruce Willis, although he is apparently tied to the filming of
A Couple of Dicks. On May 29, 2009, the script under went a few re-writes which ultimately excluded
Brittany Murphy's character.
Steven Seagal was also asked to play a cameo role, but turned down the offer due to negative connections with the producer
Avi Lerner.
[11]
