Las Vegas Weekly

May 28, 2009 · 7 AM

Exclusive: Sylvester Stallone sets The Expendables premiere in Las Vegas

By Robin Leach

The Expendables stars Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham.

Photo: Millennium Films

It’s already being buzzed about as one of the biggest and best action thriller movies in recent years, and I can confirm that Sylvester Stallone will have the world premiere of his actioner The Expendables here at Planet Hollywood. The big-budget flick stars Sly, Jet Li and Jason Statham -- and even Arnold Schwarzenegger has a guest role!

Other cast members include Mickey Rourke, Brittany Murphy, Steve Austin, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts and our very own Las Vegas UFC hero Randy Couture.

Sly told me earlier this year that he was hoping to film on location in Brazil, but the Louisiana Film Commission extended financial courtesies that were too good to pass up, so the shoot was moved to New Orleans and surrounding areas. This week, the New Orleans Police Department supervised the gunfire and stunt work near the French Quarter, and cameras will continue to roll there until the end of June.

The plot sounds as if it’s a story right out of today’s South American headlines: the United States with help from other nations puts together a squad of the best trained military personnel to overthrow and assassinate a dictator who has caused devastation throughout the region for more than 20 years with corruption, betrayal of foreign policies and the murder of U.S. hostages. They wind up not only fighting the dictator’s army but also the government agents who set them up!

I have learned that Planet Hollywood’s head honcho Robert Earl is one of the movie’s executive producers. The Expendables is set for release next year, with the world premiere at Planet Hollywood with Sly bringing in the all-star action contingent.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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