Las Vegas Weekly

April 29, 2010 · 2:39 PM

Photos: Sylvester Stallone, Paula Abdul talk films, projects over dinner

By Robin Leach

Sylvester Stallone and Paula Abdul with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl at Planet Hollywood on April 24, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

High rollers and hotel VIPs were thrilled when action hero Sylvester Stallone and singer and former American Idol judge Paula Abdul surprised 200 of them by attending a cocktail party celebrating the acquisition of Planet Hollywood into the Harrah’s family.

Planet Hollywood head honcho Robert Earl flew in the stars for the party, and they happily posed for photographs with guests as they strolled through the resort. Paula even wound up picking one lucky raffle ticket that paid off a winning $25,000 for one Reel Awards customer.

But it was afterward at a private dinner for 15 friends at Strip House that Sly and Paula talked with me about their future plans. The Rocky hero is really excited about his new summer movie The Expendables, in which he’s reunited with two good friends, Bruce Willis and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who plays himself in the actioner.

Sly wrote the script for the scene that has the three of them together in the story of a trained team of expert mercenaries -- the toughest crew of the century -- sent to South America to overthrow a dictator.

Here’s a trailer for the film on YouTube, which is scheduled for release mid-August:

Las Vegas mixed martial arts hero Randy Couture stars in the film alongside Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Steve Austin and Mickey Rourke. “It’s the best thing Mickey has done in a long, long time. He is absolutely terrific in this picture,” Sly told me. (Mickey was nominated for an Oscar for 2008’s The Wrestler and stars in Iron Man 2 next month.)

Then Sly revealed an exclusive gem: “Bruce has decided to do one more Die Hard adventure, Die Hard 5.” During the filming of Live Free or Die Hard, or Die Hard 4, which raked in some $400 million worldwide, Bruce and his stunt double were injured, prompting him to say he wouldn’t make any more John McClane movies. But Sly said: “He had so much fun with us that he’s decided to do one more.”

Sly was injured during the filming of The Expendables near New Orleans and in Brazil. The 63-year-old legend received a hairline fracture in his neck during a fight scene with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Sly confirmed that he’d had to have an emergency operation for a metal plate to be inserted into his neck. Coincidentally, Sly suffered chest injuries during a Rocky IV fight scene with his Expendables co-star Dolph.

Despite the punishment the actors took during filming, Sly said he’s thrilled with the results. “I’m doing the editing right now, and it’s going great. Everybody who sees just clips of it say it’s going to be the biggest action film of all time. Our bodies took a brutal beating. It was bloody, hand-to-hand combat, and you can see that onscreen.”

Sly was lavish in his praise for Mickey, adding: “You’re just not going to believe how great he is in this film along with Randy and Jet Li. You couldn’t have dreamed up a better cast of action heroes, and I’m genuinely happy how we got them all to take part and even risk their lives and bodies for this project. There was incredible chemistry on the set between all of us, which was fantastic because it was a tough grind shooting all that action week after week for three solid months.”

Sly served as star, director and screenwriter of The Expendables. Robert Earl is co-producer, but no word yet on any premiere in Las Vegas. Robert gave Paula a guided tour of Planet Hollywood before the intimate dinner party.

She told me that she’s very busy not only with new TV projects in L.A. but also live show ideas for Las Vegas.

“I’m in a very good place,” she confided. “ I think within two weeks, we will have decided which of the TV offers to proceed with. Then I still want to do something here in Vegas, and we’re getting closer with that, too. I love Las Vegas -- its energy and excitement. I know I’ve got to wind up doing something here, and I will.”

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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