‘The Expendables’ Trade Whitaker For Cent

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 19, 2009

50cent-1

The awesome, exciting, and truly interesting casting news coming out of Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables had to come to an end sometime. In addition to the stallion himself, the movie is set to star Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, and Charisma Carpenter in a tale about mercenaries taking down a South American dictator. That list used to include Forest Whitaker as well, but AICN revealed yesterday that Idi Amin has left the building. His big, black, lazy-eyed, Oscar-winning void has already been filled though… by Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson. Stallone apparently contacted AICN and The Stallone Zone via email with a plea to not take this piece of news as negative.

Please tell the loyal followers to be positive not negative in their feedback. I am not self-destructive. The anger of the casting of 50 Cent is understandable, but not fair. A player is only as good as his coach. If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change of Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent AKA Curtis Jackson is a good one. No one thought Dolph Lundgren was a good choice for ROCKY or Mr. T. Carl Weathers was an afterthought when Ken Naughton fell out. The same with Talia Shire and Richard Crenna, who was known as a comedic actor, not a serious one. Nobody wanted Eric Roberts over Ben Kingsley, but I believe it’s a vastly improved casting. The point is, you either believe in me and the project, setting your personal feelings aside, or you take a darker approach…”

Some of you may ignore Stallone’s request and view this as bad news, and some of you may not care, but I doubt anyone sees this bit of casting as positive. (If someone out there does think it’s a good thing please enlighten us as to why in the comments section.) It’s not just that they’re replacing an Oscar winning actor… that already happened when Roberts took over for Ben Kingsley. But while Jackson is obviously no Whitaker, he isn’t even in league with Roberts. Jackson is an actor in the most basic sense of the word only. He was easily the worst thing in last year’s Righteous Kill and that’s a true accomplishment… a bigger pile of shit hasn’t been onscreen since the one Barbara Bach fell into in Ringo Starr’s Caveman.

Thoughts? Does this news temper your interest in the movie?

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commenter

50 cent is not a good actor, but he's a musclebound bad-a** that should fit in well with the cast. He's not going to detract from the movie and he should help draw a larger audience.

Arou101

Wow. It's bad enough Lazy Eye got replaced... but it's like they couldn't find a black "actor" to take his place, as if they don't exist. Coming from a white guy, it's absolutely pathetic that there are about five actual black actors that Hollywood will consider using (three of them being Morgan Freeman), and when those five aren't available they turn to some douche hip-hop rap pseudo thug douche to boost the urban ticket demographic.

What's sad is that 50 cent isn't even popular anymore. Swing and a miss, Stallone.

joshi38

"If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another" Wait... so if I'm a good painter, does that mean I have an exceptional voice for yodeling?

Hell, I'd have preferred Martin Lawrence above 50 Cent.

Aleric

No then it would not only be a piece of shit movie it would officially NOT be a comedy.

joshi38

I honestly can't see 50 Cent doing a better job than him at trying to be funny... and that's not saying much at all.

Half-a-Cent

LOL. Totally agree. That is exactly how I feel. Get a REAL ACTOR. 50 Cent is just another wannabe crossover artist. "Oooh, I can rap, acting will be a breeze." Just like all the singers (*cough* Alicia Keyes, Mariah, *puke* Beyonce) and models (*cough* Cindy Crawford, but still damn fine at her age) turned actors this fool is weak. With a great acting coach and a few years of consistent and intense work, MAYBE he can have a breakthrough. There are a very few that do crossover well, but this guy ain't happening right now.

Aleric

Hell if they want to put a buffed out actor in the movie with at least the ability to act grab Michael Jai White, he has decent movies under his belt and he has the action movie back ground.

jack2jack

Or Mykelti Wiiliams for that matter, anyone but 50Cent. How are we to stomach losing Sir Ben and replacing him with Eric Roberts. Is it me or is the movie becoming over kill with the casting choices? I was on board with everyone he was announcing. Couldn't see Sandra Bullock in the role he wanted her in but thought she would have a non important part so who cares. But now I'm less enthusiastic about the whole thing.

eugene

i think you're totally missing the point of this movie, fsr. who needs a good actor in what's essentially going to be an all-out action-fest? are you guys looking for someone to shoot a gun...with gravitas? come on. forest whitaker is a great actor, but if this movie isn't going to make him really use his acting talent, then why not switch to someone who'll probably do it for less, already has machismo to spare, and will attract a whole other demographic than the one whitaker appeals to. seriously, asking for an oscar-winning actor in a movie like this is like expecting a single serving of caviar at an old country buffet.

John Strickland

Oscar winners don't belong in movies like this. Roided-up rappers on the other hand? Absolutely!

Shit's gonna be blown up. Stallone's gonna decapitate a few hundred Columbians. Statham is gonna bang a few dozen Columbian women. Jet Li is gonna do a few hundred flip kicks off of Columbian huts.

This is the movie, people. Oscar winners aren't needed.

‘The Expendables’ Trade Whitaker For Cent

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