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Often in the show-biz we hear actors turning down a role over creative differences or self-important politics. Either the role they turned down could cost them a golden missed opportunity leaving them to regret the choice later or sometimes it could lead to avoiding career suicide. Its been already reported before that Jean-Claude Van Damme has passed up on appearing in The Expendables, a role which ultimately went to Dolph Lundgren instead. Basically what it came down to is the character wasn't to his satisfaction. Other actors who also declined or withdrew for whatever reasons include Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, 50 Cent, Kurt Russell, Forest Whitaker, Steven Seagal, and Scott Adkins. Since a video has recently emerged of him in a press conference explaining what happened when Sylvester Stallone made the offer, I figure I'll bring this question up and get your 2-cent on the matter. So did he make the right call?
If you ask me, I think its Van Damme's loss. To become part of an all-star cast of action greats is nothing to scoff at. The Expendables has the potential to make action movie history and bring an unforgettable experience to the fans. A chance like this doesn't just come along very often. Beside, hes no longer a bankable star as before in the late 80's so appearing in a theatrical release could raise his status and put him back on the map and away from B-movie hell. As they say in Hollywood, publicity is everything.
Check out the video and then have your say at the comments section below.
If you ask me, I think its Van Damme's loss. To become part of an all-star cast of action greats is nothing to scoff at. The Expendables has the potential to make action movie history and bring an unforgettable experience to the fans. A chance like this doesn't just come along very often. Beside, hes no longer a bankable star as before in the late 80's so appearing in a theatrical release could raise his status and put him back on the map and away from B-movie hell. As they say in Hollywood, publicity is everything.
Check out the video and then have your say at the comments section below.
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That's a really interesting video and I can totally see Jean Claude's side of it. That said, though, I think from a business perspective and based on what doors the back-to-back of JCVD and The Expendables could have opened up for him in the long run, yeah ... I think this was a bad mistake on his part.
I'm a Lundgren fan. So I'm super happy he is playing the role.
Would EXPENDABLES have interfered with finishing up EAGLE PATH? If so it becomes a more understandable bad decision. Still bad, though.
I hate to break the news to you Mr.Brown, but Michelle Yeoh's career is still very active. It's best not to base a foreign actor's career health on how many American movies they've made. That's rather myopic!
Yeoh is still making plenty of films, many in Asia and a few in the West.
A better analogy would be Shu Qi's decision to turn down the role of Jen Yu in "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". The role that made a virtual unknown Ziyi Zhang a star.
However Van Damme's decision will probably haunt him in the end. As stated in the article, the publicity, from being associated with the project alone, is enough to get him work for the next several years.
Here is a different side to story from someone with an insider view that is contrary to JCVD claims:
Source: http://ethelmae.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/a-broken-neck-and-a-broken-jcvd/
I would like to see Van Damme in Expendables, but I also undestand his point of view on that matter.
But after watching the latest Promo Video of Expendables, I have some doubts about that project being a "career savior" for the forgotten B-Grade Stars (Gary Daniels is in it too, somebody remember him?)
It seems to be more a "Say Good Bye Gala" for the aged stars of the last decades, then a new start in the A-Liga of Hollywood.
So who knows? I'm happy with Dolph though. He could give a good performance too.
By the way, about all the Matrix Cast, still nothing to hear except about the awfully untalented Keanu Reeves. What are the Guys doing? Carrie Ann Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lawrence Fishburne...looks like many careers were frozen.
@ Todd
But all in all they didn't "make" it, right? Same like Elijah Wood after Lord of the Rings.
Michelle Yeoh ist still good in business. It's just, (don't like to say it) the lady gets old. And it's always hard for "aged" woman to find suitable roles, especially when it comes to action. Others would have been retired with 35, but Michelle is coming with many projects in 2010 on the big screen.
I just think, the Matrix wasn't a good career jump board for any actor. Nobody watched the actors, it was about the bullet time in the Matrix Movies, right?
I think his head got a bit big after his JCVD movie and the thinks he can get a better role or demand a better role. It's a mistake I believe because no matter if Expendable bombs, it would still be remembered and may have a cult following. What's Jean Claude's next movie coming out? Another try at Universal Solider. *sigh* He would've done better with Expendables. Steven Segal also made a bad decision not accepting. Lawman!!?? such a laugh and none of his movies ever make it to big screen anymore. No matter how many he churns out in a year. This would've been his chance to not go direct to DVD again.
damn man
Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, 50 Cent, Kurt Russell, Forest Whitaker, Steven Seagal, and Scott Adkins.
all the sick actors, except for Steven and 50.
But it would still be cool to see one of them in the movie:/
Damn man!
Maybe JCVD wanted out of the whole mindless action scene after "JCVD"? I can't blame him. It's a tired genre and hardly any fun anymore.
50 Cent got dropped like a hot turd, because he is just that; a fucking non-entity, a goddamn charisma vacuum...fuck him...-- thank the lord that Sly gave the role to Terry Crewes (damn shame his role got cut in T4). I don't see how Sly would give a role to JCVD instead of Dolph, when it makes perfect sense to see Dolph in a film with Sly...and lets not forget JVCD and Dolph can be see together in Universal Soldier Regeneration (which i doubt is anything to shout about...but its cool nevertheless...)
JCVD is moving forward with his production company which is why he turned down the role, that was what I heard and that'll do for me...I can't be arsed with all the bollocks and chinese whispers. There is always some cunt that will try and be a rotten little bastard and spread vicious rumors.
It is a shame he aint in it, but that's that. Arnie & Bruce are in it and that'll do me!! and who is to say there wont be some sequels in the future (which I think have already been hinted at..)
Also, a shame that danny trejo couldn't be in it...and to an extent Scott Adkins, but nevermind...I'm holding on for the new Undisputed, he'll kick much ass in that!
So yeah, bollocks to the hear say, fingers crossed for JCVD and 'Eagles Path' and you fucking know that The Expendables is gonna rock!
This is an interesting dialogue to me, you know it seems to me at this point in the career of any of these guys be it Stallone or JCVD or who ever there sort of past the point of really needing a big break or a hail mary pass of career reconstruction. Everyone know who these guys are and loves em or hates or is apathetic and they have both been playin' the game so long that if Stallone doesn't get to make Rambo 12, I doubt he's going to be crying himself to sleep. Ditto for JCVD.
In a way I think both of these guys are doing really interesting solid work, I mean Sly has been doing the Hollywood thing since the beginning so it's not too surprising that he would know how to put together solid action/genre franchise fare be it Rambo or Rocky or whatever, he know this stuff in his sleep and has for years.
I've always got the sense that JCVD, never really dove into the writing/directing (ala Sly) side of it the past and was more doing what people told him to do and I think he's at the point now that when he stand in front of the camera he's not thinking how is this going to get me blow or broads or the green stuff, he's thinking, dude what the hell am I doing here? And in a way that makes him more of an interesting dude to watch to me. JCVD has even got Lee Marvin-FACE i.e. I know longer need tag lines and shit, I look the camera in the eyes and the audience and I both know something is gonna get f-ed up real good. (Don't believe me on this? Watch that scene in that new Universal Soldier where Lundgren is monologue (pretty nicely I might add), JCVD is standing in the background slightly out of focus no less and still putting out the is-it-time-to-bring-the-pain-yet vibe.
So basically, I know that Stallone is going to put out product that is going to entertain me, but whenever JCVD's put out something it surprises me and in a way that a lot more exciting and valuable to me as a movie goer.
My two Cents.
P.s. As far as Mr. Seagal goes, after watching Steven Seagal: Lawman, that man neither surprise me nor entertain me, no Mr. Seagal is weed in reverse, things come out of his mouth that make me dizzy and make my brain stop working. Steven Seagal is weed.
Dolph's a much more interesting choice anyway. Rocky vs Drago 25 years later. How can you not like that?
The guy's his own worst enemy - like the press conference above. A lot of people want to like him and his movies, but he can't help being a bit of a... Anyhow, yes he made a mistake. But no, because it'll probably suck as much as Rambo. Expectations are too high. It's never going to live up to its cast. What they should've done is get a safer director on board - McTiernan maybe (or is he in prison?)
Mr.Brown look at the evidence:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000706/
The woman has worked consistently since 1985. She is now doing what she intended to do, which is produce. I don't know what world you inhabit but not many actors can take on a starring role in a film and still find time to be its producer as well...
You can bang the "The Touch / Silver Hawk" drum all you like, but the reality is she has never been a star in Hollywood films, just like the ever acclaimed Ziyi Zhang hasn't been. Collin Chou's (aka Seraph) career hasn't been all that outstanding since the Matrix. So your theory that your favorite film series somehow launched amazing careers is rather self serving and flawed.
Now I really don't care about Yeoh one way or another, outside the fact that she's an excellent actress. However, If you are going to post a comment about her or any other actor's accomplishments at least do more homework than your personal memory or hardened opinions.