On Tuesday, Sylvester Stallone tweeted the news that Bruce Willis had dropped out from participating in The Expendables 3 and that Harrison
Ford had been added to the cast. Much attention was given to Ford’s part of the story, but not so much to Willis’, which begged the question why did he drop out of the film?
Turns out, perhaps unsurprisingly, the issue was over money, specifically $1 million. Stallone had offered Willis a paycheck of $3 million for the actor to go to Bulgaria to shoot his role over four consecutive days. But the Die Hard franchise star countered that he would do it for $4 million or not at all, so Stallone let him walk. Stallone then reached out to Ford, who seemed more than happy to take the job.
This confirms the speculation that Stallone was referring to Willis on Tuesday when he followed up the casting news about Ford with the following tweet-
GREEDY AND LAZY …… A SURE FORMULA FOR CAREER FAILURE
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) August 6, 2013
A source for the Hollywood Reporter told the industry outlet that Willis was probably surprised to see his negotiating tactic backfire on him after participating in the first two Expendables films.
I think [Willis] was pretty surprised he was replaced in 72 hours by Harrison Ford — a better actor, a much nicer person and a more interesting direction for the film.
Ouch.
Reading between the lines on this news, it sounds as if Ford’s character will be stepping into what ever plot function that Willis’ character was marked for. I would suspect that a short, quick rewrite will change the character just enough to tailor it for Ford.
Expendables 3 is set to start filming later this month for a release in August next year.
It’s probably safe to say Willis really didn’t need the extra million, but figured he could probably get it. He was wrong.
Never, ever think you’re irreplaceable.
Or, ahem, expendable.
Kinda lines up with “greedy and lazy” doesn’t it?
It’s an ensemble picture. He’s out and won’t be missed.
Although, in all fairness, Bulgaria.
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he should come work with me if he’s that money-hungry..lol..
Guess it would be one thing if they really got their ass kicked or shot and wounded like the final cut shows….but behind a blue screen and computer editing, makeup artists and stunt doubles…..seems like greed and a big head showed him the exit door…Real life workers that have no blue screens and people catering to their every vice are satisfied to get 75 cents to a dollar an hour raise a year. Like it or not it’s a business that succeeds from us and I’m a lonely peasant that likes to be entertained
I told you guys ten years ago he was a dick…
Google Kevin Smith’s story about working with Bruce Willis. I could tell you a few others, but they were all off the record!
We won’t tell!
I saw one interview he did on the Red 2 publicity tour that was just obnoxious. His resume doesn’t really call for that kind of attitude.
Really who would want to cast him after that move? Unless he jumped in the executive producer position. Even then I would still poop in his soup.
I told you guys ten years ago he was a dick.