The Expendables 3 Stunt That Almost Cost Jason Statham His Life
Getting a new “Expendables” movie means once again playing the game of “let’s see how many action stars can we fit on the poster.” With all those big names competing for screen time amid action giants like Sylvester Stallone and Jet Li, you’re naturally going to have them attempting to recreate the movie moments that made audiences fall in love with them in the first place. (That’s how you get Arnold Schwarzenegger finding any way he can to throw in a variation of “I’ll be back.”) But let’s be real: All three “Expendables” films are fun in their own right, but hardly live up to the movies that garnered these actors a spot on the franchise’s roster.
“The Expendables 3” represented a temporary end to the ensemble showcases of action stars kicking butt on screen: It was the franchise’s lowest-rated entry, acquired the lowest box office results, and unwisely alienated its core audience by aiming for a PG-13-rated film to appeal to younger viewers. But perhaps the biggest obstacle that could have struck this film down is a gnarly accident that nearly killed one of its biggest action stars.
Some amount of risk is practically inescapable when filming big set pieces in action movies, especially if the stunts are done primarily in-camera. Unfortunately, the “Expendables” films are no strangers to set pieces not going the way they anticipated, as stuntman Kun Lieu was killed while shooting a boat explosion for “The Expendables 2.” The rate at which this keeps happening with Hollywood productions is truly disheartening, and had things gone differently on the third movie, “Crank” star Jason Statham may have lost his life.
Mishap with a flatbed truck
While doing a test run for one of the film’s opening action sequences in Bulgaria, Statham was tasked with driving a flatbed truck that was meant to stop, but unfortunately, the brakes decided otherwise, plunging the vehicle and the “Italian Job” actor into the Black Sea. When Statham told this story on Jimmy Fallon, he said it was something close to a 9-10 ft drop off the edge of the pier. Luckily he was able to get himself out through an open window, but the rush of water, the weight of heavy body equipment, and a snagged holster didn’t help matters. The actor told The Evening Standard how the near-death experience made him feel immensely lucky to be alive:
“It’s a real recalibration of everything. From that day on, I’ve been so appreciative of life and being able to walk on the ground. I think we all need [an experience] like that; one that puts things in perspective.”
Statham laughs while telling this story, but it’s incredible how he managed to wrangle himself out of that potentially dire situation. It probably helped matters that not only could he keep his composure and act fast, but Statham was once a former diver who competed for England in the Commonwealth Games in the early ’90s.
What I find even crazier is that there’s footage of it all going down within a featurette from the “Expendables 3” Blu-ray.
You can feel the panic among the entire crew as they slowly realize what’s about to transpire. Even Terry Crews (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) recalls being amazed at how Statham immediately afterwards “changed his clothes and hopped right back in the truck” to keep on going as if he didn’t just almost drown. With Statham looking okay, I have to admit that nothing hurt my heart more than seeing the poor crew fish out all of the now-useless Red cameras from the water.
The Ultimate List of the Best Action Movie Hero Names
Arnold Schwarzenegger (aka “Arnie”, “The Austrian Oak”, or “The Govenator”) is an ultimate action movie legend of the first class. Both a former Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia champion bodybuilder and former Governor of California, Arnold has risen to the highest levels of worldly success.
Born in Thal, Styria, Austria, Arnold made his breakthrough into Hollywood action movies originally in sword-and-sorcery with Conan the Barbarian and in sci-fi with The Terminator, early roles which let him hide his thick accent and lack of American acting experience.
However, Arnold quickly found his niche and would go on to helm some of the most critically and commercially successful action movie blockbusters of all time. Including Terminator 2: Judgement Day and the Terminator Series, Commando, Predator, Total Recall and True Lies to name a few. While he has eased up in later years to pursue public office, his legacy remains Arnold strong!
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1991) Biography, Plot, Trailer
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1991)
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation is a 1991 American martial arts action film starring Michael Dudikoff, David Bradley, and James Booth. A sequel to American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989), it is the fourth installment in the American Ninja franchise, followed by American Ninja V and was directed by Cedric Sundstrom. The film marked Michael Dudikoff’s final appearance in the American Ninja franchise.
Plot
A Delta Force unit attempts to escape from a pursuing group of ninja in a foreign country but most are killed and the rest are captured. The secret Ninja Army is headed by Colonel Scarf Mulgrew) an ex-British policeman and anti-American who has joined with Shiekh Ali Maksood, a Muslim militant, who plans to bring a suitcase nuke to New York. Mulgrew threatens to burn the commandos alive and use the nuke unless he is paid a ransom of 50 million dollars. Agents Sean Davidson and Carl Brackston are sent on a covert mission to rescue the prisoners and defeat the terrorists.
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New York Ninja (2021) Biography, Production, Release, Trailer
Sean and Carl parachute in and meet their contact Pango. While gathering information from a local operative named Freddie, they are confronted by Mulgrew and the corrupt local police headed by O’Reilly. Freddie is killed by Mulgrew but Sean, Carl, and Pango escape. Pango takes them to Dr. Sarah a Peace Corps nurse who hides them from the police. Soon after ninjas attack, capturing Sean, Carl and Sarah alive while Pango escapes, and imprisoning them in an old British fort to be tortured by Mulgrew. Mulgrew assaults Sarah and later it is revealed Mulgrew killed her father.
Cast
Michael Dudikoff as Agent Joe Armstrong
David Bradley as Agent Sean Davidson
Dwayne Alexandre as Agent Carl Brackston
Robin Stille as Dr. Sarah[3]
Ken Gampu as Dr. Tamba
James Booth as Colonel Scarf Mulgrew
Ron Smerczak as Shiekh Ali Maksood
Frantz Dobrowsky as Captain O’Reilly
Kely McClung as Super Ninja
Jody Abrahams as Pango
Anthony Fridjhon as Freddie / Treddle
David Sherwood as Gavin
Sean Kelly as Norris
Jamie Bartlett as Segal
John Pasternak as Carlos
Robin B. Smith as Schultz
Shane Safi as Little Special School Child
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Will Smith CONFRONTS Jim Carrey For HUMILIATING Him On Live TV
Get ready for the ultimate showdown! In this explosive video, Will Smith confronts Jim Carrey after being publicly humiliated on live TV.
The two Hollywood legends have a long-standing rivalry, but things came to a head after Jim’s controversial comments about Will during an interview.
With tensions running high, Will finally has the opportunity to confront Jim face-to-face and demand an apology.
But will Jim be able to make amends for his insulting remarks, or will this confrontation only escalate the feud further?
Watch now to find out!
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But will Jim be able to make amends for his insulting remarks, or will this confrontation only escalate the feud further?
Watch now to find out!