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Dolph Lundgren has been the consummate action star since the 1980s, when he burst onto the film scene in the Bond flick, "A View to a Kill," before playing Rocky's Russian nemesis Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV" and He-Man in "Masters of the Universe."

He took on a different-than-usual challenge recently, playing the famous psychologist Dr. Sage Mennox in the ensemble comedy-drama, "Small Apartments."

Lundgren talked briefly with NextMovie about black hair dye, being honest with yourself, and which cast member of "The Expendables" would pose a threat to him in a fight.

Congratulations on "Small Apartments." You're obviously known for taking roles that show off your ability, you know, to beat the crap out of people.
(laughs) Exactly.

Deviant

How much fun was it to play a guy who manipulates people mentally?
It was cool. Yeah. One of the first times I've played a guy who's educated, or at least he pretends to be. It was nice. It kind of started this run of trying to have some fun and do different types of roles. Not necessarily playing the lead, but playing somebody who I thought was interesting to work on. There's been a bunch of those the last couple of years, and "Small Apartments" was the first one, right after "The Expendables."

Was this the first movie that you've ever had to dye your hair black?
Not the first, but the second, because I did "The Punisher" back in 1988. And in those days, the hair dye was kind of permanent. So I think it stayed dark for another two movies, or a year after. Now they can just paint in on there, and it goes away after you're done.

"Small Apartments" was the darkest movie I've ever laughed out loud at in my life. What were your emotions reading the script for the first time? Did you think it was mainly funny, or dark...
I thought it was kind of...weird. And I know Jonas (Akerlund, the director) very well. I know him from Sweden. As a matter of fact, he has a child with my ex-wife's cousin. So I knew him socially. And I read the book first, and then the script. I kind of laughed. I focused on my character and I thought, "Well, this is something I haven't done before, so I thought, 'Why not?'" I only worked four days, but it was kind of fun, and like I said, it started that run after "The Expendables" where I said, "I'm just gonna do some things where there's a reason I'm doing it, whether it's to practice this, or to learn something, or to be uncomfortable, or to challenge (myself), whatever. So that's what I did.

Who do you think would honestly win in a fight between you and the rest of cast of "The Expendables"?
(laughs) I think I'd have a fairly good shot. The only real fighters would be Steve Austin - well, he was in the first one - and there's some MMA guys in there too, and from the more famous guys, you've got (Randy) Couture. He'd be a tough one, because I think he fought last year in the Octagon, so he's still fresh. He'd be difficult to beat, I think. But, I guess I'd feel pretty good, because I'm very big, and I did do some real fighting, which was not movie fighting, it was the real thing.

What's the best advice you've ever received?
I try to listen to older, more experienced people because as a man, you try to go through life as an adventurer, and there's some things that you need to do smartly that you've never experienced, and you try to listen to people that have experienced it. Basically, it kind of comes down to just, "Listen to your heart, listen to your instincts, and believe in yourself, if you want to succeed." Something like that. That means not just in business, but in life, too. You need to be honest with yourself. You have to see the world the way it is, and not try to live in the fantasy.

Magnet Releasing

There have been a lot of cool stories to come out of Hollywood in the last couple of years, but for our money one of the coolest is the sudden and unexpected career resurgence of Dolph Lundgren, who came out of nowhere (aka Europe) to reclaim his action star title with his turn as the despicable Gunnar Jensen in 2010's "The Expendables."

Now, Lundgren is kicking it into even higher gear with "Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning," which reunites him with his "Expendables 2" co-star Jean-Claude Van Damme for the sixth (!) installment of their long-running sci-fi series.

All of which got us wondering: What is it about Dolph Lundgren that makes him so cool?

Well, after doing a little research, we discovered the answer: Pretty much everything. With that in mind, we thought we'd present the top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Dolph Lundgren and help reveal the mysteries of the man with the muscles that just won't quit.

To paraphrase Drago from "Rocky IV": We must educate you. So if you learn, you learn ...

10. He's a genius.

Magnet Releasing

Considering what a giant slab of beef Lundgren is — and the kind of musclebound meatheads he frequently plays on screen — it would be easy to assume that Lundgren is as thick as his characters. But that would be selling him far, far short, because in point of fact he's actually a genius. While he claims that the rumors of his I.Q. being north of 160 are exaggerated, his degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering and the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship he received to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggest he's just being modest. Plus, he speaks seven languages, though "only" three fluently. Top that, Rocky.

9. He's painfully shy.

Hard to believe, but despite his imposing figure and even more imposing intellect, Lundgren — whose real first name is Hans — was extremely shy growing up. In fact, his social awkwardness was one of the main reasons he got into both martial arts and acting. "I felt I was very inhibited and shy and insecure in many ways," he told SOMA magazine in a 1996 interview. "Sports was one way to make up for that, and I felt there was something about acting, I didn't know what it was, that sort of intrigued me — having to tap into your own personality, into the depths of it, and find out what was really going on."

8. He owes his career to Grace Jones.

MGM

You guys remember Grace Jones, right? Well, the bony international model-turned-actress hired Lundgren as her bodyguard, which led to the two becoming an item. That in turn led to Lundgren getting noticed on the sets of her movies, like the 1985 007 adventure "A View to a Kill," where he earned his first small role. And that in turn led to him getting his big break in "Rocky IV" — and his big breakup with Jones, who couldn't handle suddenly being the second biggest star in their relationship. C'est la vie.

7. He hung out with Andy Warhol.

One of the benefits of dating a model like Jones and living in New York during the early '80s was that it gained Lundgren immediate entry into the highest level art circles in the world. After meeting at a party, Andy Warhol took an instant interest in Lundgren, both interviewing and photographing him for one of his many projects. That in turn led to Lundgren becoming a regular on the NYC art scene, where he also rubbed shoulders with Keith Haring and other top artists of the time.

6. He almost killed Sylvester Stallone.

MGM

And not just on-screen, either. Sure, everyone knows how his "Rocky IV" character, Ivan Drago, told Stallone's Rocky that "I must break you." But during filming, Lundgren nearly did exactly that to Stallone after Sly had the idea to stop faking it and play it real for the camera, just for a good 15 seconds of film. In a 2006 interview, Stallone revealed that Lundgren pounded him so hard during that 15 seconds that Sly ended up in intensive care at a London hospital for nine days with life-threatening injuries to his heart. How bad was it? The insurance company backing the movie didn't want to pay Stallone's claim because they said the injury was more in line with a head-on car crash. "I said, 'Well, have you seen Dolph Lundgren? That's a truck. That's a steering wheel. That's a head-on collision,'" Stallone told Entertainment Weekly. "They honored the insurance claim."

5. He was an international karate champion.

So, the fact that Lundgren is a bad-ass fighter in real life probably comes as a surprise to nobody. But there is one detail that is rather unexpected: He earned his championships not in boxing, but in karate. A disciple of Kyokushin karate, Lundgren won the European championships in both 1980 and 1981 before taking down the Australian championship in 1982. That's not to say that he couldn't have been a boxing champion as well; in 2007, at the age of 47, he fought a celebrity boxing match against former UFC champion Oleg Taktarov and only lost via judge's decision despite being eight years older than his opponent.

4. He almost co-starred in 'Gladiator.'

"The Expendables" brought Lundgren back to the big screen in America in 2010, almost 15 years after his last major Hollywood picture. But he nearly had an earlier career resurgence with the 2001 Oscar winner for Best Picture, "Gladiator." According to a 2008 interview, director Ridley Scott said that Lundgren had been up for the role of the undefeated gladiator Tigris, who is brought out of retirement to fight Russell Crowe's Maximus, but that "as an actor, he just didn't fit in with what we were trying to achieve." Lundgren, on the other hand, has said that he was offered a role in the film but turned it down. How awesome would that have been?

3. He's an Olympic pentathlete.

Live Entertainment

Well, sort of, anyway. You see, back in 1994, Lundgren starred in a film called "Pentathlon," which was really big among pentathletes and basically ignored by everyone else. Still, it's not often that anybody pays much attention to pentathletes, so in the hopes of gaining a little leverage for their program, the U.S. Olympic committee named Lundgren the official Team Leader of America's Olympic Modern Pentathlete team for the 1996 Atalanta Games. In that role he acted as a planning coordinator for the squad. Is there anything this guy can't do?

2. He's an accomplished musician.

Remember the question we asked in that last sentence? Well, it was rhetorical, because obviously there is in fact nothing Lundgren can't do. Case in point: He's an accomplished drummer and musician. Not only did he write, direct and star in a film where he played a rock drummer (2009's "Command Performance"), he's also hosted and performed in musical competitions in Europe. Don't believe it? Check out this clip, which became a viral smash in 2010:

1. Just read this crazy story ...

Back in 2009, while Lundgren was away from his home, a group of burglars broke into his house in Marbella, Spain, tied up his terrified wife and began ransacking the place ... until they happened to see a family photo of Lundgren on a mantle. Then, realizing whose house they had just broken into, the thieves dropped everything and fled for their lives, lest Lundgren return home and dispense justice.

Yeah. Exactly.

Lionsgate

This week: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and more aging action heroes are back to blow things up in the explosive "The Expendables 2."

Also new this week is a collection of Quentin Tarantino movies handpicked by the filmmaker himself, the Blu-ray debut of 1975's "Zorro" starring Alain Delon and a Criterion Collection edition of the formerly maligned/recently praised 1980 Western "Heaven's Gate."

'The Expendables 2'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $85 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 66% Fresh
Storyline: Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and the rest of the Expendables (Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth and Dolph Lundgren) are sent by Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to Albania to retrieve an item from a downed plane only to lose one of their own in an ambush by an opposing group of mercenaries led by Jean Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme). The action then moves to Bulgaria where the Expendables track down Vilain to stop him from selling plutonium on the open market. Arnold Schwarzenegger — now free from governing California — takes part in more of the action, Chuck Norris steals scenes as lone operative Booker and Yu Nan adds some welcome femininity to the testosterone gun show.
Extras! In addition to the expected deleted scenes, making-of featurettes and a commentary track by director Simon West, the DVD and Blu-ray also contain "Big Guns, Bigger Heroes: The 1980s and the Rise of Action Films," which is a necessary supplement given the cast.
We Say: Although some of the one-liners are predictable cheese (Schwarzenegger says "I'll be back," Willis chides him for saying it, Schwarzenegger fires back, "Yippie ki-yay," etc.), action fans will geek out watching their favorite genre heroes of the past 30 years blow everything up. Although Mickey Rourke is missed from the first movie, the addition of Norris and Van Damme make this the rare sequel that outguns the original.

'Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection'

Lionsgate

Box Office: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
Storyline: This collection has eight films that Quentin Tarantino chose to illustrate the first 20 years of his career: "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," "True Romance," "Jackie Brown," "Kill Bill: Vol. 1," Kill Bill: Vol.2," "Death Proof" and "Inglourious Basterds."
Extras! There are two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics' retrospective on Tarantino's catalogue and "20 Years of Filmmaking," which contains interviews with critics, stars and other cinema masters.
We Say: All of the movies in this handsome box set with graphic novel-style artwork are already available individually on both DVD and Blu-ray, so if you already own them you probably won't want to double-dip just for additional bonus features. If you're a Blu-ray newbie and a Tarantino disciple, this collection needs to be at the top of your holiday wish list.

'Zorro' Blu-ray

Sommerville House

Box Office: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
Storyline: This unique 1975 incarnation of "Zorro" features French star Alain Delon as the masked hero who masquerades as the new governor of a territory in Latin America that's ruled by the cruel Colonel Huerta (Stanley Baker) and his soldiers. Zorro joins with a monk and a beautiful aristocrat (Ottavia Piccolo) in a fight against Huerta for the oppressed people of the land.
Extras! This Blu-ray debut has the original trailers, a photo gallery, radio spots and restoration clip comparisons.
We Say: Although the front of the disc case boasts that the film has been "digitally restored," don't expect this to be on par with the "Jaws" or "Star Wars" restorations — the opening song sounds like a scratchy AM radio broadcast and artifacts can still be seen throughout despite the picture having been cleaned up. Still, this edition of "Zorro" is the best-looking version on the market and is worth rediscovering for Delon's spirited performance and the final swordfight scene, which is said to be one of the longest in film history.

'Heaven's Gate' Blu-ray

Criterion Collection

Box Office: $3.5 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 43% Rotten
Storyline: This 1980 Western directed by Michael Cimino stars Kris Kristofferson as a federal marshal in Wyoming who learns of a government-sanctioned plot by cattle barons to kill the area's European settlers for their land. The resulting conflict is based on the real-life Johnson County War of 1892. This full director's cut also stars Christopher Walken, John Hurt and Isabelle Huppert.
Extras! This Criterion Collection Blu-ray debut has new interviews with cast and crew, a video interview with historian Bill O'Neal about the Johnson County War that inspired the film and comes packaged with a booklet featuring an essay by critic and programmer Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan.
We Say: When it was released, "Heaven's Gate" was a huge box office bomb that some called one of the worst films of all time. This year, the film got a second lease on life when it played at both the Venice Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. One writer described the film as  "a turkey that sank a studio is a modern masterpiece." Now available in high definition with Cimino's complete cut, "Heaven's Gate" is worth rediscovering.

Also New This Week:

"Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups"
"Grave of the Fireflies" Blu-ray
"Black Magic"
"Ramrod" Blu-ray
"Alter Egos"
"Bringing Up Bobby"

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Steven Seagal is a man of many talents: International movie star, TV action hero, part-time law enforcer and full-time ass kicker. He even sings the blues and made the ponytail look manly.

In his newest action flick "Maximum Conviction" – coming to DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 6th – Seagal teams with "Stone Cold"' Steve Austin to battle a team of elite mercenaries after the transportation of two inmates goes awry. The movie is vintage Seagal, complete epic gun fights, explosions, witty puns and all the bone-crunching Aikido one can handle in 90 minutes.

Taking a pause from breaking necks and limbs, Steven took the time to sit down with us and discuss upcoming projects, his thoughts on "The Expendables" franchise (hint: he doesn't love it) and the odds that we'll ever refer to him as President Seagal.

"Maximum Conviction" is an action fans' dream. It's got shoot outs, twists, you are partnered with Steve Austin and you also produced it. Tell us about the movie and your character Steele a little bit.
I just sort of wanted to stick with the story they gave me, which was kind of like that. They had asked me if I was interested. I met Steve Austin, I really liked him as a person and thought that we might be able to make a good comedy team. I tried to fine tune a lot of the story lining and get the action, particularly the military stuff, operational stuff, make that look as realistic as I could, the shooting, with the guns, all of that stuff cause I do know a lot about that. We had a great time together – we just had a good chemistry together and sailed through the movie without any hiccups at all.

Anchor Bay

Throughout the course of the movie, you guys are pretty much taking out an entire army. Who do you think killed more people, you or Steve?
I have no idea. I didn't really pay attention that much. I just paid attention to the story and how to get the bad guys.

So, off-set, did he show you some wrestling moves and you show him some Aikido stuff? Was there any sparing like that?
Not at all. He respects me, I respect him and he knows I'm not interested in wresting. It was nothing like that.

How would you rank this movie on an action and ass-kicking scale of 1-10 compared to some of your previous work and stuff you've done recently?
That is kind of a rough question to answer, and I really don't want to get stuck between a rock and a hard place because I don't really want to demean this or anything that I have done. So, it was the best we could do with what we had, and nowadays people are not giving you a lot of money because the economy is down. I think Hollywood is 90 percent down and – I don't care what anybody says – I think that 90 percent of the movies that were being made five years ago are not being made now and there are 10 percent now that are being made. That is my humble opinion … You get what you can get and do the very best you can.

Are we ever going to see you bring back a character from the past, or a sequel to a movie you have been in?
Everybody wants to see "Under Siege 3." There was kind of a big fight between our distributors. If that can somehow be put aside, and everyone could figure out how to do it, that would be one of the one's to do. I think that would be a great idea.

In a perfect world, is there any other movie that you'd either remake or do a sequel to?
Oh, goodness gracious. I mean, I liked "Under Siege," I liked "Fire Down Below," I liked "Marked For Death," you know what I mean? Any of those movies make for a great story and great action.

Speaking of sequels and all that stuff, is being in the next "Expendables" ever going to be a reality? Have you had conversations about that? Is it something that is interesting to you personally?
There are lots of folks, including the people who own it, that have asked me to do it. I just, at this point, am not real interested in that, to be honest with you.

Anchor Bay

Yeah, they came out with the new one and, from where I sit, everybody's question was, "Where is Steven Seagal?" So the fans are very interested, as I am sure you know.
I didn't really see the story, but if they had a story that was a great story I would probably be interested.

If you were to assemble your own kind of "Expendables" – people you respect the most, whether they're actors or a fighter or what not – who would be in that?
A lot of the great action guys are in there: Jason Stratham, Jet Li, and guys like that … Of course, some of the people in there I wouldn't really want to work with but some of them I would, and that’s what makes horse races. Everybody has a different taste.

The election is a hot topic right now – would we ever see you in politics? Is that something that interests you?
I've always tried to avoid politics because most politicians that I know are quite dirty, in terms of human dignity, ethics and morals. However, I am sure that there are some politicians somewhere in the world that have a good, pure heart, but it’s a pretty dirty world and, as you could see, this year's Presidential debating and campaigning was the dirtiest in the history of America.

Is there a dream role you would like to have, a Biopic you'd like to take the lead on?
Believe it or not, there are some things that I have written that would be kind of a dream to make. Hopefully, I will get to finance them ... There is something that I wrote called "Demon's Flare" which would kind of be a dream come true. There's something called "Tip of The Spear," which is about the border war, which would also be a dream come true if I could make that.  But I am in the middle of trying to finance all of those films.

What about your music – are you going to be touring with that anytime soon?
I do have some people who were speaking about a big tour in Russia, which I would love to do and, if they ever call me and say, "Hey man, this is it. Let's do this," I would do it.

Lionsgate

"The Expendables 2" won the box office for the second weekend in a row with just $13.5 million, according to Film.com, thanks mostly to one of the weakest crop of new releases in recent memory.

Just how bad was it? Not one of the new releases managed to make even $7 million, allowing "The Bourne Legacy" to earn second spot with only $9.3 million. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Premium Rush," Kristen Bell's "Hit and Run" and Ashley Greene's "The Apparition" were among the new films that crashed and burned.

For a full run down of the weekend box office, including figures for returning films "ParaNorman" and "The Campaign," head to Film.com.

NEXT: What was the best indie movie of the summer? >>

PREVIOUS: What was the best comedy movie of the summer? <<

This poll will close on Aug. 30, 2012, at 12 p.m. ET

Forget the all-female riff on "The Expendables" that's apparently now in development — it's the porn star version we really want to see! Well, maybe "see" is too strong a word ... it would be amusing to know that it at least exists, right?

Just think about it: Every, er, "action scene" in the movie ends with an explosion. Now this is just the kind of thing that's needed to shake up (or blow up, rather) the adult entertainment industry.

Check out the poster below, courtesy of our own adult film star, Old Red Jalopy. And let your imagination take you where it will.

See More NextMovie Originals

View Gallery »

Lionsgate

"The Expendables 2" took no prisoners this weekend as according to Film.com, the oldest gang of ass-kickers ever assembled brought in $28.8 million to earn the top spot at the box office.

Of course, the other big new release of the weekend was the musical "Sparkle," which features the final performance from the late Whitney Houston. And the film did her legacy proud, earning $12 million for fifth on the chart. That was just two million less than "Sparkle's" entire production budget, meaning the film has almost broken even after just three days of release.

For a full run down of the box office figures, including totals for "The Bourne Legacy," "Paranorman" and "The Campaign," head to Film.com.

Also Check Out: 'The Expendables' Dance Party

Lionsgate

Yeah, it might be time for this summer movie season to be over.

"The Expendables 2" has now had a memorable opening day for all the wrong reasons as police were sent to investigate a series of bomb threats at theaters showing the action sequel, according to Deadline.

All 200 theaters of Carmike Cinemas were "on alert" earlier today due to a bomb threat phoned in from a person claiming to represent a vendor service for the theater chain. Terrell Mayton, the Director of Marketing for Carmike Cinemas, told media outlets that the phone calls were received at "locations across the country" and all involved showings of "The Expendables 2."

Police across the nation have since searched all 200 locations and reportedly found nothing suspicious. The theaters have since re-opened, albeit with a considerable police presence.

Moviegoing has proven to be a dangerous endeavor this summer, with reports of patrons being weapons to theaters increasing upon the aftermath of last month's Aurora tragedy. Let's hope we can soon go back to a time when going to the cinema was a celebration of art and community and not a life-threatening risk.

Whether you're on Team Gale or Team Peeta, one thing is totally non-negotiable: Liam Hemsworth is hot.

The Australian actor is one-third of the love triangle in "The Hunger Games" as Gale Hawthorne. He's Katniss' best friend and the object of affection of most of her schoolmates. Strangely, she doesn't seem to notice his bulging biceps and piercing blue eyes, which we'll get to see even more of with Liam's spot in the merry band of mercenaries in "The Expendables 2."

But we most certainly have noticed. And we've deemed them more than worthy of a Hot People Looking Hot gallery.

Worry not — we won't make anyone pick a side. You can also see Peeta Josh Hutcherson's gallery here.

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Being a villain is hardly new territory for Jean-Claude Van Damme: He started his career as the bad guy in "No Retreat, No Surrender" and "Black Eagle." Then, good fortune came his way and he was cast in a little movie called, "Bloodsport." The rest is history.

A few days ago, we went round-for-round with the Muscles from Brussels himself, JCVD, to discuss his role as the rogue in Sylvester Stallone's new male pattern badness adventure, "The Expendables 2."

Not only does JCVD talk about the upcoming "Bloodsport" remake, "Double Impact 2," and the signature roundhouse kicks he performs in "The Expendables 2," he gets up, moves furniture and shows with passionate detail how his kicks are done and why they work. Nothing ever prepares you for moments like this.

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Welcome back to the big screen. We've missed you a lot.
Thank you sir. I don't know if ["The Expendables 2"] is going to help me but what do you think?

I want it to. But I have "Bloodsport" framed at my house.
You never know in Hollywood. They're going to do a remake of "Bloodsport."

Yeah that's the rumor.
The guy who wrote "Taken" is writing and the producer is [Ed] Pressman. I want to be in the film as a trainer and I don't think the writer wants [me] to.

His loss, man.
Nah, he knows that "Bloodsport" is a big film so he wants to get credit with all of that, you know what I'm saying? Like Will Smith, for example, was smart to [cast] Jackie Chan [in "Karate Kid 2010"] — it's kind of cool. When I did the first "Bloodsport," it was an independent company and [they] didn't want bankruptcy so they sold the title all over the place — 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 "Bloodsports"  — the remake, I would love to be in. It's kind of painful but maybe they'll change their minds. That would be great because I can still kick better than anybody here today.

Let's talk about that. In "The Expendables 2" you do your signature roundhouse kick. As you're getting older, do you find it difficult or do you feel like you've still got it?
Here was the deal, because of the age and everything, they told me, "Don't worry, we're going to cover you well. You're going to jump and we'll do a cut." And I told them, "But guys, let me do the full kick." They were kind of surprised that I could still do it and I said, "Yeah, it's the same as before. I'm going to try."

Lionsgate

I [have been] doing it at the gym so I warmed up with the Bengay and everything and I stretched before the kick. And then I did my full kick the first time ... I wanted to go a little more snappy and then I did it [again] the second time and it was no problem. You know that roundhouse kick. And then I have another kick [in the film] and it was like one shot. And then I [needed to do] ADR in Belgium and I've got Stallone on the phone and I said, "Sly, I don't get it ... I spent all of that time to do that kick and I asked those guys to put one angle so you can see the full kick like in "Bloodsport." All we see is like me going like this." [At this point, Van Damme gets up to pantomime the kick he's referring to].

From the foot touching the knife. It's like "BOOM!" and me landing. So I said to Sly, "What are you doing?" And he said "Let me go check in the cutting room," because he was busy doing another movie. Then he sent me an email saying, "It's arranged." I haven't seen the movie but basically I throw a knife in the air, Scott [Adkins] catches the knife. As soon as the knife was in the air, I didn't even wait and I did the famous roundhouse kick.

Getty Images

Technically "JVCD" was your big return, but "Expendables 2" is your big return to the action genre. Did you have any hesitations with playing a villain for your comeback or were you just like, "Let's do it"?
I said, "Let's do it." I said to Sly, "What about me playing the villain?" ... My father told me, "Be an Expendable, don't try this and that," and I said, "Dad, I want to be a villain again." ... Sly loved the idea of me being the villain. But I know it's only one time, right? So, I don't know the outcome. Hopefully the studio will like it but that's what I wanted to do.

What is the biggest change you've noticed in the action genre since you first started?
The technical came in — the CGI, the cables, all of that stuff. ... With action, you have to be physical because, if you're not, how can you do it? ... With "The Expendables," we have those groups of people who build their career like that, with those physical moves, without CGI and this and this and that ... One film like that every two years where the action stars are going [at it] like the old times — that's what I believe makes "The Expendables 2" special.

"The Expendables" franchise is a play on older action stars, that they still got "it" and they're not going anywhere. Do you think there is a time when an action star should throw in the towel and pass the torch?
You know, you have to keep on going. It's what we have inside of us that's how we became famous, and it will never die. Look at Clint Eastwood for an example — he keeps on moving the best that he can, it's great. Don't give up. Plus we need that to have a nice life, I need to train. Sometimes I did have my life of the Rock 'n' Roll life. I fell down, I crashed and came back. Because of training every day or every other day depending on the traveling, the jet lag and everything, we can be this way. If I didn't have that, I would be very depressed. If I don't train for a week, I build toxins in my body and I sweat easily. It's strange.

You've been immortalized  on screen as the hero and now you're going to be immortalized as the villain. How does that feel?
It scares me. I directed a movie and that's why I wasn't able to be in "The Expendables." We heard all types of [bogus gossip] stories - me and Jet Li fighting and all of that stuff; I've never even met Jet Li in my life. Hopefully we will meet in China because we might be doing a film together ... But, I was cutting [the film I directed] and was responsible because I put my own money into that film and it's a very strange movie. So [I didn't do "The Expendables"] because I was busy cutting this film - we had to do additional shoots in Bulgaria and then I did a comedy called "Welcome to the Jungle"  -- you have to see it, I play so dumb.

And then I starred in a film with Peter Hyams, the director of "Timecop," who made me play a villain. But really a villain, like villain.  But I fight, you know when you fight you're busy with your movement, so when you punch you go [shows how he punches] "BRUUUM!" and you go like "BAHM!" with grace. It was a great, great villain. So I'm doing three movies as a villain. Hopefully  I will not be categorized as a villain for the rest of my life [laughs].

Stone Group Pictures

Picasso had his blue period - this is your villain period. Let's go back to your "Double Impact" days. In an all-out brawl again, who would win in a fight Chad or Alex?
Alex.

I was hoping you'd say Chad. He's got the legs!
Yeah but Alex has the headbutt! "Mr. California, Mr. Silk underwear... BOOM!"

I have no franchise. I lost "Bloodsport," "Lionheart," I told you "Double Impact" [would be] a great franchise because today Chad would be like the guy in "JCVD" and Alex would be the guy like "The Expendables" and, with the experience with the acting, I came up with a great story set in Los Angeles. He's playing a producer, making pictures with a big house behind him. Alex is gonna go on vacation and has some problems with the Triads. Why?  Because Chad went to Hong Kong and to get some money using [Alex's] face, all of that bulls**t. Alex comes [to Los Angeles] to see Chad and he's full of s**t, has a girl pregnant and she's the sister of the big boss from South Central. It's like "Double Impact" in Los Angeles.

That's amazing.
Yeah, I wrote the script with a friend of mine, Sheldon. He did "Bloodsport" and "Double Impact" with me. Hopefully, somebody smart enough, like an agent or a producer, can put that back together ... I'm excited about it, you know?

Follow Chase Whale on Twitter.

Dear lord, how did L.A. not collapse under the weight of all this testosterone?

It was manly men galore as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme and other towers of power walked the red carpet in Hollywood in celebration of "The Expendables 2," the rough and tumble tale of dudes with guns, knives, bazookas and attitude.

Check out our collection of pics from the premiere and get ready for the bullet-ridden extravaganza that is "The Expendables 2," in theaters on Aug. 17.

Lionsgate

What happens when you put the greatest action heroes of all time into one movie? You get the epic explosion of badassery that is "The Expendables 2."

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Jean-Claude Van Damme lead this sequel to the successful 2010 action film about a band of hired mercenaries. Although they're one cohesive unit, with so much testosterone gathered in one movie, we couldn't help but pit these actors against each other to see who can really be considered the most badass, based on their fighting style, muscle mass, studliness, weapons expertise and one-liners from their entire filmographies.

Whether they're a martial arts master, a skilled sniper or a bodacious bodybuilder, read on to see who's really the least expendable of "The Expendables 2" cast.

Lionsgate

12. Yu Nan

Most of Yu Nan's films have been dramatic romances, like "In Love We Trust" or "Tuya's Marriage," with 2007's "Diamond Dogs" opposite fellow Expendable Dolph Lundgren as her only other action movie. It's hard for Yu to compete with the others when she's so new to the action game, but holding her own as the only female Expendable in this solid boy's club is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Fighting Style: 0
Muscle Mass: 0
Studliness: 4
Weapons Expertise: 1
One-liners: 0
Total Score: 5

Lionsgate

11. Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth was supposed to appear in the first "Expendables" but was later cut from the movie. Starring in the sappy "The Last Song" alongside future fiancée Miley Cyrus didn't help his street cred either. Luckily for his manhood, Hemsworth starred in 2012's epic "The Hunger Games" but didn't take part in any of the action in the fight to the death competition. You're definitely not the toughest new kid on the block, Hemsworth, but you certainly are the cutest.

Fighting Style: 0
Muscle Mass: 1
Studliness: 5
Weapons Expertise: 2
One-liners: 0
Total Score: 8

Lionsgate

10. Jet Li

As one of the most famous martial artists in movies today, Jet Li is the most skilled of the Expendables. He can't really handle a weapon other than a sword, but he can kick a gun from your hand. Li has a small stature and isn't the biggest heartthrob of the bunch, but he gets bonus points for having the most philosophical lines of the group, like this one from "Hero:" "A dead man begs you to remember; a warrior's ultimate act is to lay down his sword." Not the most threatening , but Li has the rare ability to be an action hero who makes you think.

Fighting Style: 5
Muscle Mass: 1
Studliness: 1
Weapons Expertise: 1
One-liners: 2
Total Score: 10

Lionsgate

9. Terry Crews

Terry Crews began his career as a player in the NFL, so he knows how to take a hit. Crews appears as the angry, tough guy in comedies, whether he's tormenting Craig and Day-Day in "Friday After Next" or calling Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph's characters "freeloaders" as a boot camp instructor in "Bridesmaids." One of his most beloved roles is in the cult classic "Idiocracy" as President Camacho, a machine gun-toting, Ultimate Smackdown champion. And remember, he's "got a three-point plan that's going to fix everything."

Fighting Style: 1
Muscle Mass: 3
Studliness: 2
Weapons Expertise: 2
One-liners: 3
Total Score: 11

Lionsgate

8. Randy Couture

Randy Couture doesn't just fight in fake arenas in the movies; he began his career as a wrestler and mixed martial artist, becoming the first fighter to win the UFC Heavyweight and Lightweight Championships. His cauliflower ears aren't the most attractive, but who else could take on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in "The Expendables?" Couture's relatively small filmography hasn't provided many memorable quotes, but his rant in "The Expendables" showed he may have the charisma to star in his own action movie one day.

Fighting Style: 5
Muscle Mass: 4
Studliness: 0
Weapons Expertise: 1
One-liners: 2
Total Score: 12

Lionsgate

7. Dolph Lundgren

With his intimidatingly tall frame, seemingly perfect body and often sinister accent, we can see why Dolph Lundgren has played more villains than heroes. In the '80s, when it seemed like all Russians on the big screen were scary, Lundgren's Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV" was one of the most terrifying, and his cold delivery of "I must break you" had even Rocky shaking in his boxing boots. But the thing with movie villains is they always seem to fall to the hero.

Fighting Style: 3
Muscle Mass: 3
Studliness: 2
Weapons Expertise: 2
One-liners: 3
Total Score: 13

Lionsgate

6. Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme's most powerful weapons are his legs — when your kick is almost vertical, do you really need a gun for protection? The only adversary tough enough to take him on is, well, himself in movies like "Double Impact" and "Replicant." JCVD was one of the better looking of "The Expendables 2" crew in his prime, but he gets points off for having a mullet in "Hard Target." He hasn't had that many quotable movie moments either, with "You look like s**t to me" from "Time Cop" as his best comeback line.

Fighting Style: 5
Muscle Mass: 4
Studliness: 3
Weapons Expertise: 1
One-liners: 1
Total Score: 14

Lionsgate

5. Jason Statham

British, bald and badass, Jason Statham can do it all. He may not have trained at any fancy martial arts school, but his kicks are nothing to scoff at, whether he's knocking down doors, strangling foes with his ankles or tripping them to their death. Statham finds a weapon in almost anything, be it a tire iron, chair or the shirt off his back. And let's not forget about his impressive driving skills in "The Transporter" movies. Although Statham doesn't have the biggest build and is one of the few bald Expendables, that British accent is enough to make anyone swoon, not to mention jazz up his otherwise lackluster repertoire of one-liners.

Fighting Style: 4
Muscle Mass: 2
Studliness: 4
Weapons Expertise: 5
One-liners: 2
Total Score: 17

Lionsgate

4. Chuck Norris

The man has inspired countless jokes about just how awesome he is, but Chuck Norris is the real deal. He's a black belt, a karate champion and a formidable opponent to Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon." He also knows his way around machinery, miraculously never having to reload his gun. However, his 1970s beard and haircut are probably not coming back in style anytime soon. You also probably don't know many quotes from Norris' movies, but this one from "Braddock: Missing In Action III" — "I don't step on toes, Littlejohn, I step on necks" — sums up his career quite nicely.

Fighting Style: 5
Muscle Mass: 3
Studliness: 2
Weapons Expertise: 5
One-liners: 3
Total Score: 18

Lionsgate

3. Bruce Willis

The star of the "Die Hard" franchise should immediately earn respect for playing one of the greatest action heroes of all time, John McClane. As was the case with "Die Hard," Bruce Willis plays a cop in most of his roles, which we all know is one of the toughest jobs around. And as such, he's quick with a punch and can do as much with a handgun as the others do with much heavier artillery. He looks like he could be your dad if he didn't always wear that signature scowl. Plus, a simple "Yippee ki-yay, motherf***er" would stop even the worst villains in their tracks.

Fighting Style: 4
Muscle Mass: 2
Studliness: 3
Weapons Expertise: 5
One-liners: 5
Total Score: 19

Lionsgate

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger

As a former Mr. Universe, Arnold Schwarzenegger has the others beat when it comes to brute strength, but those bulging muscles don't allow him to do much more than just pick enemies up and toss them around during combat. But he sure knows his way around a weapon, whether he's wielding a sword in "Conan the Barbarian," blasting a bazooka in "Commando" or shooting up aliens in "Predator." Declaring "I'll be back" and "Hasta la vista, baby" in the first two "Terminator" movies cemented Schwarzenegger's place in action hero history.

Fighting Style: 2
Muscle Mass: 5
Studliness: 3
Weapons Expertise: 5
One-liners: 5
Total Score: 20

Lionsgate

1. Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is the leader of the Expendables, and the honor is well deserved. He's as good with his hands — boxing every opponent to victory in the "Rocky" movies — as he is with a weapon, especially when playing everyone's favorite scorned Vietnam vet John Rambo. Stallone also gets bonus points for playing characters that like to remain shirtless, and he's got the body to back it up. He doesn't need clever one-liners to define his career, just one lady's name ("Adrian!"). With this icon still in the game at 66 years old, it's going to be a long time before any rookies can take over the top spot.

Fighting Style: 5
Muscle Mass: 5
Studliness: 3
Weapons Expertise: 5
One-liners: 5
Total Score: 23

Get a Badass Laugh From 'Extra Butter, Please' Taking on 'The Expendables 2'

Lionsgate

Manly men like action movies. And steak. And watching oiled-up gym rats wrestle until one is pinned down and submits to the other's brawny powers. (We'd say that men "love" these things, but manly men find that word too submissive.)

So, when Sylvester Stallone gathered some of the biggest names (and biceps) of the action star pantheon together for an epic ensemble piece entitled "The Expendables" back in 2010, he forged the manliest merger since the X chromosome collided with the Y. And on the heels of that triumph, "The Expendables 2" will be flooding theaters with testosterone yet again on Aug. 17.

However, lest they get too big for their camouflaged britches, we'd like to point out that these seemingly stoic statues of resolve and fortitude have some, how shall we say, "sissy" moments in their cinematic closets. How about we take a once-over of their most unmanly moments, just for funsies?

Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Junior' (1994)

Universal

In this Ivan Reitman comedy that asks us to believe the wholly implausible — and downright scary — notion that Schwarzenegger could actually be a doctor, the film also plays out the only slightly less believable idea that the Governator could become preggers. Now, I don't mean to be heavy-handed in assigning gender roles, but I think we can all agree that this is not the manliest of states to find one's self in. And box office receipts revealed that audiences on both sides of the Roe v. Wade debate could come together on opting out of this cinematic answer to a question no one asked.

Sylvester Stallone in 'Spy Kids 3-D' (2003)

Dimension

While Stallone seemed more like the fifth Golden Girl than an Italian Stallion as he incessantly whined "Maaaa!" at Estelle Getty in "Stop, or My Mom Will Shoot!" (1992), at least he was shooting his police snub-nose at adult bad guys. But as The Toy Maker in this third — and most headache-inducing — of the three "Spy Kids" films, Rambo traded in his camo for a foppish leather suit, strutted around like a dandy and tried to kill a couple of children. Not very gentlemanly, sir.

Dolph Lundgren in 'Masters of the Universe' (1987)

Cannon

Dolph is so much man that even his least manly role's name is made up of two words that each mean "man." With his cold dead eyes, rudimentary command of English and a physique that seems molded from plastic, Lundgren was the perfect Ivan Drago, the Russian villain/stereotype of "Rocky IV." And when the makers of the He-Man action figures were looking for a star to play the mulleted Arian hero of their movie, Lundgren must have seemed like the obvious choice.  Then again, sometimes two rights can make a wrong.

Jason Statham in 'Gnomeo and Juliet' (2011)

Touchstone

Although Statham is known for spectacular acts of physical feats, this daringly hands-on action star reportedly didn't perform a single stunt of his own playing Tybalt, content instead on letting an unknown gnome stunt double do all the heavy lifting. Perhaps Jason was out of shape. Or maybe he just wasn't comfortable doing Shakespeare. Whatever his excuse, it breaks one's heart to think about all those kids that loved him so much in "Snatch" crying their eyes out in the theater, asking "Where's Statham, mommy? You said there'd be Statham..."

Chuck Norris in 'Top Dog' (1995)

Live Entertainment

Jumping atop the long-since abandoned and dilapidated bandwagon of the cop/dog buddy craze of the late '80s ("Turner and Hooch," "K-9"), Chuck Norris and Reno, the police dog, found one final nail and pounded it into said genre's coffin with this action movie/comedy that was reportedly neither. Clearly, what happened was that the script was written as a buddy cop film, but no human co-star could be found that was willing to have his own manliness diminished by standing in such close proximity to Norris, the manliest of all men. So they had to make Reno a dog and claim it was "a comedy."

Jet Li in 'Unleashed' (2005)

Focus Features

This dazzlingly dexterous martial artist adds a much-needed Eastern flavor to the Western meaty man bowl of muscle that is the "The Expendables" cast. And what he lacks in height (he's 5'6"), he more than makes up in stature, having ruled the Chinese box office since the early '80s. But unlike his bulky co-stars, Li has never felt the need to soften up his image with a token kids' film. If he can't kick someone in the face, he's not interested. The only remotely non-manly film he's starred in would be "Unleashed" (2005), in which he's sort of ... dogly, playing a rabid killer on a collar.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in 'The Exam' (2006)

Fida Film

Although his birth certificate calls him Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, this former bodybuilder has successfully overcome the wussy designation bestowed upon him when he was born and is now known the world over simply as JCVD: Belgian badass. And as a champion of the kickboxing world of the late '70s, he's the real deal. But in the Turkish comedy "The Exam," in which he plays a hit man hired by some students to steal the answers to their exam, the worst threat that the "Muscles From Brussels" is liable to receive is death by a thousand paper cuts.

Bruce Willis in 'Look Who's Talking' (1989)

TriStar Pictures

He took out a crew of international thieves single-handedly in "Die Hard." He was unbreakable in ..."Unbreakable." And he died so that we may live in "Armageddon. " But there's just something less-than-virile about the guy who played John McClane gazing up at John Travolta and saying "I want you to be my daddy" through the mouth of a baby. But maybe that's just me.

Terry Crews in 'Bridesmaids' (2011)

Universal

After hanging up his shoulder pads, this NFL defensive end — with an artistic bent — was cast in a slew of films, always as the hard-as-nails brute. His elbow has more muscle in it than most dudes have in their entire bodies, so it's a challenge to find him ever playing anything less than the manliest guy in the room. But his mere brief association with the chick flick comedy "Bridesmaids," playing the trainer in the park who whips weekend Bellatrixes' abs into shape, sprinkles a hint of estrogen fairy dust on this otherwise mountain of petrified testosterone.

Randy Couture in ... Nothing (2003 - present)

Universal

Seeing as how this three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion appears to have killed someone with his bare hands in every artistic endeavor he's lent his visage to, it's a challenge to point out his least manly movie role. Nor would we want to, on the off chance he might ... you know ... savagely beat us within an inch of our life. Whether playing a ripped killer in the film with the refreshingly straightforward title "Today You Die" (2005) or playing a ripped killer in the bargain bin favorite "The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior" (2008), Couture always manages to make killing look easy.

Liam Hemsworth in 'The Last Song' (2010)

Disney

This up-and-coming leading man's big break was playing opposite Miley Cyrus in Nicholas Sparks' recent film adaptation about, ya know, stuff girls think is interesting (there's some father/daughter conflict and Liam and Miley bonding over protecting some sea turtle eggs). Hemsworth is in good company, seeing as how respected thespian Ryan Gosling found his star-making vehicle in Sparks' box office hit, "The Notebook." Still, one assumes that Liam hopes his "Expendables" co-stars haven't accidentally Netflixed this delicate tearjerker. Then again, if any did, they'd never admit it.

Join 'The Expendables' Dance Party!

Getty Images

Fans of 1980s action cinema are eagerly awaiting this week's release of "The Expendables 2" thanks to its all star cast, which includes Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme. So what could they possibly do to top that for "The Expendables 3?"

How about giving fans of '70s action cinema a blast from the past with Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford?

Looks like punks aren't the only ones feeling lucky today.

Of course, the producers of "The Expendables 3" will have to get pretty lucky indeed to land everyone on their dream list; Ford in particular seems like he'd be a pretty hard sell for this sort of project. But then again, considering the all-star line-up they managed to put together for "The Expendables 2," it seems that dreams sometimes do come true.

And according to Total Film, producer Avi Lerner is dreaming very big indeed.

"We've approached Clint Eastwood to be one of the guys, we've got a character in mind for him," Lerner said regarding their plans for "The Expendables 3."

"We’re talking to Harrison Ford. [And we want] Wesley Snipes when he comes back from prison. I'll give you one more name, we've got Nicolas Cage to play [one of the characters].

"And we're going to bring Mickey Rourke back, if he won't be too crazy. I like Mickey. And of course, all the existing stars [will return]."

Just what the plot would be if everyone signed on is a bit of a mystery — logically, Eastwood would kill everyone in the first scene and then spend the rest of the movie drinking a brew with his orangutan sidekick — but we have a feeling fans aren't going to see these films for the storytelling.

So what do you say, Clint? One more for old time's sake?

Lionsgate

An action-packed summer movie season deserves an epic grand finale. Luckily, "The Expendables 2" is here to help make this summer go out with a bang.

Everyone's favorite band of merry mercenaries is back in this sequel to 2010's "The Expendables." This time, they're out for revenge as they lose one of their own during a job for Mr. Church (Bruce Willis). The explosions are bigger, the stunts are crazier and the cast gets even more star-studded, with Liam Hemsworth, Chuck Norris and Arnold Schwarzenegger joining original Expendables Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li.

So, needless to say, we have a giveaway that's back and better than ever to go along with it.

After watching a movie featuring some of the greatest action stars ever, you're probably going to want to check out their previous ass-kicking adventures, and we're here to hook you up. We're giving away some "Expendables 2" prize packs that are sure to help you enjoy the old and help usher in the new. One lucky fan will win a grand prize that includes a DVD pack of five action movies from the cast, including "The Expendables," in addition to some awesome swag from the movie. Two runner-up winners will also score some cool prizes, like a dog tag, T-shirt and poster from the movie. Check out the full prize details below.

Don't be fooled. Just because we're giving this stuff away doesn't mean it's "expendable."

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:

• DVD pack of action films with the cast, including "The Expendables"
• A shirt
• A teaser poster
• All 12 of the character posters
• A dog tag

Two Runners-Up will receive:

• A shirt
• A teaser poster
• A mini teaser poster
• A dog tag

To enter, just shoot us an email at NextMovie@MTV.com and include your name, address, birthdate and be sure to copy and paste the following statement:

"By sending this email, I accept and agree to: (1) the Official Rules of 'The Expendables 2' Giveaway and (2) MTV Networks’, a division of Viacom International Inc., Nextmovie.com Terms of Use and Privacy Policy."

The contest runs from now until 2 p.m. ET on Monday, August 20, 2012. Entrants must be at least 17 years old and reside in the U.S. Click here for complete rules and further details.

As an added bonus, all entrants will be signed up for the fun and useful UpNext newsletter. As an UpNext subscriber, you'll receive weekly updates on the hottest releases, events and merch from the world of movies.

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"Double Impact" is arguably one of action legend Jean-Claude Van Damme's best films, for two reasons: It's got double the Van Dammage and another face-off against the great Bolo Yeung (who played his "Bloodsport" nemesis).

When we met JCVD last week, we took the opportunity to ask him about the "Double Impact" days -- and Van Damme began to gush about the possibility of  a sequel.

"I wrote the script with a friend of mine Sheldon - He [co-wrote] "Bloodsport" and "Double Impact" with me," he told us. "Hopefully, somebody smart enough, like an agent or a producer, can put that back together...I'm excited about it, you know?"

One of the things Van Damme stressed was the lack of franchises in his career: "I have no franchise. I lost 'Bloodsport,' 'Lionheart.'"

"'Double Impact' [would be] a great franchise," he told us, explaining how he thinks his twin characters Chad and Alex might have evolved. "Today, Chad would be like the guy in 'JCVD' and Alex would be the guy like 'The Expendables.'"

"I came up with a great story set in Los Angeles. [Chad] is a producer, making pictures with a big house behind him. Alex is gonna go on vacation and has some problems with the Triads. Why?  Because Chad went to Hong Kong and to get some loan money using [Alex's] face, all of that bulls**t. And Alex comes [to Los Angeles] to see Chad and he's full of s**t, has a girl pregnant, and she's the sister of the big boss from South Central. It's like 'Double Impact' in Los Angeles."

Van Damme did and still does have a franchise — the "Universal Soldier" series — but he did try to bring the original's magic back with "Universal Solider: Regeneration." Even Dolph Lundgren came back,  but the film still went straight-to-DVD. He's just completed "Universal Solider: Day of Reckoning" with Lundgren (apparently Sgt. Andrew Scott will not stay dead.) and is slated for a November 30th theatrical release. It looks like his involvement in "The Expendables 2" is already starting to pay off.

Hopefully, we are going to Feel the Impact once more. Give us this, Hollywood.

Follow Chase Whale on Twitter.

Getty Images

Unless you've been stranded on an island somewhere remote, you already know the Mussels from Brussels, Jean-Claude Van Damme, is set to make a comeback as an action star. In just a few weeks, you'll be able to see him on the big screen — for the first time since his very first role in 1986, it'll be (again) as the villain — in "The Expendables 2."

We recently spoke with JCVD during his "Expendables" press tour, and before we worked through his feelings on being immortalized as a villain, we got a chance to discuss the "Bloodsport" remake. Internet rumors that Van Damme has the blues over the movie are true, it turns out.

"I want to be in the film as a trainer and I don't think the writer wants [me] to ... he knows that 'Bloodsport' is a big film so he wants to get credit with all of that — you know what I'm saying?"

Now, we understand why the writer might not want Van Damme in the picture — with JCVD involved, he would certainly steal a majority of the spotlight — but the idea of putting him as Frank Dux's trainer  (originally played by Roy Chiao as Senzo Tanaka, whom he called Shidoshi) would really roundhouse kick up the movie's buzz.

"When I did the first 'Bloodsport,'" he told us, "it was an independent company and [they] didn't want bankruptcy, so they sold the title all over the place - 2,3,4,5,6 'Bloodsports.' The remake, I would love to be in it.  It's kind of painful, but maybe they'll change their minds. That would be great because I can still kick better than anybody here today."

You can't argue with that. Hollywood, are you listening?

Follow Chase Whale on Twitter.

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Esteemed Oscar nominee James Franco usually lunches with the coffee crowd, but this fall he'll be rubbing elbows with the likes of Hollywood's brauniest in "Homefront."

Franco has now joined the Gary Fleder-directed flick to portray Gator, "an evil meth magnate" who gets in the way of Jason Statham's character's dream of a happily ever after in a new town, according to Variety. Statham's Phil Broker is a former DEA agent looking for a new, peaceful life, but the town he chooses (and its inhabitants like this Gator figure) doesn't quite fit the mold he needs.

The script for "Homefront" was written by Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote and co-stars with Statham in August's "The Expendables 2."

Producer Avi Lerner said of the newly shaped cast that he "cannot think of a better group... James and Jason are remarkable actors and Gary really knows how to direct this type of film."

Production on "Homefront" will pick up in September in New Orleans.

It's been a while since James Franco got to really tinker with a slimy role like this ("Spider-Man 3" was released more than five years ago), so it should be great fun to watch.

Getty Images

If there was one victor among the movies paneling at San Diego Comic-Con this year, it'd have to be … Marvel. Or was it "Man of Steel"? Or maybe "The Hobbit"?

Another Con's in the can, and we've emerged with new intel on a handful of high-profile mega-movies. There weren't necessarily any groundbreaking casting announcements this year, but first footage from movies like the new Superman flick, "Oz: The Great and Powerful," "Pacific Rim" and "Elysium" had fans and bloggers buzzing big time.

Check out the biggest movie scoops below. What we should add, #16: Getting in line at 7 a.m. does not guarantee you entry into the con's marquee venue (Hall H). Not even for a 6 p.m. panel. And yep, we learned that the hard way. – By Bryan Enk and Kevin Polowy

There's a Whole Lot of Marvel Movies Going On as 'Phase Two' Is Unveiled
Excelsior! Marvel Mania hit Comic-Con as the studio revealed its master plan (well, some of it, anyway) for the next wave of super-movies (or "Phase Two," as it's being called). Some of the upcoming sequels got official titles as "Thor: The Dark World" (awesome) will hit theaters on Nov. 8, 2013; "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (AWESOME) will be released on April 4, 2014; "Guardians of the Galaxy" (we still can't believe they're doing a movie of that at all, much less this soon) will come out on Aug. 1, 2014 and, to the delight of the geekiest of fanboys, Edgar Wright's take on "Ant-Man" will probably creep into theaters sometime in 2015. The star of the Marvel panel was — no surprise here — Robert Downey, Jr., who danced on stage to the delight of fans and showed off some "Iron Man 3" footage that gave us a glimpse of the new suit. Oh, and Ben Kingsley is indeed playing the Mandarin, which is, of course, perfect.

Sci-Fi Is the Future
What a week it was for sci-fi films at Comic-Con. Three of the best-received movie panels were the futuristic mind-benders "Elysium," "Looper" and "Pacific Rim." Neil Blomkamp's "Elysium" pits Matt Damon and other freedom fighters against the one percenters hovering in a spacecraft over a ruined Earth; Rian Johnson's "Looper" finds Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a time-hopping assassin tasked with knocking off an older version of himself (Bruce Willis); and Guillermo del Toro's "Pacific Rim" pits giant robots against giant monsters, giving us all giant nerdgasms. "Looper" lands this fall, while "Elysium" and "Rim" are set to thrill in the spring and summer of 2013, respectively.

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At Least the First Seven Minutes of 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Are Going to Be Really Good
We knew we were going to see something from the last installment in the "Twilight" series, but we certainly weren't expecting to be treated to the entire first seven minutes of the film — nor, admittedly, were we expecting those seven minutes to be quite so jaw-droppingly good. "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" picks up right where "Part 1" left off, with Bella opening her red vampire eyes; from there, she gives Edward a powerful hug that takes his breath away (so to speak) before they're off to the forest for her first hunt. The sight of Bella scrambling up the face of a mountain, drunk with bloodlust for a poor mountain climber with a bleeding hand wound is pretty sweet, but nothing can prepare you for her claiming a freaking mountain lion as her first official meal as one of the undead. Kristen Stewart has never looked more beautiful — death most definitely becomes her. | Read "Twilight" panel recap

'Man of Steel' is Man With Some Edge
Imagine if Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan have a baby and name it Kal-El. Yeah that'd probably be one lucky yet confused kid. But that's how "Man of Steel" producer Thomas Tull describes the new Superman reboot, which is music to our Batman-loving, "Superman Returns"-hating ears (Snyder directs while Nolan produces). The Hollywood Reporter claims the trailer — which starts with a young Supes saving a busload of children, has a clearly darker tone than previous Clark Kent incarnations and also give us peaks at Russell Crowe (Jor-El), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Michael Shannon (Zod) and, of course, Henry Cavill's grown-up hero — brought fans to tears. "Goosebumps" and "chills" were also common refrains on the Twittersphere. The most super news? You won't have to wait too long to see it yourself. The teaser will wow moviegoers before Nolan's final Bat flick, "The Dark Knight Rises" starting Friday.

Stallone & Schwarzenegger Just a Couple of Bros
It's not every year you get action titans like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger sharing the stage in Hall H, but that's exactly what happened with Thursday's mantastic "Expendables 2" panel. There were career retrospectives, a trailer and new clip, and appearances by co-stars Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture ... but really the most intriguing thing about this hype fest for the August release was observing to the genuine connection between the two legendary screen stars, who have been buds for over three decades. Of course, like any bromance, there's a healthy competition in place. "Sly's killed 288 people, I've killed 289," the former Governator said. But who's counting? | Read "Expendables" panel recap

Bros Part 2: 'The Hunger Games' Tributes'
While at the "Hunger Games" DVD/Blu-ray junket (it's out Aug. 18, you know), we also bore witness to the tight bond formed between Tributes Alexander Ludwig (Cato), Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh) and Jack Quaid (Marvel). The trio, waiting to do interviews on a Hard Rock Hotel terrace, laughed and goofed with each other incessantly like they were old college chums (or as they and other "Games" cast members often describe the experience, summer camp alums), talking about everything from their love for the cult comedy film "Super Troopers" (it's the bear-screwing scene that gets them) to prospective web series ideas. It's a shame — for their friendship, anyway — that none of them return for "Catching Fire."

Yes, There Is Absolutely a Three-Breasted Hooker in 'Total Recall'
Sure, hovercars are cool and all, but the question fans (okay, or at least us) really have on the top of their minds is: Will Len Wiseman's reboot of the Philip K. Dick sci-fi yarn/Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner include that iconic three-breasted hooker? We asked the cast on the red carpet, and while co-stars Bryan Cranston and Jessica Biel were hesitant to spill the beans (though "Breaking Bad" star Cranston does admit to having his own three-breasted prostitute), Kate Beckinsale came right out and confirmed it. And yes, they're fabulous, the actress (and wife to director Len Wiseman) says. Wiseman also teased the genetic marvel's appearance in the panel footage. Three cheers for all of you. | Watch "Total Recall" cast confirm it

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A Whole Lotta 'Hobbit' Appeases the Masses
After mixed reactions to the 48 frames-per-second footage shown earlier this year at CinemaCon, perhaps the film with the most to prove was Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" (a two-part prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy). Jackson decided not to show the Comic-Con crowd footage in his fancy new 48fps style (saying it can't be fully appreciated in excerpts), so the director made up for it with quantity, showing a whopping 13 minutes of crowd-pleasing scenes spanning both films. Jackson was joined on stage by Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan and Elijah Wood, and the crowd ate it up, rewarding the Middle-earthlings with a standing ovation to close the panel.

'Looper' Is the New '12 Monkeys'
We've been waiting almost 17 years for something to be referred to as "the next '12 Monkeys,'" and it looks like we're finally getting it in the form of Rian Johnson's new mind-crunching sci-fi action film, "Looper." Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the writer-director's unofficial muse (they previously rocked the house together in "Brick"), joined him for the panel, much to the delight of the Con crowd. The trailer released a few months ago was amazing enough, but the extended look we were given here promises a film that's going to be as exciting and entertaining as it is thought-provoking and smarty-pants cool (just like "Monkeys"). It's fun to see JGL and Jeff Daniels, who plays the head "looper," reuniting after their terrific teamwork in another bit of noir nastiness, "The Lookout," but it's the scenes between Gordon-Levitt and Willis — as they play the same person — that we're most looking forward to. In particular, there's a tense scene in a diner that demonstrates the idea of "beating yourself up" in rather imaginative ways. The film opens Sept. 28. | Watch "Looper" cast interviews

'Elysium' Is a Worthy Successor to 'District 9'
Peter Jackson introduced Con-goers back in 2009 to the scrappy duo of writer-director Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley, who were in San Diego to promote their rather impressive-looking science-fiction film, "District 9." We couldn't wait to see what Blomkamp had up his sleeve as a follow-up, though we feared he may fall victim to the infamous "sophomore slump" in trying to at least match something as amazing as "D9." Now, after seeing the footage for his new movie, "Elysium," we fear nothing. Blomkamp has his satirical eye on the rich's exploitation of the poor in this story of a working stiff (Matt Damon) on a ravaged future Earth whose only chance for survival after being exposed to radiation is to journey to an off-world space station where the wealthy live disease- and worry-free. The grungy production design is astonishing enough, but our favorite part of it all has to be a nearly-unrecognizable Copley as some sort of bizarro "Mad Max"-ian villain who makes things difficult for our hero Mr. Damon. Bring on March 1, 2013! | Watch Sharlto Copley interview

'ParaNorman' Stars Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts
Laika Studios' stop-motion animation follow-up to the critically adored "Coraline" looks just as fun and family/adult-friendly as its predecessor, but after meeting three of the film's voice leads on the red carpet, it's almost a shame we won't see them appear together in live-action form. Kodi Smit-McPhee (who voices the lead, a bullied boy who can speak to the dead), Anna Kendrick and Christopher Mintz-Plasse riffed off one another with razor-sharp wit, even when attempting to convince us that paranormal spirits don't actually exist. That's right, none of them believe in ghosts. We'll just have to agree to disagree — and secretly hope one or all of them move into a haunted house one of these days. |  Watch "ParaNorman" stars talk ghosts

'Oz: The Great and Powerful' Looks Both Great and Powerful
Sam Raimi, ever the gentleman geek, treated us to the first trailer for this sorta-prequel to the 1939 classic, "The Wizard of Oz." Raimi's take on more whimsical material than what he's usually known for looks absolutely magical, with a Kansas-set prologue that's filmed in black-and-white as an homage to the first act of "Wizard." James Franco plays the carnival magician who takes the yellow brick road from shady cad to a truly "Great Man" via a tornado that whisks him away to a magical land known for its majestic Emerald City, mystical creatures, clever witches (both good and bad) and, of course, nasty flying monkeys. Franco's perfect for this part, and ever-smiling pixie Michelle Williams as Glinda is quite the stroke of casting genius, too; the trailer also offered brief glimpses of both Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz (who are playing the aforementioned "bad" witches) and closes with a very Raimi-esque shot of a certain green hand with black nails slamming onto a table. Well played again, Sam. | Watch the trailer

It Helped If You Had Actually Read 'The Host'
We knew before heading into Hall H for the "Twilight" panel that Stephenie Meyer was going to be in attendance … and not just to talk about "Breaking Dawn - Part 2." We knew she was going to be doing something in regards to "The Host," and at Comic-Con "something" usually means showing a clip or two. What we got was a seven-minute highlight reel showing key scenes from the sci-fi flick about a future world in which most of the human race has been enslaved by alien parasites. The footage was most definitely impressive (this movie has the kind of budget that the "Twilight" movies never quite had but probably should've) as it offered looks at Saorise Ronan as Wanderer, Diane Kruger as The Seeker and a strikingly well-designed dystopian landscape. However, somewhat unfortunately, the reel had no sense of a narrative thru-line, coming across simply as a mishmash of random scenes that probably left those unfamiliar with the book somewhat confused.

'Django' Looks Off the Chains
There were no major revelations to come out The Weinstein Company's Saturday morning panel for "Django Unchained," besides maybe Quentin Tarantino's declaration that a scene in the thriller about a slave-turned-bounty hunter (Jamie Foxx) involving a cameo by Jonah Hill could very well be the funniest thing he's ever written (and he did later announce at a different panel that "Django" will also come in comic book form). But what became further evident: The film looks fantastic. Tarantino, who appeared in Hall H with Foxx, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz, Walton Goggins and a ponytailed Don Johnson, unveiled an eight-minute sizzle reel that expanded on the film's recently released trailer and stoked the hearts and minds of Comic-Con faithful.

We Won't Be Getting Any 'Resident Evil' Movies For Much Longer
The wild and loose "Resident Evil: Retribution" panel was tons of fun, with Milla Jovovich being her usual dorky-hottie self with a crowd-pleasing sense of genuine excitement for being back in San Diego and getting to play the ass-kicking Alice for the fifth (!) time. The new RE movie makes for something of a reunion, as several cast alums are making appearances — whether their characters were killed off in previous installments or not. Michelle Rodriguez, a super-cool lady in her own right, seemed especially psyched to be back with "the family," though the get-together had a slightly bittersweet tone to it as director Paul W.S. Anderson announced the "Retribution" is, indeed, the "beginning of the end" for the series. In fact, Alice herself might shuffle off this mortal coil in the new film that opens on Sept. 14 — though Jovovich was being a bit coy about confirming that one way or the other. | Watch the cast talk zombie apocalypse

Get More 2012 Comic-Con Coverage from MTV

Lionsgate

In 2010, 65-year-old Sylvester Stallone, along with a whole roster of the biggest action stars of all-time, proved his twilight years are gonna be more like "punch your lights out" years with the explosive team-up "The Expendables."

Now these tough guys are ratcheting up the manpower and the action with "The Expendables 2," and IGN got Sly himself to intro the new full-length trailer. Better strap on a Kevlar vest before you hit play, people.

First of all, we know you "Hunger Games" fans want a look at Liam Hemsworth's sniper Billy the Kid in action, and you get a solid look at the team's token youngster. Let's just say the Kid is a crack shot.

But that's not all, 'cause in addition to the previous film's mercenary badasses you get your first look at Jean-Claude Van Damme's plutonium-obsessed bad guy, a few moves from Chuck Norris, not to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger tearing the door off a subcompact car. Take that, fuel efficiency!

The scale is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the boys are badder than ever. Check out Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Bruce Willis, and Jason Statham ("I now pronounce you man and knife!") in the trailer below.

NextMovie

Summer movies season is all about the blockbusters -- action movies with fist fights and guns blaring. Ch-ching!

But blockbusters aren't the only kind of movies at the multiplex this summer; they share space alongside quieter, more critically acclaimed fare. And let's face it, inside every loud, attention-grabbing, big-budget action movie, there's also a sensitive indie just wanting to get out. Right?

That's how we like to think of it, anyway. With our friend Old Red Jalopy, we've put a spin on 10 summer blockbusters to picture them as smaller, less explosion-heavy films instead. After all, it's not such a huge leap to see "The Avengers" as a moodily dysfunctional family, or Sylvester Stallone as an aging soldier contemplating the limits of his own mortality (with or without guns).

Take a look at these posters for 10 blockbusters re-imagined as thoughtful indies. And if some of you are even more likely to see them now, hey studios, we've got some marketing ideas for you ...

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On August 17th, prepare yourself for the biggest action stars of all-time kicking some serious… er, butt. That's right, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are locked, loaded, and ready to blow these mother… um, motherlovin' bad gentlemen away.

As you can see, action movies just aren't the same without a few f**ks thrown in for good measure.

Apparently Chuck Norris doesn't feel the same way, though, since he's taken it upon himself to c**kblock the pottymouths of some of the toughest hombres in moviedom.

According to Polish site Gazeta (via /Film), Norris stated at a press conference that his participation in the sequel to the bloodbath that was "The Expendables" became contingent on Stallone and company's armed mercenaries taking a page or two from Miss Manners.

"With 'The Expendables 2' you have a lot of hard language in there that means that young people won’t be able to see it," states Norris in the video. "I said, 'I don’t do movies like that. I didn’t do them in the past, I didn’t do them on my TV series.' I said, 'You have to cut out all the language, hardcore language or I can’t do it.' So they did, and 'Expendables' is now a PG-13 film so kids can see it."

This former TV Texas Ranger is an ol' fashioned conservative man of faith, and when he's not doing commercials for Mountain Dew or "World of Warcraft" he wants to set a good example for the children. While a PG-13 rating may mean that the youngins can climb into ma and pa's minivan to drive down to the local movie house and watch old Republicans punch some throats out without going blue, for a tried-and-true action fan there's only one word for it: BULLS**T.

MTV

It'd be a dream come true for any young actor to work with the rugged action veterans of "The Expendables 2," and Liam Hemsworth got to live that dream as the rookie recruit of the upcoming shoot-'em-up/blow-'em-up extravaganza starring Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and a bunch of other guys that come to mind when you start naming off those.

Liam expresses his excitement about "The Hunger Games" and "The Expendables 2" hitting theaters this year on MTV's "2012 Ones to Watch."

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Australian megahunk movie stars aren't exactly a new thing at the multiplex. The land of koalas and Marmite has been steadily infiltrating our big screens since Mad Max growled about seeing a vehicle that could haul that tanker. We've enjoyed them all as they've come by: Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, Heath Ledger ... and now, Chris and Liam Hemsworth.

And boy, do those two have a year ahead of them. Forget Mayan predictions and the apocalypse. 2012 promises to be the year of the Hemsworth. (We haven't ruled out that they might factor into the end of the world. Two handsome Aussie actors in one genetic strain? How is that possible?)

"In the past, the brothers have succeeded in staggering their projects," says Amy Wilkinson of Hollywood Crush. "Chris caught America's attention with his brief role in 2009's 'Star Trek' reboot. Liam set women swooning in 2010's Nicholas Sparks adaptation 'The Last Song.' And Chris returned in 2011 wielding the box-office hammer with 'Thor.' 2012 marks the first year both will have high-profile projects headlining the marquee."

Marvel

Initially, it would appear 2012 belongs to the elder Hemsworth, Chris. After all, he's no less than Thor, God of Thunder, and he doesn't have to wait a year or two to remind audiences of his godliness. He gets to come back swinging in "The Avengers" (May 1), and stand bicep to bicep with a screen full of snappy superheroes.

If all he had was 'The Avengers,' Chris would be king. But he has no fewer than three movies in 2012: "The Cabin in the Woods" (April 13), "Snow White and the Huntsman" (June 1), and the long-delayed "Red Dawn" (November 2). Each offers a unique chance for Hemsworth to prove he's more than just blond locks and a rippling physique. Yes, two of the films star Hemsworth as hunky hero, but the rough, grim, bitter Huntsman and the plucky guerilla warfare of "Red Dawn" are both a long way from Thor's thunder.

Liam Hemsworth may only have two films on his slate, but they're really big films. While he may have lost "Thor" to Chris, he quickly landed his own franchise with "The Hunger Games" (March 23), and he has to meet similarly massive fan expectations when he steps into the ring as Gale Hawthorne. "Hunger" fans have been vocal in their skepticism, but he's won praise from Jennifer Lawrence and Gary Ross, suggesting he'll be the Gale we wanted all along.

Lionsgate

"Games" may easily win against Hemsworth's other blockbuster-to-be: "The Expendables 2" (Aug. 17). Hemsworth was to appear in the first "Expendables," but his character, Billy the Kid, was written out. Sylvester Stallone stayed a fan, though, and Hemsworth's Billy is set to fight for screen time against one of the biggest casts ever assembled. Action fans sneered when "Mr. Miley Cyrus" was cast alongside Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis, but you don't get to join the Expendables unless you're the manliest of the men.

The Hemsworths won't just be battling with stacked casts, a big movie year, and fan expectations. They're also competing with one another for dollars and dominance. Chris is currently the bigger star, and with four movies to his slate, he can only climb higher on the A-list. But expectations are enormous for all four films, and with such high hopes comes a harder fall.

Liam has many to please, but with so much criticism thrown his way, he has nowhere to go but up. "It will largely depend on how meaty Liam's role is in 'The Hunger Games,'" says Wilkinson. "Fans of the novel know that Gale doesn't get a lot of ink in the first installment, but online chatter seems to indicate that the part has been beefed up for the film version. If that's the case, I think this will be Liam's year to catch fire."

Forget Batman and hobbits. 2012 has to be wrestled away from Chris and Liam Hemsworth. We wouldn't want to be pitted against either Thor or Gale, especially not when they're backed by one another. But at least we get to watch the brotherly battle play out -- and when it comes to declaring a winner, we'll just go ahead and say it's us.