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50 Cent Replaces Forest Whitaker in The Expendables?!

by Alex Billington
March 18, 2009
Source: Ain't It Cool News

Please tell me it's not true! Ain't It Cool News is reporting that Forest Whitaker has dropped out of Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables due to a scheduling conflict. So who has Sly found to replace him? None other than Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent. Are you kidding me?! Anyone who has seen Get Rich or Die Tryin' or Home of the Brave or Righteous Kill knows that 50 Cent is probably the worst actor ever! No one should ever cast him, and no one should ever put him in their movie, not ever, no matter the circumstances. I really don't know how Sly could think 50 Cent is an acceptable replacement for an Oscar winner?!

Harry from AICN, who is in contact with Stallone and brought us word of Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance, says that production on The Expendables has been pushed back a month. Thus Whitaker had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts with prior engagements. Okay, I'm sorry, but if it were anyone else, and I literally mean anyone else, I would've said sure, I don't mind, it's not the most important role in the movie. But 50 Cent? I'm considering saying I might not want to see this because he's involved. Whitaker was going to play the CIA liaison Agent Will Sands in the movie, which is hopefully a very, very small role.

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Related categories: Casting, Movie News, Opinions

REAL6

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
nelson

he is no Oscar nominee but this is the same movie with Dolph Lundgren Jason Statham Randy Couture LOL
b1andf

I dunno, I beg to differ!! I thought he was pretty good in Get Rich or Die Tryin'... Although Forest Whitaker is still a shit hot actor and better than him!!... I wouldn't knock him that much!!
Christopher M

sounds small enough...we might not even notice 50 Cent is in it...if he even is cast.... Jackson being cast in a small role is a little not much of a reason to boycott a film...you're overreacting considering we already have Steve Austin and Randy Couture in this thing...you weren't boycotting the film when they were announced they're just as bad if not worst in the acting department
Mr j Money

I think it's safe to say acting chops isn't a strong suit of most of, if not ANY of the expendables... Were's Bill Duke, Carl Weathers or Mr T? We need a brotha with some 80's presence to represent. Not Fitty...
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#3 - Did you see Home of the Brave or Righteous Kill?! Get Rich or Die Tryin' was about him, but those other two, man he was SO frickin' bad in them!!!!
Al

its not that i think this is going to be a prestegious film, i just was hoping for old school actioneers, not a rapper.
Blue Silver

Damn!!! I knew it was a matter of time until this film had it's token rapper added to this cast! CRAP!!! I sure hope this isn't true!!!
Jon

@2 and 5, you guys need to watch some of statham's more credible movies... snatch, the italian job, cellular, revolver, the bank job... he's more than a decent actor. as for 50 cent, he's almost as annoying on screen as he is OFF screen, and he's pretty damn annoying off screen. i mean cmon, fifty isn't even a credible action star (where acting requirements are negligible), there have to be better options.
Hey Ya

Why not get Ice Cube. At least he can act...in action movies. 50 Cent is just like watching paint dry. Ice Cube has some action credibility or even LL Cool J if you had to get a rapper ya know?
Jon

@10: LL would be a great choice
Jon

Two updates you guys may be interested in, from a poster on AICN: It's confirmed. by C Legion Mar 18th, 2009 06:41:03 PM This is a letter from Sly to the guy who runs his fansite. Dear Craig, I appreciate the incredible amount of work you've done on my behalf. Please tell the loyal followers to be positive not negative in their feedback. I am not self-destructive. The anger of the casting of 50 Cent is understandable, but not fair. A player is only as good as his coach. If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change of Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent AKA Curtis Jackson is a good one. No one thought Dolph Lundgren was a good choice for ROCKY or Mr. T. for Rocky III. Carl Weathers was an afterthought when Ken Norton fell out. The same with Talia Shire and Richard Crenna (who was known as a comedic actor, not a serious one). Nobody wanted Eric Roberts over Ben Kingsley, but I believe it's a vastly improved casting. The point is, you either believe in me and the project, setting your personal feelings aside, or you take a darker approach, which really serves no purpose since your insight and suggestions and overall enthusiasm are a great thrill for me to behold everyday I sign on. Signing off - Your friend, Sly Sly on Kurt Russell. by C Legion Mar 18th, 2009 07:21:27 PM "I know that many people on the site have asked for Kurt Russell. I asked for him too. Actually, I was taken aback when asked to put the request in a letter and send it to his agent. Subsequently, I was called back by the agent several days later after refusing to send a letter and he said Kurt Russell is not interested in 'ensemble acting' at this time. So, People, I came, I saw, I failed. Best, Sly"
Roberto Dinamite

Replacing Whitaker for 50 Cent is like buying a Louis Vuitton bag, and then taking a crap inside of it for shits and giggles. yes. it's that bad.
Cody

But this is an action movie, Why are you guys ranging acting skills. I think its better choice considering the look of the two. 50 looks more badass and thats what this movies all about.
Ty

fiddy gwan beat yo ass dawg
Allen L.

Why the big deal? How about waiting until the movie comes out before judging? And, anyway, who cares that much? Sly Stallone is making this movie? He is no God Send. Give 50 a chance. You think just because he is a rapper he is a P.O.S.
LC

I think the people in Hollywood have been doing some yayo, or doing some weed because they must be high or something by the crap movies they been wanting to do lately and getting a dumdass like 50 to be in a movie again... Like seriously.. i know this is an action movie or whatever but a movie can not look credible with crap like 50 on screen. Ice Cube or LL are more credible than him because they seem to take acting more serious than him. Even Mos Def would do good. But someone who makes a living of talking shit to ppl doing acting. Just.. something wrong with the world..
Jake

I'm not defending 50 Cent, but everyone in the movies he was in were also terrible including Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, so what does that say? Also, Alex would you be cool with Arsenio Hall in the role?
http://www.millus.org Millus

Sly needs a guy with big muscles. 50 CENT has big muscles. Thats the deal!
Dave Lister, J.M.C.

The only way this casting will work is if Sly changes the role to "Guy who gets hit by train, in opening credits".
Adrian

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awesome news! NOT SO MUCH FOR THE FILM BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE GOOD... NOW YOU KNOW WHERE STALLONE'S GOING WITH THIS... THE CRAPPER!
Shom

Alex, i think you overdid it a bit, after all this is an action movie. You sound like just like those critics that flamed Transformers. We're not looking for an Academy award winning performance from any of these actors. Just chill man. This is supposed to be like a return to the good ol' days of action movies. I think he'll do just fine. By the way, I saw Get Rich and i thought his performance was very good, not great, but good. So take a nap Alex, he may not be Forrest, but he's not Paris Hilton either.
TLee

What a bunch of dumb-ass comments. 50's acting is getting better and better. The only way to get better is to ply your craft and 50 is definitely doing that. So they replaced a notorious over-actor with zero believability as a tough guy with a guy who looks like he could really kick your ass. Just be honest and say you don't like him, don't pretend like it really has anything to do with acting. About 80% of this cast can't act, hell Sly can't act!! And Btw Curtis has like 5-6 movies in the works. Spectacular Regret (2009) (in production) .... Amos Jenks The Dance (2010) (announced) 13 (2010) (post-production) .... Jimmy Dead Man Running (2009) (post-production) .... Thigo Streets of Blood (2009) (completed) .... Stan Green The Ski Mask Way (2010) .... Seven http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1265067/
Timothy

Not that I have any interest in this, but casting 50 Cent in this movie is certainly a bad movie.
Chris H.

50 cent is truly... expendable (pun intended) I could see 50 cent getting blown away in the first 50 seconds. I have no idea what the plot of this movie is, but with the movie title and the cast I think we are going to see those who could never be killed in movies actually get taken down.
JimD

Well that character just took a turn for the worst.
Smiffy1

After reading the post from Sly (#12) I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt.
DDOT3

i'm not a huge fan of 50, but he's not that bad of an actor... i mean c'mon on there is a whole lot worst out there...
Jason

50 cent is a straight up crazy guy , him and Em F### people up and to say he wont do a good job is straight up wack yo, he will do a great F^^^ing job cuz hes a real hood gangsta so stop bussin him aight
http://www.paynebyname.com Payne by name

Sly makes a good case for 50 and I was equally aghast at the news of his casting. Let's hope he can make Curtis go against his stereotypical performance.
http://www.bleepinggeek.com Pete the Geek

You know what Sly was thinking? He was thinking "Hey, if I put 'Fitty' in this movie too, my opening weekend box office goes up another 10 mil". That's what he was thinking. This entire movie is just one huge marketing campaign, like Ocean's 11 but with ex-action stars. All the big names attached are only meant to fill the seats and make some money, as well as maybe getting some directors to start sending them scripts again.
Trey

who cares..Im not going to see this movie for the "great acting" anyway
Cody

Or maybe Sly is just making a really badass action movie and he envisions it different then all of you knowitalls.
http://www.themoviebanter.com Craig

I'm sure Forrest left because he knew this was going to be the worst movie ever, not a scheduling conflict. This sounds terrible, Sly is terrible, 50 is even worst. This has waste of time written all over it.
Rod Tidwell

50 is garbage, no question about it. But there's one rapper-turned-actor who is actually even WORSE than him if you can imagine that.. Ludacris (aka, Christopher Bridges). Just about every movie he's been in has bombed (aside from Crash, which was overrated in the first place if you ask me) but try watching Rock N Rolla and you'll have a new found respect for 50.
MiKeDeEz

Is it just me but it makes me mad when I hear 50 cent speak or rap because he just sounds lazy and it seems that he's not even trying. At least with the other members of this movie i could understand what they are trying to say. 50 Cent is just weak to me, anyone that disses on Wu-tang and supports soulja boi is garbage to me. All in all though i cant hate on his grind to chase paper.
Alex

how about Carl Weathers????
Branden

I hope that it's a rumor.
Cmurder

This movie needs Wesley Snipes!!!! HAHA!...for serial!
Josh

They should have cast "Rampage" Jackson - MMA fighter. He has a great personality and physically tough as nails. Check out his cameo in The Midnight Meat Train.
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

Carl Weathers would fit the role much better, last I heard he was doing Burger King commericals though ;o)
????

sonofabitch maybe he will have a small role SMALL role i mean minuscule almost a cameo less than a cameo more like a background person or maybe just put him in the credits
The Dude

You guys are looking at this flick like it is going to be some eye-opening astonishment. Its Directed by SYL!!!! Its going to an action movie, who looks for acting in that?
Mr j Money

I gotta agree with Number # 43... to an extent. Yes, sly is directing, but I can't say i've disliked really any of his projects (except stayin alive). If it's anything like the last rambo flick, it'll be aiiight. @9, I'm diggin Stratham, I think he's a badass, but I also think he's fallen a bit into playing the same character in every movie. Not that it's a bad thing, but even governator did kindergarten cop.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I agree with #10, Ice Cube would be a good choice if they want to pick a rapper. But 50 Cent???? He can barely talk! Also, seeing his films recent box office grosses, he is not that much of a box office draw.
GM

Alex..chill..80% of Hollywood's Actors suck anyway...it's an action movie so fuck it...Jet will steal the show anyway!!!
Fisherr

50 cent fails period i don't even like the guy.This is one ticket that the movie might SUCK big time.
Dave Lister, J.M.C.

And... 50 is gone before he even really arrived. AICN has posted a story (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/40516) that 50 Cent will NOT be in The Expendables. Instead, Stallone has cast Terry Crews. Aloha, 50... it's good to see you go.
Alex

Ving Rhames
jamaal

Why not Weslet Snipes??? Putting Forest Whitaker in there is like putting old Bill Cosby in there!!! Wesley would be perfect., or Carl Weathers (Apollo) atleast the brotha from Spawn! 50 cent is too young, that cat is 28.
TR

I think Sly has done an incredible job with all of his projects. If his decision is to cast Curtis Jackson it is a good one. Most of you people on here should just get a life keep the negativty to yourselves and go see the movie you might just enjoy it. Keep up the good work Sly God bless.