UPDATED: Latino Review have the scoop that Danny Trejo (ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, MACHETE) has a role in the movie. For a “home coming of tough guys”, how can you go wrong with a guy whose face carries the same hard man world weariness as Charles Bronson?

I have a feeling Sly Stallone got on his knees and begged Arnold Schwarzenegger, his much compared action hero peer of the 80’s and 90’s, to star in THE EXPENDABLES. 

But in the end, he could only get Arnie for one day of shooting. Which is still mega cool.

AICN have heard that Arnie will play Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, a small cameo that revolves around a confrontation between Stallone’s fictional character Barney Ross and Arnie playing himself. Somehow, don’t ask me the details, but in this move universe it seems both have a history dating back to when Arnie was shooting CONAN THE BARBARIAN. 

It’s a meta-film connection I guess, can’t wait to see it. And it isn’t actually the first time they have appeared together as Arnie recently filmed a small role in the Indian movie INCREDIBLE LOVE which Stallone has a considerable part in. That movie premieres in India in May. 

Further news on THE EXPENDABLES is that Ben Kingsley has dropped out and THE DARK KNIGHT actor Eric Roberts has replaced him. 

Mickey Rourke is also now officially signed. His role is said to have been reduced to coincide with his role in IRON MAN 2 and possibly his Wrestlemania 25 appearance. 

Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Forest Whitaker and Randy Corture make up the rest of the main cast and we await to hear which actress will take the female role Sandra Bullock turned down.

Shooting begins next month and it’s said Stallone has been figuring out the right balance between action and humor.