The Expendables 3 Stunt That Almost Cost Jason Statham His Life – My Blog

Getting a brand new “Expendables” movie means as soon as once more taking part in the sport of “let’s see what number of action stars can we match on the poster.” With all these huge names competing for display time amid action giants like Sylvester Stallone and Jet Li, you’re naturally going to have them making an attempt to recreate the movie moments that made audiences fall in love with them within the first place. (That’s the way you get Arnold Schwarzenegger discovering any approach he can to throw in a variation of “I’ll be again.”) However let’s be actual: All three “Expendables” movies are enjoyable in their very own proper, however hardly stay as much as the movies that garnered these actors a spot on the franchise’s roster.

“The Expendables 3” represented a brief finish to the ensemble showcases of action stars kicking butt on display: It was the franchise’s lowest-rated entry, acquired the bottom field workplace outcomes, and unwisely alienated its core viewers by aiming for a PG-13-rated movie to attraction to youthful viewers. However maybe the largest impediment that would have struck this movie down is a gnarly accident that almost killed considered one of its largest action stars.

Some quantity of threat is virtually inescapable when filming huge set items in action movies, particularly if the stunts are achieved primarily in-camera. Sadly, the “Expendables” movies are not any strangers to set items not going the best way they anticipated, as stuntman Kun Lieu was killed whereas taking pictures a ship explosion for “The Expendables 2.” The speed at which this retains occurring with Hollywood productions is actually disheartening, and had issues gone in a different way on the third movie, “Crank” star Jason Statham might have misplaced his life.

Mishap with a flatbed truck
Whereas doing a check run for one of many movie’s opening action sequences in Bulgaria, Statham was tasked with driving a flatbed truck that was meant to cease, however sadly, the brakes determined in any other case, plunging the automobile and the “Italian Job” actor into the Black Sea. When Statham instructed this story on Jimmy Fallon, he stated it was one thing near a 9-10 ft drop off the sting of the pier. Fortunately he was in a position to get himself out via an open window, however the rush of water, the load of heavy physique tools, and a snagged holster didn’t assist issues. The actor instructed The Night Customary how the near-death expertise made him really feel immensely fortunate to be alive:“It’s an actual recalibration of all the things. From that day on, I’ve been so appreciative of life and with the ability to stroll on the bottom. I feel all of us want [an experience] like that; one which places issues in perspective.”Statham laughs whereas telling this story, nevertheless it’s unimaginable how he managed to wrangle himself out of that doubtlessly dire scenario. It in all probability helped issues that not solely may he preserve his composure and act quick, however Statham was as soon as a former diver who competed for England within the Commonwealth Video games within the early ’90s.What I discover even crazier is that there’s footage of all of it happening inside a featurette from the “Expendables 3” Blu-ray.You may really feel the panic among the many complete crew as they slowly understand what’s about to transpire. Even Terry Crews (“Brooklyn 9-9”) remembers being amazed at how Statham instantly afterwards “modified his garments and hopped proper again within the truck” to maintain on going as if he didn’t simply virtually drown. With Statham trying okay, I’ve to confess that nothing damage my coronary heart greater than seeing the poor crew fish out all the now-useless Pink cameras from the water.