Let’s play a game of pretend. You’re a talented actor that has fought for over two decades to make it to the peak of Mt. Hollywood, finally winning Best Actor for your work in “The Last King of Scotland.” So the next logical career move would be to a) choose a dramatic role that plays to your strengths or b) do your best Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Snow Dogs” impersonation? If you chose b) then you might have what it takes to step into Forest Whitaker’s shoes. Whitaker is in negotiations to join the cast of Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables,” where he would play a CIA liaison for a group of mercenaries. Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham and Randy Couture will play said mercenaries, and we know you want more of a Li/Statham combo after the instant classic “War.”
Stallone stated at the AFM in November that he wanted Whitaker to be featured in the first of a two-project deal for Nu Image/Millenium. What Rambo wants, Rambo gets.
So why would Whitaker agree to this role? Was “Fast Times at Ridgemont High 2” not available? Our guess is that Whitaker spent New Year’s watching “Bloodsport” and decided to wax nostalgic. It’s the only explanation for an actor of his range to accept such an expendable part. There’s no word yet if this is Whitaker’s punishment for making “Vantage Point,” but it does sound like decent retribution. – Adam Sweeney