History Trivia / TheExpendables3

* BillingDisplacement: Although top billed, Creator/JetLi has less than five minutes of screentime.

* OldShame: Creator/SylvesterStallone regretted making the film PG-13, believing it was "a horrible miscalculation", and assured it would never happen again in the franchise.

* TheCastShowoff: As his character in the film, Creator/HarrisonFord is a skilled pilot in real life. In fact, Ford has conducted some search-and-rescue missions, just like his character does in the film.

* ActorInspiredElement: In the first drafts of the screenplay Creator/AntonioBanderas' character is named "Matador" (Spanish for "killer"). After Banderas agreed to play the role, he made several suggestions for the character. One of them was to change his name to "Galgo" (Spanish for "greyhound").

** A character originally created by Stallone for the second film and written for Creator/CharlieSheen was slated to replace Church in this installment, but it was scrapped again from the script.
** Galgo could have been played by Creator/DannyTrejo.

** Stallone considered filling the void left by the Mr. Church character with a role originally intended for Creator/CharlieSheen in the second film. The role was that of a CIA operative pursuing Church. The role was ultimately removed from both scripts.

* ActorAllusion: multiple.
** [[spoiler: [[Film/JudgeDredd "I am the Hague."]]]] sounds awfully familiar coming from Sly Stalone's mouth.
** When Toll asks Doc why he was caught after springing him from the train in the opening, the latter matter-of-factly replies, "Tax evasion". Creator/WesleySnipes, who plays Doc, was found guilty and sentenced for the same thing in 2008, and spent more than two years in prison. The whole "Doc was in prison" thing might be a reference to Snipes's prison term in general.
** Stonebanks started out in the Australian special forces. Creator/MelGibson began his acting career in Australia. He also reverts to [[Film/LethalWeapon Martin Riggs]] during the final throwdown with Ross.
** Trench throws in one of Arnie's famous lines from ''Film/{{Predator}}''
--->''(After the dust settled from Drummer's clear-up of the roof...)''
--->'''Trench:''' [[Film/KindergartenCop Good morning...]] LET'S GET TO ZE CHOPPA!
** Arnold also says [[Film/{{Commando}} "I lied"]] to Creator/SylvesterStallone's character.
** Drummer as a pilot who can do ridiculous maneuvers with a helicopter. Definitely one for Creator/HarrisonFord's role as [[Franchise/StarWars Han Solo.]]
** Ford [[DangerTakesABackseat hiding in the back seat]] of a truck with [[IncrediblyLamePun FORD]] spelled out in big capital letters in front. Also [[spoiler:the GunshipRescue he pulls off in the final battle]] is no doubt a reference to [[StarWars Han Solo]], complete with [[spoiler:making his entrance by blowing up an enemy chopper]]. Ford is also a certified fixed-wing and helicopter pilot in real life.
** Barney picks Smilee for the team even though Smilee lost the cage fight. [[Film/{{Rocky}} So did Rocky, way back when.]]
** When Billy runs straight up the mountainside the whole team looks on in awe, with Gunnar in particular being impressed. Lee asks Barney if he could remember when he could do that and Barney says he can't. Sylvester Stallone's [[Franchise/{{Rocky}} most famous character]] has a penchant for running triumphantly up tall inclines and in one instance ran up a mountain as preparation for kicking Creator/{{Dolph Lundgren}}'s ass.
** Galgo is a member of the Spanish Legion, which Creator/AntonioBanderas was made an honorary member of a year before the film's production. He also goes briefly GunsAkimbo, which Banderas had experience with in ''Film/{{Desperado}}'', while him hitting on Luna in a [[ChewingTheScenery rather overblown fashion]] may remind some of ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots''.
** Bonaparte's (Creator/KelseyGrammer) [[CelebrityParadox favorite show]] is ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
** Creator/BrianTyler's score sounds a lot like the ''Film/{{Rambo}}'' theme during the end credits.
** In one of Luna's first fights she gets a man in an arm bar and breaks his arm. This is pretty much Creator/RondaRousey's FinishingMove in her RealLife [=MMA=] career.
** When Bonaparte and Barney watch Thorn scaling a sheer cliff, Barney immediately remarks [[Film/{{Cliffhanger}} "I could do that."]]

* FatalMethodActing: Almost. While shooting the secene of the truck, brakes failed and the vehicle fell into the sea with Jason Statham inside. Luckily, Statham is a trained diver and managed to get out and reach the surface.
* HarpoDoesSomethingFunny: Stallone told Creator/AntonioBanderas to "forget he was an actor" and expressly made him behave the craziest way possible. The results were awesome.
* OldShame: Stallone regretted making the film PG-13, believing it was "a horrible miscalculation", and assured it woul never happen again in the franchise.

** Doc, much like his actor Wesley Snipes, is initially prevented from working with the Expendables due to a prison sentence.

** Mickey Rourke was set to return as Tool, but scheduling problems made it impossible, so the character of Bonaparte was created to replace him. Creator/NicolasCage (who almost appeared in the second film) was considered for this role before it settled down in Kelsey Grammer.
** The character of Stonebanks was written for Mel Gibson, but he initially declined and the producers offered the role to Creator/JackNicholson. It was all scrapped when Gibson changed his mind and took it.

** Possible case in that Barney's speech following [[spoiler: Billy]]'s death could also apply to the death of Stallone's son in RealLife:
-->'''Barney Ross:''' Why is it the ones who deserve to live, that want to live the most, die - and the ones that don't deserve to live, keep on going?

* IKnewIt: Let's see. In the film we get this [[RedShirt new guy]], who is full of energy and good spirit, and lastly mentions [[{{Retirony}} is planning on leaving after finishing the month]]. What fan of action movies didn't immediately guess he was going to be killed? Considering the audience these films are made for, [[IntendedAudienceReaction that may have been the point]].

** Arnold also says [[Film/{{Commando}} "I lied"]] to Creator/SylversterStallone's character.

** Barney picks Smilee for the team even though Smilee lost the cage fight. [[{{Film/Rocky}} So did Rocky, way back when.]]
** When Billy runs straight up the mountainside the whole team looks on in awe, with Gunnar in particular being impressed. Lee asks Barney if he could remember when he could do that and Barney says he can't. Sylvester Stallone's [[{{Franchise/Rocky}} most famous character]] has a penchant for running triumphantly up tall inclines and in one instance ran up a mountain as preparation for kicking Creator/{{Dolph Lundgren}}'s ass.
** Galgo is a member of the Spanish Legion, which Creator/AntonioBanderas was made an honorary member of a year before the film's production. He also goes briefly GunsAkimbo, which Banderas had experience with in ''{{Film/Desperado}}'', while him hitting on Luna in a [[ChewingTheScenery rather overblown fashion]] may remind some of ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots''.

** Creator/BrianTyler's score sounds a lot like the ''{{Film/Rambo}}'' theme during the end credits.

--->'''Trench:''' Good morning... LET'S GET TO ZE CHOPPA!
** Arnold also says [[Film/{{Commando}} "I lied."]]

* HarpoDoesSomethingFunny: Stallone told Creator/AntonioBanderas to "forget he was an actor" and expressly made him act the craziest way possible. The results were awesome.
* IKnewIt: Lets see. In the film we get this [[RedShirt new guy]], who is full of energy and good spirit, and lastly mentions [[{{Retirony}} is planning on leaving after finishing the month]]. What fan of Action Movies didn't immediately guess he was going to be killed? Considering the audience these films are made for, [[IntendedAudienceReaction that may have been the point]].

** Mickey Rourke was set to return as Tool, but scheduling problems made it impossible and the character of Bonaparte was created to replace him. Creator/NicolasCage (who almost appeared in the second film) was considered for this role before it settled down in Kelsey Grammer.

** Creator/StevenSeagal was offered an apparition for the third time (he was also offered it in the first and second movies), but he refused again.

** BruceWillis was getting paid $3 million for three days worth of work on the film. [[WagTheDirector Out of nowhere he demanded $4 million]] and Stallone refused to pay. Within 36 hours he reached out to Creator/HarrisonFord as a replacement and he immediately agreed to take the part.

* IKnewIt: Lets see. In the film we get this [[RedShirt new guy]], who is full of energy and good spirit, and lastly mentions [[{{Retirony}} is planning on leaving after finishing the month]]. What GenreSavvy fan of Action Movies didn't immediately guess he was going to be killed? Considering the audience these films are made for, [[IntendedAudienceReaction that may have been the point]].

* IKnewIt: Lets see. In the film we get this [[RedShirt new guy]], [[OneOfTheseThingsIsNotLikeTheOthers who is full of energy and good spirit]], and lastly mentions [[{{Retirony}} is planning on leaving after finishing the month]]. What GenreSavvy fan of Action Movies didn't immediately guess he was going to be killed? Considering the audience these films are made for, [[IntendedAudienceReaction that may have been the point]].

** BruceWillis was getting paid $3 million for three days worth of work on the film. [[WagTheDirector Out of nowhere he demanded $4 million]] and Stallone refused to pay. Within 36 hours he reached out to HarrisonFord as a replacement and he immediately agreed to take the part.

** WhatCouldHaveBeen:
*** Mickey Rourke was set to return as Tool, but scheduling problems made it impossible and the character of Bonaparte was created to replace him. Creator/NicolasCage (who was first considered for the second film of the franchise) was considered for this role before it settled down in Kelsey Grammer.
*** The character of Stonebanks was written for Mel Gibson, but he initially declined, so the producers offered the role to Creator/JackNicholson. It was scrapped when Gibson changed his mind.
*** A character originally created by Stallone for the second film and written for Creator/CharlieSheen was slated to replace Church in this installment, but it was scrapped again from the script.
*** Galgo could have been played by Creator/DannyTrejo.
*** Creator/StevenSeagal was offered an apparition for the third time (he was also offered it in the first and second movies), but he refused again.
*** Creator/ClintEastwood, Creator/JackieChan (for a second time, as he was also in talks with the second film) and Creator/MillaJovovich were considered for the movie.

* FathalMethodActing: Almost. While shooting the secene of the truck, brakes failed and the vehicle fell into the sea with Jason Statham inside. Luckily, Statham is a trained diver and managed to get out and reach the surface.

*** Creator/NicolasCage was considered for the role of Bonaparte. Similarly, Galgo could have been played by Creator/DannyTrejo.
*** Creator/StevenSeagal was offered an apparition for the third time (he was also offered it in the first and second movies), but he declined again.
*** Creator/ClintEastwood, Creator/JackieChan (for the second time, as he was also in talks with the second film) and Creator/MillaJovovich were considered for the movie.

** Doc quips that he was incarcerated for "Tax Evasion". Creator/WesleySnipes spent more than two years in prison for tax evasion.
** Stonebanks started out in the Australian special forces. Creator/MelGibson began his acting career in Australia.

--->'''Trench:''' Good morning... LET'S GET TO THE CHOPPER!

** Galgo briefly goes GunsAkimbo, which Creator/AntonioBanderas had experience with in ''{{Film/Desperado}}''.

** Doc quips that he was incarcerated for "Tax Evasion". Wesley Snipes spent more than two years in prison for tax evasion.
** Stonebanks started out in the Australian special forces. Mel Gibson began his acting career in Australia.