Stallone said on Tuesday that Bruce Willis had dropped out of the upcoming 3rd “The Expendables” film for being too “greedy and lazy”. Now, details have emerged regarding what that meant. A source says the reason was over Willis’ compensation. The actor was only required for four days of consecutive work on location in Bulgaria for the film. For that, Stallone offered him $3 million. Willis responded he’d drop out unless he got $4 million (ie. a million dollars a day). Stallone and everybody else involved then said “No.” Source also says: “I think [Willis] was pretty surprised he was replaced in 72 hours by Harrison Ford — a better actor, a much nicer person and a more interesting direction for the film.”
Sylvester Stallone let the world know Tuesday that Bruce Willis was out of the upcoming The Expendables 3 for being “greedy and lazy,” and it seems that laziness was not the primary issue.
Stallone raised eyebrows in Hollywood by tweeting “WILLIS OUT . . . HARRISON FORD IN!!!! GREAT NEWS!!!!! Been waiting years for this!!!!,” then following up with a second tweet reading “GREEDY AND LAZY . . . A SURE FORMULA FOR CAREER FAILURE.”
A source with knowledge of the situation says the fallout was over a specific money demand. Willis was offered $3 million for four days of consecutive work on location in Bulgaria for the film. “He said he’d drop out unless he got $4 million,” this source close to the production says. “A million dollars a day. Stallone and everybody else involved said no.”
Stallone then quickly reached out to Ford, who was game to join the Expendables cast.
The insider adds, “I think [Willis] was pretty surprised he was replaced in 72 hours by Harrison Ford— a better actor, a much nicer person and a more interesting direction for the film.”
Willis’ reps at CAA declined to comment.