First Trailer Released for Lionsgate’s “Expend4ables,” Featuring Andy Garcia Among New Cast Additions

Andy Garcia is expendable

The first trailer for Lionsgate’s Expend4ables, which will see the 67-year-old Cuban actor joining the cast, has been released.

Andy Garcia“Terrorists have taken possession of nuclear missiles on a cargo ship off the coast,” warns Sylvester Stallone in the trailer. “If these babies go off, it’ll be World War III.”

The fourth title in the Expendables action franchise, which has grossed over $804M worldwide with past installments, Expend4ables reintroduces viewers to Barney Ross (Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) and Toll Road (Randy Couture), the elite mercenaries who together make up the team known as The Expendables.

Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, these four are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. The new film will see them engage with new team members with styles and tactics of their own that will give the expression “new blood” a whole new meaning.

In addition Garcia, others joining the franchise’s core four in the film are Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio and Levy Tran.

The film is slated for release on September 22nd.

Scott Waugh directed from a script by Kurt Wimmer & Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams, which was based on a story by Spenser Cohen and Wimmer & Daggerhart.

Eva Marie to Star in the Action-Thriller “Phoenix”

Natalie Eva Marie is headed to Phoenix

The half-Mexican American professional wrestler, WWE star, actress, fashion designer and model will star in the action-thriller Phoenix, from Tadross Media GroupBulldog Brothers Entertainment and director Daniel Zirilli.

Natalie Eva Marie

Eva Marie, as she’s known in the ring, will star alongside Randy Couture, Neal McDonough, former WWE tag team champion Oleg Prudius, Bai Lin and former UFC lightweight champion Rashad Evans in the film.

The film has entered production in Miami.

Phoenix centers on Fiona “Phoenix” Grant (Marie), a U.S. Army veteran sergeant who is teaching hand-to-hand combat skills in Afghanistan when she receives word that her father, Everett Grant (Couture), a prominent security specialist, has been killed in Florida. The police report says it was suicide, but Fiona doesn’t believe it. Encouraged to take a leave of absence by her commanding officer (McDonough), she heads back to the U.S. and soon learns that the prime suspect is Maxim Vasiliiev (Prudius), a ruthless local drug kingpin with an army of mercenaries and enough legal, political and business influence to keep him outside the law.  Armed to the teeth, she plans to take out Vasiliiev with her bare hands, and nothing is going to stop her.

Zirilli adapted the film from a story he wrote with Alexander Nistratov.

Eva Marie, who appeared in the reality series Total Divas, has appeared in Inconceivable and Hard Kill.

Glover Teixeira Becomes Oldest First-Time Champion in UFC History

Glover Teixeira has accomplished what many thought impossible.

The 42-year-old Brazilian-American mixed martial artist defeated Jan Blachowicz via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of the second round to win the UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday in the main event of UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.

Glover Teixeira

Teixeira was a +210 underdog, per Caesars Sportsbook.

At 42 years old, Teixeira is the oldest first-time champion in UFC history and the second-oldest fighter to win a UFC title, behind only Randy Couture.

Teixeira joins Couture and Daniel Cormier as only the third UFC fighter to win a title at age 40 or older.

The 14 UFC fights between Teixeira’s title loss to Jon Jones at UFC 172 on April 26, 2014, and Saturday, were the most between title shots in the same division in UFC history.

“Never give up on your dreams,” Teixeira said in his postfight interview. “No matter what people say, don’t listen to them. They’re gonna put you down. Don’t listen to those negative people. Believe in yourself.”

Teixeira took down Blachowicz in the first round and basically kept him there for the duration. In the second round, Blachowicz had success with his boxing. But Teixeira wobbled him with a left hook and then took him down again. This time, Teixeira was able to get mount, then take Blachowicz’s back and lock in the choke. “I’m breaking the rules — 42 years old,” Teixeira said. “I’m gonna keep breaking those rules.”

ESPN has Blachowicz ranked No. 5 in the world on its pound-for-pound MMA list. At light heavyweight, ESPN has Blachowicz ranked No. 1 and Teixeira at No. 2.

Teixeira (33-7) has won six straight and seven of his past eight, most recently before this weekend a third-round submission win over Thiago Santos in November 2020.

The Brazil native has 28 finishes in 33 career victories. Teixeira, a Connecticut resident, has been considered one of the top light heavyweights in the world for more than a decade, an incredible stretch of consistency and quality.

He has the most finishes (13) and submission victories (7) in UFC light heavyweight history. Teixeira’s 16 UFC light heavyweight wins are second most next to Jones (20).

“Glover Teixeira is and has been one of the toughest guys in the division for a very long time, this was his dream forever to get this title shot,” UFC president Dana White said. “He finally gets it and did it tonight.”

On Saturday, Teixeira said he would be returning to his childhood town of Sobralia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the UFC gold. “I told you guys I’m coming home with the belt,” Teixeira said. “And I am. The promise is done.”

“This guy never gave up,” White said. “All the adversity that he’s faced in his career and here at 42 years old, a few days after his birthday, he wins the title. It’s a pretty cool story. Couldn’t happen to a better guy, too.”

Danny Trejo to Star in “The Protector”

Danny Trejois protected

The 75-year-old Mexican American actor will star opposite Billy Zane, Randy Couture and James Russo in the action film The Protector from filmmaker Justin Lee.

Danny Trejo

Ed Morroneleading the film as protagonist Mickey Rome, an aging protection specialist who’s ready to holster his guns and head for retirement. When the agency he works for demands one last job be done, Mickey obliges and is sent to Central America to watch a husband and wife who have stolen $8m from a ruthless crime family.

Doctor Drew PinskyJohnny Messnerand Eddie Finlayare also part of the cast.

“This movie is a fun throwback to films from the ’80s like Lethal WeaponMidnight Run and 48 Hours. It has action. It has comedy. It has dark moments. It was such a joy to get to work in a space I love so much with phenomenal talent,” said director Lee.

Trejo, best known for his title role as Machetein the Robert Rodriguez-helmed films, has previously appeared in AnacondaCon AirGrindhouseand Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Alvarez to Fight Conor McGregor to Retain His UFC Lightweight Title

Eddie Alvarez is preparing for a highly anticipated Big Apple bout…

The 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican mixed martial artist and current UFC Lightweight Champion will face off against Conor McGregor in the lightweight championship headline UFC 205 bout on November 12 at Madison Square Garden.

Eddie Alvarez

UFC officials confirmed the 155-pound title fight to ESPN on Monday. The UFC 205 pay-per-view is historic because it marks the promotion’s first trip to New York since a 1997 ban on professional mixed martial arts was lifted earlier this year.

McGregor (20-3), the current featherweight champion, will attempt to join BJ Penn and Randy Couture as the only fighters in UFC history to win titles in multiple weight classes. Per UFC president Dana White, McGregor will retain his featherweight championship through UFC 205, meaning he has the chance to become the first ever to hold those belts simultaneously.

“This is the fight the fans wanted, and I’m excited that our very first event at Madison Square Garden will be headlined by Eddie Alvarez defending the lightweight title against Conor McGregor,” White told ESPN. “This card has three world title fights and is the best card in UFC history.”

Alvarez (28-4) won the title in a first-round knockout over Rafael dos Anjos in July. The Philadelphia native also has held a 155-pound title in Bellator MMA. Alvarez publicly campaigned for a fight against McGregor, even though White briefly targeted a bout between Alvarez and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Banderas & His “Expendables 3” Castmates to Storm the Cannes Film Festival

It appears Antonio Banderas will be expendable at this year’s Cannes Film Festival…

The 53-year-old and his Expendables 3 castmates will make an appearance on Sunday, May 18.

Expendables 3

It’s being heralded as “one of the greatest assemblages of international star power — and muscle— that Cannes has ever seen” by Deadline.com, with 13 members of the cast participating in a complete day of events.

In addition to Banderas, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Kelsey Grammer, Randy Couture, Kellan Lutz, Victor Ortiz and Glen Powell will take part in the day’s program, alongside director Patrick Hughes.

Millennium Films officials say the day will start with a screening of footage from the movie, followed by Banderas and the gang arriving at the Carlton Hotel for a press conference and photo call.

The actors will reportedly arrive in armored vehicles, with banners representing each of the characters adorning the façade of the hotel.

Later that evening, there will be a big soirée at the Palm Beach nightclub.

Expendables 3 will begin rolling out across the globe on August 13.