Author: Mr Bang

  • Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft signed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

    Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft signed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

    Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft siɢɴed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

    Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft siɢɴed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

     

    In a surprising turn of events, global pop sensation Taylor Swift has signed a two-year contract worth $3.7 million with none other than Travis Kelce’s four-year-old niece.

     

    Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft siɢɴed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

    The deal comes after the young girl showcased her impressive singing talents by belting out one of Swift’s hit songs during a family gathering.

    The heartwarming video of the four-year-old’s rendition quickly caught Swift’s attention, prompting her to extend the lucrative offer.

    Under the terms of the contract, the young prodigy will join Swift’s music world for the next two years, where she will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects and potentially launch her own music career.

    Watch: Taʏlor Swɪft siɢɴed 2 years ᴄontract worth $3.7m with Travis Kelᴄe’s fouʀ-year-ᴏld nɪece in to her music world, afteʀ singɪng Taʏlor’s song

    Fans have been left stunned by the unexpected collaboration, with many praising Swift for recognizing and nurturing the talent of such a young performer.

    As anticipation builds for the young girl’s debut in the music industry, her newfound partnership with Swift serves as a testament to the power of talent and opportunity in the world of entertainment.

  • Taylor Swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love with ‘TRAVIS ‘and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craziness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

    Taylor Swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love with ‘TRAVIS ‘and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craziness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

    Taylor swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love with ‘TRAVIS ‘and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craziness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

    Taylor swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craz.iness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

     

    Travis Kelce thinks “cranky” NFL fans are finally coming around to his romance with Taylor Swift — despite incessantly complaining about it during the season.

     

    Taylor swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craz.iness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

    During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs star agreed with host Pat McAfee that a lot of people are starting to realize his relationship with Swift is actually the real deal.

    “At the beginning a lot of football people just thought it was fake,” McAfee explained. “Now I think people can’t help but realize that Travis is phenomenal at football — this guy is everything that we like in a football player — and he is in love!”

    “It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?” Kelce, 34, replied, noting that he and Swift, also 34, “are just two people in a relationship supporting each other and having fun with it.”

    Although Kelce only hinted at his love for Swift on the radio show, the couple was caught exchanging “I love you’s” following the Chiefs triumphant win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

    “We’re just two people in a relationship supporting each other..
    The pair has faced lots of backlash from football fans over the last couple months due to the amount of screen time Swift receives while at Kelce’s games — despite the “Cruel Summer” singer averaging less than 25 seconds on air per game.

    However, Kelce insists that he and Swift will continue to go about their relationship with as much normalcy as possible — regardless of people trying to make them the “enemy,”

    “We just have fun with it and we enjoy every single bit of it,” the tight end said. “I love it when Taylor comes and supports me and enjoys the game with the fam and friends. It’s been nothing but a wonderful year.”

    Taylor swift hits back at critics : I’m in Love and I don’t care what you think , Love doesn’t care about your opinion . Stop the criticism I am no match to your Craz.iness as Travis and Jason Kelce defends her

    Swift — who started dating the NFL star over the summer — has attended 12 of Kelce’s game this season, often rocking up to the stadium alongside his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, and his closest childhood friends.

    She also recently met the two-time Super Bowl champion’s older brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Kylie Kelce, at one of Travis’ games earlier this month.

    The group is expected to get together again on Feb. 11 to cheer on the Chiefs as they face off against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl — despite Swift having a concert across the globe the night before.

    Although the Super Bowl is nearly two weeks away, there has already been grumbling from some NFL fans about Swift’s presence at the game — yet Travis also noted that getting “hate” is nothing new for Swift, who has “dealt with it forever.”

    “We hear it but we hardly ever talk about it,” he said of the criticism. “Its nothing to even talk about — nothing to bring up.”

    Although the pair don’t give the negative attention much thought, Travis admitted elsewhere in the episode that the extra media scrutiny has been a “brand new” experience for him.

    “From having the paparazzi follow me every single day into work to everybody having my name on their talk show every single day whether it’s sports whether it’s not sports,” he explained. “You know it’s just been a crazy, crazy ride I could have never anticipated.”

    “But I’m having fun with it — the majority of the world is having fun with it — outside the cranky NFL fans that just don’t want to see the Chiefs win… but we are slowly reeling them in.”

  • Fans Concerned After Travis Kelce’s Mom Admits The Shocking Reason He Used To Yell At Her.

    Fans Concerned After Travis Kelce’s Mom Admits The Shocking Reason He Used To Yell At Her.

    Fans Concerned After Travis Kelce’s Mom Admits The Shocking Reason He Used To Yell At Her

    Travis had a bad habit of getting angry at his mom during the holidays, which some fans think is another warning sign Taylor shouldn’t ignore.

    Travis Kelce at a Netflix premiereVia: Instar 

    Taylor Swift seems head-over-heels for Travis Kelce, as they haven’t been afraid to flaunt their affection for each other in recent months. But the singer has been warned about the athlete on several occasions, and now comments made by Travis’ mom have fans raising their eyebrows.

    Donna Kelce gave an exclusive interview to PEOPLE Magazine where she discussed what it’s like being the mom of two famous NFL stars – Jason Kelce, center for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas Chiefs.

    Taylor Swift has been happily dating Travis Kelce for the last several weeks, but before him she had plenty of older boyfriends.

    Travis Used To Yell At His Mom During The Holidays

    Travis Kelce wearing a colorful shirtVia: Instar 

    Donna explained that her family is very close, especially since her brother and husband’s sister didn’t have any kids, making Jason and Travis the only grandkids of the family.
    “We’re very, very small. We’re tight-knit,” Donna explained. “We stay together and try to help each other as much as we can.”
    However, it appears Jason and Travis didn’t enjoy being the only kids in the family. Donna went on to admit her sons would get angry at her during the holidays since there wasn’t anyone their age they could play and interact with.

    “Growing up they used to yell at me because they didn’t have any cousins to play with on Christmas,” the football mom went on.

    However, Donna said the conflict didn’t hurt their relationship in the long-run, noting that her family has always been very loyal to one another. “We stay together and try to help each other as much as we can,” she explained.

    2:05

    Travis kelce partying and getting off private jet Despite making millions, NFL superstar Travis Kelce almost went broke due to his extreme overspending.

    Donna has become a fixture at her sons’ football games, and so has Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce. Now, Taylor has also become a regular at Travis’ games, often seen in the audience alongside his family. The singer has also brought a variety of famous faces to the games (including Blake Lively and Sophie Turner), and her own family has even accompanied her to some of the sporting events, showing how close Taylor is becoming to the Kelces.

    Taylor Has Been Warned About Travis’ Intentions

    Taylor SwiftVia Instar 

    Donna’s comments about Travis’ habit of yelling at her on Christmas may seem innocent, but it’s not sitting right with all fans, as some Swifties are growing increasingly suspicious of Travis.

    For one, the NFL star’s past comments have come back to haunt him given the newfound publicity around his personal life. Not long before he started dating Taylor, Travis said on his New Heights podcast he wanted to find a “breeder” to have kids with to win his mother’s affection (Travis alleged his mom gives Jason more attention because he has kids).

    Even more telling, Travis’ ex-girlfriend gave a public warning to Taylor while speaking to Daily Mail, claiming he has a history of cheating and may only be dating the singer for clout.

    There’s also been speculation that Taylor’s inner circle is suspicious of Travis. One report claimed Selena Gomez has cautioned Taylor about his intentions, though any concern expressed by loved ones hasn’t appeared to dissuade Taylor from showcasing her new relationship in public.

  • Travis Kelce ‘gave Taylor Swift thousands of dollars worth of Valentine’s Day gifts when she came to Australia for her Eras Tour… what made him spend so much?.

    Travis Kelce ‘gave Taylor Swift thousands of dollars worth of Valentine’s Day gifts when she came to Australia for her Eras Tour… what made him spend so much?.

    Travis Kelce ‘treated Taylor Swift to $14,000 worth of Valentine’s Day gifts as she landed in Australia for her Eras Tour… including 250 Eternity roses and a $5,000 hand-bag’

    After she travelled 5,000 miles across the world to cheer him on at the Super BowlTravis Kelce made sure to pull out all the stops for Taylor Swift on Valentine’s Day.

    Swift embarked on a mad rush from Tokyo to Las Vegas last weekend for Super Bowl LVIII, where Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs prevailed in a thriller against the San Francisco 49ers.

    Following an epic party in Vegas to toast the Chiefs’ victory, the pop megastar waved goodbye to Travis again and headed off on another long trip to Melbourne, Australia, for the next leg of her Eras Tour.

    And according to The US Sun, Swift was greeted by a number of lavish Valentine’s Day gifts from Kelce when she arrived in Australia this week.

    The Kansas City tight end is said to have spent close to $14,000 on presents for his girlfriend, who was getting herself back into work mode when she received the Valentine’s surprise.

    Travis Kelce reportedly spent almost $14,000 on Valentine's Day gifts for Taylor Swift
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    Travis Kelce reportedly spent almost $14,000 on Valentine’s Day gifts for Taylor Swift

    Swift jetted from Tokyo to Las Vegas last weekend to watch Kelce win the Super Bowl
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    Swift jetted from Tokyo to Las Vegas last weekend to watch Kelce win the Super Bowl

    She then headed on another long trip to Australia to kickstart the next leg of her Eras Tour
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    She then headed on another long trip to Australia to kickstart the next leg of her Eras Tour

    Kelce treated her to a series of expensive gifts, including $2,100 worth of Eternity roses
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    Kelce treated her to a series of expensive gifts, including $2,100 worth of Eternity roses

    He is also said to have spent $3,100 on a rose sculpture from top-end design company Perigold
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    He is also said to have spent $3,100 on a rose sculpture from top-end design company PerigoldHe reportedly spent $2,100 on an arrangement of 250 ‘Eternity’ roses, which can last as long as a whole year if treated properly.

    The stunning roses are also arranged in a ‘Parisian-inspired Hat Box’ which is described as being ‘a sweeping gesture of love and luxury that serves as an ideal gift for your Eternal Love’.

    Roughly six hours after the roses arrived, Swift was then treated to another $2,100 set of flowers, this time receiving a ‘vibrant hot pink arrangement’.

    And they were soon followed by a luxury $3,100 rose sculpture from top-end design company Perigold.

    The sculpture is described as a ‘graceful’ flower which ‘crystallizes a message of infinite love’ and ‘conveys an unforgettable emotion.’

    A source is quoted as saying: ‘Travis knows what she likes and is always wanting to send her lots of nice flowers. Taylor can have the little rose sculpture with her all the time.’

    Nevertheless, the gifts didn’t stop there for Swift as she prepared to kickstart her round of Eras Tour concerts Down Under, with Kelce also throwing in a $1,100 black lambskin Dior beret.

    The beret will serve as ideal attire for Taylor when her and Travis head to Paris on one of their rumored European getaways over the summer, with trips to London and Milan also booked.

    Other gifts from Kelce for the pop megastar included a a $1,100 black lambskin Dior beret
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    Other gifts from Kelce for the pop megastar included a a $1,100 black lambskin Dior beret

    He also bought his girlfriend a swanky $5,100 hand-bag from Italian designers Bottega Veneta
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    He also bought his girlfriend a swanky $5,100 hand-bag from Italian designers Bottega Veneta

    Swift was at Allegiant Stadium to watch Kelce and the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers
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    Swift was at Allegiant Stadium to watch Kelce and the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers

    The loved-up couple then partied the night away in Vegas with a number of celebrity friends
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    The loved-up couple then partied the night away in Vegas with a number of celebrity friends

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce kiss at the Super Bowl afterparty

    And she will also be able to accompany it with a swanky $5,100 hand-bag from Italian designers Bottega Veneta and a wide-brimmed Celine straw hat, which completed Kelce’s expensive layout on Valentine’s Day gifts for his lover.

    The NFL star is understood to be planning on joining Swift out in Australia as she continues her Eras Tour, after dropping a huge hint that he would ‘venture to an island real soon’ on his New Heights podcast.

    Kelce, who was spotted by Dailymail.com at a Kansas City restaurant earlier this week, told brother Jason: ‘I am about to go f***in’ venture myself over to an island here soon.

    ‘I don’t know… I think the best ones are south right now so I’m going to go south.’

    He added that next week’s podcast is a pre-recorded guest episode which he is not featured in, which led fans to believe he would join his girlfriend in Sydney from February 23 – and maybe travel with her to Singapore for her shows in the first week of March.

    Kelce has drawn criticism from a number of angles over the past week, firstly after he was seen shoving and shouting at Kansas City head coach Andy Reid on the sidelines during last weekend’s Super Bowl.

    Kelce has so far not joined Swift in Australia, but he recently hinted that he could do so
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    Kelce has so far not joined Swift in Australia, but he recently hinted that he could do so

    The Chiefs star recently caused outrage after smiling for a selfie after the Kansas City shooting
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    The Chiefs star recently caused outrage after smiling for a selfie after the Kansas City shooting

    Travis Kelce hammered while singing ‘Low Places’ by Garth Brooks

    A boozy Travis could then barely speak at the Chiefs’ victory parade back in KC on Wednesday, with his teammates forced to hold him up on stage as the celebrations took their toll.

    And after that parade descended into tragedy when gunmen opened fire, killing one and leaving 22 injured, the tight end was one of several Chiefs players who headed out to a restaurant later that evening.

    Kelce was even seen smiling for a selfie with some cops outside the restaurant despite the deadly shooting earlier in the day, leading to concerns from Swift’s legion of fans.

  • Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley enjoy a night of family fun on the bumper cars with their kids at Winter Wonderland

    Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley enjoy a night of family fun on the bumper cars with their kids at Winter Wonderland

    Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiancé Jason Statham enjoyed a family night with their children at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland in London on Thursday.

    The A-list couple attended the press night for the Christmas spectacular and could be seen having a whale of a time on the bumper cars with their son Jack, five.

    The Fast and Furious star Jason, 56, who plays Deckard Shaw in the franchise, took things down a pace as he swapped a supercar for a dodgem.

    Rosie, who looked cosy in a woolly hat and coat, was joined in her car by a young girl, while Jason was accompanied by little Jack.

    The group seemed to be having a blast as their electric cars crashed into each other, leaving the children squealing with delight.
    Letting loose! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiancé Jason Statham enjoyed a family night with their children at Hyde Park ‘s Winter Wonderland in London on Thursday

    Walking in a Winter Wonderland! The A-list couple attended the press night for the Christmas spectacular and could be seen having a whale of a time on the bumper cars with their son Jack, five
    Model Rosie, 36, flashed a beaming smile as she played passenger, while the younger girl steered the vehicle around the floor.

    Jason, who was wrapped up in a grey hat and coat, was the driver in his car, while his little boy also sweetly held onto the steering wheel.

    The couple, who got engaged in 2016, appeared to be joined by some other friends as they all let loose on the dodgems.

    The family later headed to one of the park’s stalls where they browsed the novelty lights beloved by children.

    It was revealed in September by DailyMail.com that Rosie and Jason have no plans to tie the knot anytime soon.

    They have been together since 2010, and despite getting engaged and welcoming two children, they don’t feel the need to take their relationship a step further just yet.

    According to a source close to the couple, they are on the ‘same page’ when it comes to their relationship – despite a notable age difference.

    The source said: ‘Jason might be 20 years older than Rosie but they are on the same page with each other in so many aspects of their lives.’

    ‘Their love for each other, and their children is incredibly reassuring and something their friends look up to.’
    Hands on dad: Jason, who was wrapped up in a grey hat and coat, was the driver in his car, while his little boy also sweetly held onto the steering wheel
    Watch out! The group seemed to be having a blast as their electric cars crashed into each other, leaving the children squealing with delight
    Winter chic: Rosie, who looked cosy in a woolly hat and coat, was joined in her car by a young girl, while Jason was accompanied by little Jack
    This way! Jason let his son take the wheel as they rode around the dodgem floor
    Game on: The couple, who got engaged in 2016, appeared to be joined by some other friends as they all let loose on the dodgems
    This way! Fast and Furious star
    The lovebirds are notorious for not sharing much about their private lives – with Rosie only sharing glimpses of their children – Jack, six, and Isabella, one – occasionally on social media.

    However, the source adamantly said they ‘will’ get married one day, but there’s ‘no rush.’

    ‘They are also very private but Jason knows how lucky he is and loves the life he has; he is very happy,’ the source assured. ‘When it comes to them, they will get married eventually but they feel like they are already married and there is no rush.’

    They continued: ‘”If it isn’t broken, why fix it” is their overall mentality.’

    The source suggested the couple may even add to their brood rather than plan a wedding.

    ‘And as it comes to their kids, their kids are still very young and their thoughts on expanding their family being such a very plausible thing, they might wait to have a wedding once their kids get older so they can enjoy it themselves,’ they explained.

    The source added their children may be the ones to eventually push them into a wedding.

    ‘They both anticipate that their kids will ask them to have one in the future and if that happens, that would be the tipping point to actually have one,’ they explained.

    ‘Their relationship is great though, so nobody should worry about their future, married or not.’

    And it seems that marriage has never been on the forefront of the couple’s mind, telling ET in 2018 when their son was born, the wedding wasn’t a ‘huge priority.’

    ‘We’re looking forward to that time. It’s also not a huge priority for us; we’re so happy,’ she said.

    ‘I think it will be fun to do it when the baby’s grown up a bit and he can be involved in the wedding.’

    In August, Rosie shared some rare snaps of a family vacation to Portugal, giving some rare insight into her family life.

  • Megan Fox and Jason Statham Go Head to Head in Sexy First Clip from ‘Expend4bles’ (Exclusive)

    Megan Fox and Jason Statham Go Head to Head in Sexy First Clip from ‘Expend4bles’ (Exclusive)

    Megan Fox, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Andy Garcia join the fourth entry in the ‘Expendables’ franchise, in theaters Sept. 22

    Jason Statham and Megan Fox are turning up the heat in Expend4bles.

    On Thursday, Lionsgate shared a clip from the latest entry in the Expendables franchise exclusively with PEOPLE. The scene shows Fox, 37, as she joins the franchise as Gina with a steamy introduction alongside returning star Statham, 56, as Lee Christmas.

    In the clip, Lee tells Gina he wants to join her on a mission she is embarking on. When Gina tells him he is not invited, Lee asks if she will miss him while she’s away.

    “No. There’s lots of other boys on the mission,” she says, leading Lee to try and walk away with a document of hers. After Gina says she is “not in the mood,” Lee offers to play a Jimi Hendrix song and grabs her, initiating some choreography that falls somewhere between a fight and foreplay.

    Statham and Fox’s characters wrestle around their home and trade verbal barbs at each other, eventually crashing through two double doors and into a bathroom.

    Megan Fox and Jason Statham Get Steamy in Action-Packed ‘Expend4bles’ Trailer

     

    LIONSGATE

    Statham’s character winds up on top, but when he notices some lingerie hanging from another door, he suggests the two take their evening to a more romantic place.

    Fox joins the fourth Expendables movie along with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Andy Garcia. Series favorites Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Sylvester Stallone return for the new movie, which pits the crew against a new villain, portrayed by Iko Uwais.

    Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

    Megan Fox and Jason Statham in ‘Expend4bles’.LIONSGATE

    “Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table,” reads a synopsis for the film.

    “But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give ‘new blood’ a whole new meaning.”

    Tony Jaa, Jacob Scipio and Levy Tran also star in the movie. A trailer for the film released in June teased 77-year-old Stallone’s character Barney Ross recruiting Lee for yet another world-saving adventure.

    Expend4bles is in theaters Sept. 22.

  • Jason Statham Gets Brutally Honest About Sylvester Stallone’s Small Role in Expend4bles

    Jason Statham Gets Brutally Honest About Sylvester Stallone’s Small Role in Expend4bles

    It seems that Sylvester Stallone’s lack of involvement in The Expend4bles was noticeable on set as much as in the final movie.

    expendables-stallone-statham-1Lionsgate

    Warning: This articles includes spoilers for The Expend4bles.

    SUMMARY

     Sylvester Stallone’s limited involvement in The Expend4bles is questioned, with critics citing it as a reason for the film’s poor performance and low box office numbers.
     The absence of Stallone on set doesn’t feel right to Jason Statham, who believes the best days are when Stallone is present.
     The lack of Stallone’s involvement seems to have had an impact on both the final product and the morale of the other cast members, potentially leading to the downfall of the franchise.

    Sylvester Stallone has been the driving force behind The Expendables franchise – from its original selling point of bringing together the biggest names in action movie history, to being the screenwriter on the first three movies and directing the original film way back in 2010. If the old guard seemed a bit past it in their first outing, then the biggest wonder is perhaps how they made it to a fourth installment 13 years later. Perhaps that is partly why Stallone felt this time around he would only have a limited role to play, and according to Jason Statham that just didn’t feel right.

    The Expend4bles is currently dragging the franchise through the mud, over rocky ground and any other metaphor you can think of, with a catastrophic 16% Rotten Tomatoes score and a box office that is barely scraping into double figures. How much of that is down to the lack of involvement by Stallone is questionable, but one thing for certain is that the man who the Rocky star put in charge of the movie this time around has his own feelings on the matter. Speaking candidly to Cinema Express, Jason Statham shared his thoughts about Stallone’s absence from most of the movie. He said:
    “In this particular story, he is absent for reasons we don’t talk about, we have to guide ourselves through the ocean without him. There is something about not having him around that doesn’t feel right. So, we are getting through, the story is the story, we are trying to do our best, but the best days are when he is on set.”

    Stallone Makes The Expendables Work.

    Expendables 4 Lionsgate 

    The old adage of “if it ain’t broke” is one that seems to ring true of The Expend4bles current predicament. While The Expendables movies have always had their fair share of brutal reviews from those who are more interesting in an intellectual movie that just watching things being blown up, none have been as badly received as this fourth outing. The one big difference this time? A limited screen time from Stallone, and no involvement from him in either the story, screenplay or behind the camera.

    Although one man cannot be held responsible for the success of an entire movie, in this case it certainly does seem to have had an impact, not only with the final product, but clearly with the other cast members as well. Although there is a reason for Stallone’s early departure from proceedings – which involves his character of Barney Ross faking his own death only to return in the movie’s finale – the reported “creative differences” that saw Stallone originally duck out of the movie and then return in his limited capacity looks to have been the undoing of this action blockbuster.

    Whether there will be another outing for The Expendables in the future, as Stallone has already confirmed he will not be back for more, seems to be reliant on the performance of The Expend4bles. With a reported budget north of $100 million to recoup, and just $10 million taken in its opening weekend, this could end up being the swan song of the franchise rather than just Stallone’s Barney Ross.

  • Jason Statham Turned Down or Didn’t Get These Ten Important Roles

    Jason Statham Turned Down or Didn’t Get These Ten Important Roles

    Jason Statham has been kicking butts and taking names on the big screen for nearly two decades. Before he became an actor, Statham was a martial arts practitioner, accomplished diver (he competed for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games), and a high-profile sports model. His physical prowess and no-nonsense attitude paved the way for his Hollywood debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, which he followed up with another Ritchie team-up for the 2000 crime flick, Snatch.

    Statham has gone on to solidify his staying power as an action-centric A-lister by becoming a Hollywood franchise magnet. From taking down hosts of baddies in The Transporter series to, well, also taking down hosts of baddies in The Expendables movies, Statham has demonstrated his chops as an action hero time and time again. Despite his proven abilities on the big screen, not every role was meant to be for Statham. Here are 10 movie roles that Jason Statham turned down or didn’t get.

    Desolation Williams – Ghosts of Mars (2001)

     

    Written and directed by John Carpenter, Ghosts of Mars is about a convicted criminal named James “Desolation” Williams, who teams up with a police squad to fight the possessed citizens of a mining planet. Given Statham’s early credibility as a charming antihero in his two early outings with Ritchie, he was initially considered for the part of Williams.

    Ultimately, the film’s producers wanted an actor with a little more star power, so they chose former N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube for the role, who had already starred in Boyz in the Hood, Anaconda, and two Friday movies by this point. Statham, who must’ve still made quite an impression during his audition, was instead cast as Sergeant Jericho Butler in what would become his first foray into the action genre.

    Private Cooper – Dog Soldiers (2002)

    While it didn’t do gangbusters at the box office, the soliders-versus-werewolves flick Dog Soldiers became somewhat of a cult classic and was praised by critics and audience members for its fun take on the action horror genre. Statham was initially pegged for the role of Private Cooper, but he pulled out after getting the Ghosts of Mars gig and was eventually replaced by Kevin McKidd. In a 2020 interview with Den of Geek, Dog Soldiers writer and director Neil Marshall discussed why he had been interested in bringing Statham aboard.

    “I’d seen him in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and I thought this guy’s got real charisma, he’s going to be a star, he’d be great for Cooper,” Marshall said.

    When Statham eventually got offered the Ghosts of Mars role, Marshall ultimately gave Statham his blessing, saying, “You’ve got a chance to go and work with John Carpenter. Go and work with John Carpenter.” Statham followed Marshall’s advice, and went on to become an action icon.

    Agent 47 – Hitman (2007)

    Jason Statham may have vied for the main role in Hitman, but it was ultimately Timothy Olyphant who brought the video game assassin known as Agent 47 to the big screen. As it turns out, Statham’s future Fast & Furious co-star (and Hitman executive producer) Vin Diesel was initially cast in the role, but he dropped out to star in the Mathieu Kassovitz-directed sci-fi movie Babylon A.D.

    Hitman was universally panned by critics, and even Olyphant himself, who was replaced by Rupert Friend in the 2015 sequel Hitman: Agent 47. So, maybe it was for the best that Statham lost out on the role.

    Thomas Shelby – Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

    It’s hard to imagine anyone else besides Cillian Murphy playing gang leader Thomas Shelby in the BAFTA-winning crime drama series Peaky Blinders. But, showrunner Steven Knight actually nearly cast Jason Statham in the role.

    After meeting both actors in Los Angeles, Knight had initially wanted to go with Statham over Murphy, preferring Statham’s edgier appearance. Murphy wasn’t ready to lay down without a fight, though, and he pleaded his case by sending these four words to Knight via text: “Remember, I’m an actor.” The future Oppenheimer star had already proven his ability to take on transformative roles, and Knight eventually saw his point. The rest, as they say, is history.

    Owen Shaw – Fast & Furious Franchise (2013-2017)

    With two cameos and four major roles in the Fast & Furious franchise and the co-lead role in the Hobbs and Shaw spin-off, Jason Statham has become a mainstay in the series as ex-M16-turned-mercenary Deckard Shaw. Interestingly enough, Statham almost made his debut in the F&F franchise as Owen Shaw, Deckard’s villainous younger brother.

    Owen Shaw first appears on-screen in Fast & Furious 6 as the leader of a group of mercenaries bent on stealing high-tech devices to sell on the black market. While Statham and Dr. Who star David Tennant were initially considered for the role, Welsh actor Luke Evans eventually scored the part and turned in one of his best performances. Evans reprised Owen Shaw via cameo roles in Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious, while Statham made his first F&F appearance through a cameo of his own, appearing in an end-credits scene in the sixth installment as Owen’s vengeful kin.

    Frank Martin – The Transporter Refueled (2015)

    Despite seeing massive success as Frank Martin in the first three Transporter films, Jason Statham ended up backing out of the lead role in The Transporter Refueled. Statham’s refusal to sign on to the fourth film ultimately came down to a business decision, as producers wanted him to sign on for three additional Transporter films and allegedly offered him significantly less money.

    Ed Skrein, most known for his role as supervillain Ajax in Daredevil, took over where Statham left off and donned Frank Martin’s stylish suit. Unfortunately, the creative change didn’t do The Transporter Refueled any favors, as it was the most critically-panned installment in the franchise.

    Captain Britain – Captain America: Civil War (2016)

    When Marvel approached Jason Statham to play the role of Captain Britain in Captain America: Civil War, he apparently wasn’t quite so eager to jump into the MCU. In fact, he allegedly laughed off the idea of playing the United Kingdom’s Steve Rogers counterpart.

    According to Statham, it all came down to age. He was 47 at the time and thought that Marvel should go for someone at least 15 years younger. The powers that be ultimately scrapped the idea of introducing Captain Britain, but this wouldn’t be the last time that Statham would be considered for an MCU role.

    Bullseye – Daredevil (2018)

    Jason Statham’s bald head and intense demeanor may have been top of mind for Marvel Television execs when they reportedly courted him to play sadistic sharpshooter Bullseye for season two of Netflix’s Daredevil back in 2015. Rumored or not, any negotiations likely came to a halt after Statham lambasted Marvel movies in an interview that same year.

    “I could take my grandma, and put her in a cape and then put her in a green screen and then have stunt doubles come in and do all the action — anybody can do it,” Statham told Italian site I 400 Calci. “They’re relying on stunt doubles and green screen and $200 million budget. It’s all CGI-created. To me, that is not authentic.”

    Marvel held off on introducing Bullseye to the Daredevil series until season three, when Wilson Bethel joined the cast as Benjamin “Dex” Pointdexter, a psychopathic FBI agent who serves as a composite character of Bullseye and the supervillain, Nuke.

    SAS Commander Randolph – Daisy Scarlett: Semper Occultus

    Way back in 2004, Kate Beckinsale was in talks to play a super spy in the vein of Jason Bourne and James Bond in a movie tentatively titled Daisy Scarlett: Semper Occultus. Riding high from the early success of the Underworld franchise, Beckinsale had prime cache as a damage-dealing action star. Fellow ass-kickers Jason Statham and Jet Li were also attached to the film, with initial reports claiming that Statham would be playing a character named SAS Commander Randolph.

    Unfortunately, Daisy Scarlett was never made. Despite the film’s disappointing fate, 2004 was still a solid year for Statham, as he played a bit part in the Oscar-nominated Collateral and made his first villainous turn as a kidnapper in the action thriller Cellular.

    Unknown Marvel Movie

    Even after the previously failed negotiations with Statham, Marvel never gave up hope on his potential casting. While promoting Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that Statham had again been considered for an MCU role. While Feige didn’t mention the particular movie or role, he noted that Statham had scheduling conflicts, and despite his earlier comments disparaging Marvel movies, the actor seemed interested in another shot.

    “I was in another meeting a few days later, and my cellphone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it. And it was Jason Statham,” Feige recalled. “He was saying, ‘Sorry it didn’t work out, maybe next time.’ He couldn’t have been nicer!”

    Could we eventually see Jason Statham join the MCU?According to a 2022 rumor, he already has signed on and may be lined up to play superhero Union Jack in Captain America 4.

  • Dwayne Johnson donates ‘record’ seven-figure sum to SAG-AFTRA as Hollywood strike continues

    Dwayne Johnson donates ‘record’ seven-figure sum to SAG-AFTRA as Hollywood strike continues

    Dwayne Johnson has reportedly donated a “seven-figure” amount to The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) amid the actors union’s strike.

    Soon after the SAG-AFTRA leadership declared the union was going on strike, president Courtney B Vance and executive director Cyd Wilson sent out a letter to the union’s highest-earning actors.

    In the letter, Wilson and Vance highlighted the financial difficulty many people would face due to work stoppage during the strike.

     

    “We rely on donations and grants to provide services – we have been very fortunate that we raised enough money to be able to cover all of our programs,” Wilson told Variety.

    “But when we hit a crisis like this and we’re going to spend millions and millions of dollars in financial assistance, this is when we need our high profile talent who can afford it, who are in a situation to help others.”

    Wilson revealed that shortly after she and Vance sent out the letter, Johnson responded saying he wanted to help.

    “It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it’,” Vance said. “This is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a huge message to other folks to do the same thing.”

    The exact amount of Johnson’s donation hasn’t been revealed, however, a representative told HuffPost that the sum is a “seven-figure” amount.

    Wilson also told Variety that Johnson’s donation will likely help 7,000 to 10,000 members through the union’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program.

    “It is a call to arms for all of us to know that we just have to step up however you can,” Vance said. “Dwayne is letting everyone know, ‘I’m here. What are you going to do?’”

    The Independent has contacted Johnson’s representatives for comment.

    This month marked a historic shutdown for Hollywood as the actors’ guild members joined writers striking for a fairer deal. SAG-AFTRA’s strike comprising 150,000 television and movie actors began at midnight on 13 July.

    Meanwhile, members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been on strike since May.

    This is the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have picketed film and television production companies.

  • Dwayne Johnson fans stunned after actor crashes celebrity bus tour

    Dwayne Johnson fans stunned after actor crashes celebrity bus tour

    Dwayne Johnson fans stunned after actor crashes celebrity bus tour

     

    It’s not the first time the WWE star has pulled up on unsuspecting fans

    Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised fans on a celebrity homes tour for the second time in a month.

    On Instagram on Monday (25 September), the actor and WWE star, 51, filmed himself pulling up alongside a tour bus in Los Angeles. Numerous companies drive tourists around Beverly Hills and other affluent areas in the city, visiting the homes of famous inhabitants.

    “Hey, you guys know where I can find The Rock?” he asks the bus riders who immediately gasp and begin filming on their phones.

    After some fist-bumping and interacting, Johnson asks: “Alright, I got to ask, did he take you to my house yet?”

    “Not yet,” one of the tourists answers.

    “Alright good, keep it that way,” the star responds prompting laughter from the group.

    He captioned his post: “Hey I just wanna see the Rock [laughing crying face]. If you Hollywood visitors ever see a big ol’ pick up truck rolling up on your tour bus – don’t be afraid, it’s just the People’s Champ lookin’ for free tacos and having fun.

    “Enjoy my hood and stay away from my house.”

    He added: “This kinda stuff is always the best part of fame ~ lots of happy faces.”

    The Jumanji star posted a similar video on his account just weeks ago. In a video posted on 5 September, Johnson pulled up alongside another tour bus and snapped selfies with fans.

    “I’m like a big kid, I get so much joy outta these ‘holy s***’ moments and seeing my people’s faces,” he wrote in the caption that time.

    Back in November 2021, the Red Notice star presented tourists with a set of gifts that included a free Netflix subscription, his self-branded energy drinks and Tequila, an Xbox console and TV, as well as $500 (£370) cash.

    Throughout his career, Johnson has been known to use his celebrity status to inspire others and give back to those who have helped him along the way. Most recently, he launched a relief fund alongside Oprah Winfrey to aid local residents affected by the Lahaina wildfires that devastated large sections of Maui, Hawaii.

    He also donated a “record” seven-figure amount to the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) amid the actors union’s strike. Last month, Johnson gifted UFC prospect Themba Gorimbo a house after learning that the Zimbabwean fighter had just $7 in his bank account.