The Expendables 3 cast lived up to their image, lifting weights on set between takes when they were filming the second sequel to The Expendables. The all-star cast for the movie was formed out of some of the most legendary action stars in the history of cinema. They all presented a very machismo image, so it should come as little surprise that they kept up their fitness routines while waiting to shoot scenes on set.
The cast was led by Sylvester Stallone, known for his various athletic roles, including boxer Rocky Balboa. Other notable cast members included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Randy Couture, the latter being best known for being a three-time UFC heavyweight champion. When Ronda Rousey joined the cast of The Expendables 3, it was one of the rare occasions where she wasn't necessarily going to be the fittest, most athletic person in the room.
Evidently, however, she still got to show off her workout chops with her castmates. According to ET Canada, Rousey discussed her experience on the set of the movie during an appearance on "Hot Ones" on Thursday. She stated that between takes, some members of the cast were literally lifting weights on the side. She said:
There were weights on set. They would literally be lifting weights and doing bands and curling things between takes. It was a cool ‘little boys club’ to be a part of and I quite enjoyed everybody, I miss [the cast].
The work ethic Rousey saw on the set of The Expendables 3 from people she referred to as "mentor-like" has continued to pay off as she's transitioned away from fighting and more towards entertainment. The 2014 film was her first movie role, but she has since appeared in several films, including Furious 7 and Mile 22. She also performed as a regular in the WWE for a couple of years, although that run came to an end in the spring of 2019.
Sometimes, stories from productions that took place years in the past are negative, with actors or crew members bemoaning bad or unprofessional conditions. But in this case, it seems like the actors were staying in character, trying to keep up their vigorous work routines in the small moments between shots, lending to a sense of camaraderie. Sadly, the future of the franchise is in question, so there may not be any more great stories like this out of The Expendables. If there are more films in the series, hopefully, there will also be more great anecdotes from the set like there were for The Expendables 3.
Source: ET Canada