The high-profile duo have reportedly joined the cast of the action film, which will be directed by Need For Speed and Act of Valor filmmaker Scott Waugh — a veteran stunt performer and coordinator himself — from a script by Arash Amel (Erased). The film will be produced by Chan’s own production company, SR Media, as well as several other Chinese studios, and its $80 million budget will make it one of the most expensive films to come out of China.
Ex-Baghdad casts Chan as a private security contractor tasked with protecting a Chinese oil refinery in Mosul, Iraq. When the refinery is attacked, Chan’s character attempts to extract the facility’s staff, only to discover that the attackers intend to steal a massive amount of oil. He eventually teams up with a former Marine played by Stallone in order to stop the attackers’ plot and rescue the oil workers.
According to Deadline, Ex-Baghdad is the film that Stallone had planned to work on after deciding to exit The Expendables franchise that he created after three installments of the action series.
While Stallone is best known for his action roles, he’s also a three-time Academy Award nominee, with two nominations for 1977’s Rocky — for his lead actor performance and for the film’s screenplay, which he penned — and a nomination for 2015’s Creed for his supporting role in that film. Stallone most recently appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in a supporting role.
Chan, a multitalented stuntman, actor, singer, and martial artist, has appeared in over 150 films, and famously performed many of his own stunts in those films. One of the most popular Chinese actors of all time, Chan received an honorary Academy Award at this year’s ceremony for his prolific career and work both behind the camera and in front of it.
There’s no release date set for Ex-Baghdad at this point.
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