Action star Sylvester Stallone joked that film fans could get a role in a future Expendables film as the third instalment had its world premiere in London on Monday night.
Hundreds of fans, some from South Africa and Venezuela, waited for hours outside the Odeon Leicester Square to meet cast members such as Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas and Kellan Lutz, who did not disappoint and took time to sign autographs and pose for photos.
The premiere was a family affair for Stallone, 68, who was accompanied by his wife Jennifer Flavin and their three daughters − Sistine, Sophia and Scarlet.
“They’re just here to see Kellan. Can you blame them?” he joked about his daughters.
The Oscar-nominated actor, who reprises his role as Expendables leader Barney Ross, also said: “I’d like to do Expendables 5 with everyone here. Keep your calendars open because I could be knocking on your door.”
Statham, who returns as Barney’s right-hand man Lee Christmas, said the massive cast amps up the third film from the previous instalments.
“The cast speaks for itself. Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, the list goes on,” he said. “It’s hard to put that all on screen but Sly has a unique way of doing it.”
The third film, with the tagline “New team, new attitude, new film”, sees the Expendables passing the torch on to a new generation of action stars including Twilight hunk Lutz, boxing champion Victor Ortiz and MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter Ronda Rousey.
Lutz, best known for playing vampire Emmett Cullen in the Twilight films, said: “Working with all the heroes you grew up watching, I loved it. Sly really took me under his wing and said, ‘Just have fun’.”
Statham added of the newcomers: “These are the best fighters in the world − that’s part of the requirement to get a job with Sly.”
Snipes, who got the biggest cheers for making his big-screen comeback in this film from the crowd, said making it was a “blast”. And he joked about his character Doc Death having a love scene in the next movie.
“But not with the Expendables though − that would be too kinky,” he added.