Stallone Blasts “Escape Plan 2,” Talks Up Third

By
Garth Franklin
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The action thriller “Escape Plan,” in which a structural engineer has to escape a hi-tech off the books prison, came and went in 2013. That re-teaming of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger scored mixed reviews and $137 million worldwide against a $54 million budget – not bad but not great.

Even so, the project was enough that Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Summit greenlit not one but two sequels, both with Stallone (no Arnie this time) and both released straight-to-disc in the United States.

The second one, “Escape Plan 2: Hades” co-starring Dave Bautista, was released a year ago this week to terrible reviews and a $16 million gross against a production budget of $20 million. The third, “Escape Plan: The Extractors,” arrives on Tuesday.

Now, in one of the more unusual ways to promote a film, Stallone has taken to Instagram to talk up the third film and at the same time trashed the second. In fact, Stallone dubs “Escape Plan 2” the “worst produced film I have ever had the misfortune to be in” whilst at the same time going into details about a fight scene in the third that he hopes people will appreciate for its authenticity.

“Escape Plan: The Extractors” hits home video and Digital HD on July 2nd:

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Here I am with my lifetime friend , and Director , JOHN HERZFELD , Who directed the upcoming film Escape Plan 3 – The Extractors ! Escape Plan 2 WAS TRULY THE MOST HORRIBLY PRODUCED FILM I have ever had the misfortune to be in , but this new film was made in an extraordinarily short amount of time , 17 nights , dusk till dawn , no breaks , we ate while we worked!!!! The Crew were under unbelievable pressure. . Proud of them! But I wanted this battle be as realistic as possible. I showed up on the site for the big final fight scene that takes place in a very very old cell that is 9‘ x 7 … they had spent all this time choreographing this Martial arts type of combat. I said forget it. Why don’t we go in there and just let it rip. Like a real fight!!!! . Nobody does this anymore … NO CUTS! ONE LONG TAKE – No choreography, so you don’t know what’s coming until it hits you. I asked the other actor who has a lot of guts,Devon Sawa , If he was game? I said it’s gonna hurt and he replayed “ bring it “ . So what you see us a portion of the brawl that is completely non – choreographed , spontaneous , again, with no cuts , And no idea , and what punches were coming! The other actor Devon , plays the killer who has accused me of murdering his father which is not true ! Without a doubt the only fight I’ve ever done in my entire career without choreography or without knowing what’s coming !! No one does this anymore – gotta a little adventurous !!! And nuts … This was tough but worth it! And what I believe makes the audience APPRECIATE the effort and authenticity …. Arriving July 2…. AND It is available on pay-per-view ! KEEP PUNCHING ! #Escape plan 3 THE EXTRACTORS #GrindStone #LionsgateFilms

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