Simon West to direct The Expendables 2

Contrary to popular opinion, I think Simon West is a very good director. Well, good at very specific types of films. He came out the box hot in 1997 with Con Air, and his resume ever since should be enough to inform folks of exactly what he excels at. The first Tomb Raider film is by far the better of the two, and really catapulted Angelina Jolie into action hero status. The Mechanic, which came out earlier this year, I think is the best film Jason Statham has ever done and a welcome improvement of the Charles Bronson original. It's in other avenues that West has flopped, with duds like The General's Daughter and When a Stranger Calls. But give him a script with plenty of bad guys to kill or maim, and West is right at home, which is why I think he's the perfect guy for his new gig as director of The Expendables 2.

Sylvester Stallone stepped down from the directing gig a few months ago because...well, he sorta sucked at it. The first film was an exercise in wasted potential, and his skill or lack therof behind the camera was a prime reason. So to me West is a definite upgrade. Now it's up to David Agosto and Ken Kaufman to provide a script that keeps the tone light and the pace frantic. That's what we want to see from these old war horses. In a film like The Expendables there should barely be time to breath before the next big action sequence.

West's signing should set the stage for the always fun casting process to kick off. Right now we know that Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Mickey Rourke, and Terry Crews. Stone Cold Steve Austin is rumored to be returning, as well as Bruce Willis as the primary bad guy. Jean Claude Van Damme, Hulk Hogan, Charlie Sheen, and a ton of other old goats have been speculated as being asked to pop up.

The Expendables 2 is due to explode into theaters on August 17th, 2012. [Deadline]