Filming of Star-packed 'The Expendables' Set for Bulgarian Launch

Bruce Willis is just one of the team of stars set to shoot in Bulgaria in September. File photo

Filming of The Expendables 2", a cult US action movie featuring top Hollywood stars, is beginning in Bulgaria in just days.

Actors such as Bruce Willlis, Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, John Travolta, Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme, are to arrive in Sofia any time now.

In addition to the Bulgaria-based NU Image Boyana studios in the suburbs of the capital Sofia, scenes will be shot in the town of Bansko, which is the top Bulgarian winter resort.

Bansko Mayor, Alexander Kravarov, cited by the Bulgarian 24 Chassa (24 Hours) daily, says he has received a letter from the Head of the NU Image Production Department informing him that old town Bansko has been selected for some of the scenes to be shot in November.

"The director is Simon West, who is also a name. He is already here and has started working on the film," NU Boyana studios CEO David Varod told Novinite.com in an exclusive interview in July.

He stated the sequel would be better than the first movie.

Varod pointed out that Bulgaria has the potential of becoming Europe's tom filming destination, but only if the proper economic incentives are in place.

The NU Boyana CEO declared he has met with high-level government officials, who have vowed to help the company to further develop the country's film industry.

The full interview can be read HERE.