Of all the supporting players in “The Expendables,” the one we get a special kick out of seeing return for “The Expendables 2” is Terry Crews. As weapons specialist Hale Caesar, you believe he is not about to give up his massive guns to anyone, not even Arnold Schwarzenegger (at least, not right away). Crews is also not one of those former NFL players turned actors who just coasts on their good looks; he provides a good sense of humor and holds his own against action movie veterans like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
In an interview with Matt Tuthill, Senior Editor of the Muscle & Fitness website, Crews talked about how he went about preparing for his role as Caesar. Tuthill asked if there is anything “extra” that goes into a role like this, and Crews said it depends on what project he’s working on:
“If it’s a military type thing like ‘Expendables,’ I try to look a little more at what Navy SEALS do or at Delta Force workouts and incorporate more high intensity things that they would do into it,” Crews said. “I don’t get super, super detailed but one thing I’m switchin’ from is a lot of the steady state cardio into just a lot of the high intensity stuff so that it’ll rip me up more.”
Crews remarked that he is a “steady state cardio dude” and that he can do four miles a day on the treadmill. Crews also said that he can also “switch it up” and increase his workout routine to where it really “rips” him up even more.
Crews went on to say that he tries to include cross-fit workouts two times a week, and that it was really about the “change up and experimentation” with his routine. He remarked at how he got “burned out” compared to what he regularly did, and that this always seems to be the case when he tries a new form of exercise.
Tuthill also talked about how Crews was “rocking a sleeveless vest” in the first “Expendables” movie and asked if he would be doing that again here and if he paid any extra attention to “arm work” as a result:
“Definitely, that’s my calling card” said Crews. “When we didn’t rock the vest my stuff was sleeveless, you know? I tore my arms up man, I did everything you could do. I had 135 (pounds) on the barbell, I was doing dumbbell curls (55 pounds), and I was doing everything to just burn them (my arms) out. What’s amazing is that the pull-ups really helped my arms, and I was doing pull-ups to failure. I think everyone is going to notice in this movie that my arms a character onto themselves. They’re my co-stars!”
Indeed, Crews’ arms were a big co-star in “The Expendables 2.” Hopefully we will get to see him and his arms again if those responsible for this franchise decide to make a third movie.
Related articles:
‘The Expendables 2’ – More of the Same, and That’s Fine
How Tom Hardy Became Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
How Anne Hathaway Transformed into Catwoman for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
SOURCE:
Matt Tuthill, “M&F Exclusive Interview with ‘The Expendables 2’ Star Terry Crews,” Muscle & Fitness website, August 10, 2012.
