EXCLUSIVE: Remember when Nicolas Cage was supposed to join the ensemble of action stars of Millennium Films’ The Expendables 3? Well, guess what, that role is going to Kelsey Grammer. Grammer is near a deal to play the role of Bonaparte, an ex-mercenary who helps the Expendables in their mission. While Grammer was long identified for playing the mild-mannered shrink-turned-radio host Dr. Frasier Crane, he has transformed into a Hollywood tough guy. Most of that came from him playing a ferocious powerbroker in the recently canceled Starz series Boss. Michael Bay was a fan of that show, which led to Grammer being cast as the villain in Transformers: Age Of Extinction.

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Grammer joins an Expendables 3 cast that includes Sly Stallone, Jason Statham, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and Wesley Snipes. Grammer also worked recently with Stallone in the John Herzfeld-directed Reach Me, so he certainly was on Stallone’s radar, and Sly is the catalyst for all that happens with this action film franchise. Grammer also has a new series in the works with Martin Lawrence for Lionsgate, which releases the Expendables films. Grammer is repped by UTA and Category 5’s Brian Sher.

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