Escape Plan 2: Hades - The Truth Behind the Misleading Casting

The Misconception of Stardom

Escape Plan 2: Hades, the sequel to the original Escape Plan, promised a star-studded action spectacle with Sylvester Stallone and Dave Bautista at the forefront. However, the reality of their roles in the movie turned out to be quite different from what was marketed, leading to a significant misconception of their stardom in the film.

Sylvester Stallone's Breslin holding a pistol in Escape Plan 2

The Real Stars of Escape Plan 2

Contrary to the misleading marketing, the true star of Escape Plan 2 is Huang Xiaoming, who takes on the central role of Breslin's protege Shu. It's Shu's kidnapping and imprisonment in HADES that drives the narrative, with Breslin's team racing against time to rescue him. Meanwhile, Dave Bautista's character, DeRosa, serves as a supporting figure, and Stallone's presence is limited to a mere 15 minutes of screen time. This revelation sheds light on the actual stars of the film, debunking the initial misconception created by the promotional materials.

Huang Xiaoming as Shu in Escape Plan 2

The Impact of Misleading Casting

The misleading casting and promotion of Escape Plan 2 had a significant impact on the movie's reception and performance. Despite the anticipation built around Stallone and Bautista's involvement, the reality of their roles left many audiences feeling misled and disappointed. This tactic of exaggerating the prominence of A-list actors in STV (Straight-to-Video) movies has become a common ploy, and it often leads to a sense of betrayal among viewers.

Dave Bautista as DeRosa pointing a rifle in Escape Plan 2

The Redemption of Stallone

Following the fallout from Escape Plan 2, Stallone took on a larger role in the subsequent film, Escape Plan 3: The Extractors. His increased involvement, coupled with a grittier and more grounded tone, aimed to make amends for the missteps of the second installment. The third film also provided a more substantial role for Bautista, signaling a redemption of sorts for the misled fans and the actors themselves. However, despite these efforts, the repercussions of the misleading casting still lingered, and the franchise's future remains uncertain.

Sylvester Stallone as Ray Breslin holding a pistol in Escape Plan 3 The Extractors