Movie News Update: Liam Hemsworth boards 'Expendables 2'

'Hunger Games' star brings youth infusion to Stallone franchise

The Expendables 2" is getting a youth infusion that could pay significant dividends at the box office.
The Hunger Games" star Liam Hemsworth has just been cast alongside Sylvester Stallone in Millennium Films' action extravaganza, which will be released by Lionsgate.

Simon West is directing the star-studded sequel, which finds Stallone returning as team leader Barney Ross.

He's expected to be joined by past co-stars Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture. Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also back to expand on their cameos from the first film. Along with Hemsworth, other newcomers to the franchise include Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris

Hemsworth, who will soon be seen as Gale Hawthorne opposite Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games," will play a sniper in "Expendables 2," which starts production next month.

Aussie thesp, the younger brother of "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth, previously toplined "The Last Song" with Miley Cyrus and recently wrapped the indie drama "AWOL."

He's also attached to star in Chuck Russell's "Arabian Nights."

The original "Expendables" grossed more than $275 million worldwide.

Hemsworth is repped by WME and ROAR.

Thanks to variety.com!