Earl to co-produce Stallone film

Planet Hollywood CEO boards 'Expendables'

By DAVE MCNARY

Earl

Planet Hollywood topper Robert Earl has made his first venture into producing features, signing on as a co-producer for Nu Image/Millennium's "The Expendables," starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li.

The move ensures that the 20 Planet Hollywood outlets will become a key part of the pic's promotion. "His innate marketing skills and accomplishments are unmatched," producer Avi Lerner said.

Earl is co-owner of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, site of the premiere for gambling thriller "21" earlier this year. In 1991, he founded Planet Hollywood, which operates in such locations as New York's Times Square, Orlando, Tokyo and London.

Earl's friendship with Stallone began at Planet Hollywood.

Principal photography on "The Expendables" will start in February in Brazil and Louisiana with Stallone directing from his own script about a team of mercenaries aiming to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its dictator.

Besides Earl and Lerner, the pic will be produced by John Thompson and Kevin King Templeton. Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short and Boaz Davidson are exec producing.