Yesterday, Expendables Premiere picked up on a Polish interview with Chuck Norris for Polish outlet Gazeta.  In that translated interview, the legendary roundhouse-kicker explained,

"In 'Expendables 2', there was a lot of vulgar dialogue in the screenplay. For this reason, many young people wouldn't be able to watch this. But I don't play in movies like this. Due to that, I said I wouldn't be a part of that if the hardcore language is not erased. Producers accepted my conditions and the movie will be classified in the category of PG-13."

The news caught hold and fans of the first film were justifiably surprised, with many holding out hope that the rumor couldn't possibly be true, what with The Expendables having been built on a thoroughly R-rated foundation of bullets, knives, blood, and occasional profanity.  Now, though, Sylvester Stallone has confirmed that the sequel will indeed be knocked down a ratings peg.  Having the inside scoop, Ain't It Cool founder Harry Knowles asked Stallone outright, to which Sly replied,

"Harry, the film is fantastic with Van Damme turning in an inspired performance... Our final battle is one for the ages. The PG13 is true, but before your readers pass judgement,  trust me when I say this film is LARGE in every way and  delivers on every level. This movie touches on many emotions which we want to share with the broadest audience possible, BUT, fear not, this Barbeque of Grand scale Ass Bashing will not leave anyone hungry...Sly"

Note that though he confirmed the rumor, Stallone didn't confirm that it was mandated by Norris. 

To put Norris's assertion in context: Chuck Norris is damn near 72 years old.  That's grandpa age, and everyone knows that grandpas are either gentle, saintly figures or hateful, epithet-spouting old racists.  It appears Norris is the former, and he'll have no bad language in a movie, even a movie the appeal of which if based largely on violence.

Also, this doesn't guarantee that The Expendables 2 won't provide what fans are looking for.  Plenty of movies, The Dark Knight for one example, manage to push the PG-13 without greatly diminishing the visceral impact of the violence onscreen.

Anyways, there will be plenty of masculine action stars to distract from the lack of visible bloodletting.  Sylvester Stallone once again stars as Barney Ross, and he's joined by Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Jean Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Scott Adkins.  Also on hand are Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will apparently have more substantial roles than their brief cameos in the first film.

Simon West, the guy behind Con-Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and the remakes of When a Stranger Calls and The Mechanic, is directing the sequel.  After several months shooting in Bulgaria, the production is currently on location in Hong Kong.

The Expendables 2 is set for August 17, almost two years to the day after the first film.