'The Expendables 2' Cast Now Includes John Travolta, Chuck Norris' Beard and Chuck Norris

NU Boyana Studios CEO David Varod has confirmed through Collider and Novinite that the studios has locked in Chuck Norris' beard to co-star in action/martial-arts super-nova "The Expendables 2," which starts shooting in Bulgaria this September.

Varod also confirmed that as a condition of appearing, NU Boyana also must bring on board Chuck Norris himself for what was negotiated as "roundhousing-kicking services to be rendered" and also John Travolta - or, as he's probably soon to be known among the never-ever-to-be-collectively-or-individually-f***ed-with cast, "That Guy From 'Broken Arrow' With The Chin."

This wasn't a cast that needed be any bigger whatsoever in star power or sheer lean muscle mass -- if it grows much more, the cast party will develop its own gravitational pull -- but let's recap: that makes original "Expendables" writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Randy Couture, Charisma Carpenter, Jet Li, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Terry Crews and Arnold Schwarzenegger all either rumored or confirmed for this round.

It bears noting that it's been all but confirmed that the film will focus largely upon the pursuit of Willis' villainous Mr. Church, and that writers David Agosto and Ken Kaufman also looked to expand Schwarzenegger's cameo from the first film.

For the record, casting Van Damme makes some nice amends for a missed opportunity the first go-round. Stallone was in talks with Van Damme to star in the first movie, but Van Damme perceived a lack of substance to his character and passed it up. Later, when the film made a tremendous $274.5-million gross on an $80-million budget despite lukewarm responses from critics, Van Damme publicly said that he wished he'd signed on when he had the chance.

Still, the Muscles from Brussels needn't weep. That doughy thing that's been wearing Steven Seagal's face for years turned down a role over past differences with producer Avi Lerner. Wesley Snipes couldn't take an offered role either, on account of being in prison. His role of Hale Caesar was reworked first for Forest Whitaker, then 50 Cent following a Whitaker scheduling conflict, and finally went to former NFL star Terry Crews.

"The Expendables 2" is set to hit theaters Aug. 17, 2012.