According to Ain’t It Cool News, rapper 50 Cent [click to read] has been dropped from the role of Hale Caesar in the Sylvester Stallone-directed film The Expendables.

Before reports circulated that 50 Cent would be taking on the role of Hale Caesar, Forest Whitaker was cast as Caesar, but declined the role because of prior commitments.

“The anger of the casting of 50 Cent is understandable, but not fair,” Sylvester Stallone explained to Ain’t It Cool News before 50 Cent was replaced. “A player is only as good as his coach. If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change of Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent a.k.a. Curtis Jackson is a good one."

There is still no reason why 50 Cent was replaced, but Hale Caesar’s character will now be played by actor and former NFL player Terry Crews.

After playing in the NFL for about five years, Crews retired and  pursued a career in acting. Since his retirement from the NFL, Crews has appeared in movies such as White Chicks, The Longest Yard, Get Smart, and currently television show Everybody Hates Chris.

Filming for The Expendables will begin at the end of this month and will continue through the summer.

Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables is about a group of mercenaries who travel to South America to assassinate a malevolent dictator. 

The Expendables is expected to be released some time next year.