Steven Seagal’s claims about turning down a role in The Expendables have now been challenged by Sylvester Stallone, who offered a very different version of events during a recent podcast appearance.
Speaking with Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment, Stallone was asked about Seagal reportedly turning down the action franchise. The Rocky star wasted little time dismissing that version of events, suggesting Seagal was never even considered for the role.
“Please. Let’s just say he was not invited to that party,” Stallone responded.
When Hyde brought up the possibility that Seagal had actually turned down the opportunity, Stallone pushed back even harder.
“Really? He turned us down? How about I tell you he was begging to be in this show.”
Stallone was then asked when he had last spoken to Seagal. Rather than get into the details of their relationship, he offered a brief explanation for keeping his distance.
“I shouldn’t get involved with him. Why lie like that?”
Hyde subsequently suggested that Seagal might be trying to maintain his appeal elsewhere, adding: “I don’t know. I guess he wants to be in demand with people other than autocrats.”
Despite the apparent tension between the two action stars, Stallone made it clear that he didn’t have any particular animosity toward Seagal.
“Listen, I got nothing against Steven. We’ve had our moments.”
He then elaborated on what he meant, touching on Seagal’s career trajectory and his decision to move away from Hollywood action films.
“I’m telling you about our moments. He had a real interesting thing going and then he took his life in that direction and I don’t even know if he does action films anymore. I think he lives in Russia.”
Stallone’s comments about Seagal’s life in Russia come at a time when the actor appears to be gradually distancing himself from the country. In August 2026, Russia’s Federal Tax Service froze his bank accounts for the second time since 2020 after he reportedly failed to submit his tax return within the required 20-day deadline.
According to MK.RU, the same issue had resulted in his accounts being blocked six years earlier. His Russian business interests have also dwindled, with Seagal cutting ties with one of his remaining ventures in July 2025, although he still retains a minority stake in a company planning to build an international center for Eastern martial arts.
He has also reportedly put his lavish mansion in Usovo, an elite suburb of Moscow, up for sale. The 500-square-meter property features a private cinema, wine room, home office, two-car garage, and a traditional Russian banya.
Seagal’s relationship with Russia dates back years, with Vladimir Putin granting him Russian citizenship in 2016 before appointing him a special representative for humanitarian ties between Russia and the United States in 2018. Putin later awarded him the Order of Friendship in 2023.
