Novak Djokovic Had a Cameo Cut Out of Expendables 2 That (Probably) Helped Andy Murray Win Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic was almost in Expendables 2. File this under “News to me.” Back in 2011, Djokovic traveled to Bulgaria and shot a short scene where he fought terrorists with his tennis racket. The show “60 Minutes” went with him (video below) and included his time on set in their piece on the world #1 tennis player. How in the world did this not make the final cut of Expendables 2? Novak Djokovic was the only thing this scene was missing.

This could have been the ultimate wink and nod to all the action movie / tennis fans out there. I mean, that Venn diagram is basically just a circle anyway. Not that I’ve spent much time thinking about this since learning about Djokovic’s deleted scene, but why didn’t they shoot a scene where Jason Statham was in trouble and Djokovic hit a terrorist in the head with a tennis ball from across the room? Then Statham could have said something like, “Thanks, but I’m still rooting for Andy Murray.” The crowd would have gone crazy.

You know what? Expendables 2 was released on August 17, 2012. Murray won his first major at the U.S. Open against Djokovic a few weeks later. We could have had all sorts of articles about how Jason Statham predicted it! And then when Murray beat Djokovic at Wimbledon the next year, Statham could have been sitting in the box with Murray’s family. Jason Statham would be considered responsible for getting Britain a Wimbledon title for the first time in 77 years. Statham would have lifetime passes to sit next to Kate Middleton at Centre Court.

He could have met Pippa Middleton at Wimbledon! If Jason Statham married Pippa Middleton that would make him at least a Lord, right? Jason Statham could have been Prince George’s godfather! This is so much more than just cutting Novak Djokovic out of a movie. This decision cost us Jason Statham becoming a fixture in the tennis world and possibly a Royalty-in-Law. We have been robbed of everything.

What if being left on the cutting room floor shook Djokovic’s confidence and that led to Murray winning Wimbledon? We don’t get Statham at Centre Court, we should at least acknowledge the fact that the decision of the director of Con Air caused Andy Murray to win Wimbledon. Can we at least acknowledge that?

Man, I really hope Ronda Rousey mentions the Cleveland Browns in Expendables 3. I think that would create a future in which I could live.

[h/t Uproxx]