Con Air director Simon West will handle The Expendables 2

If Simon West learned anything from making CON AIR, it was how to assemble and direct a whole bunch of dudes punching and shooting each other.

He’ll put that experience to use on THE EXPENDABLES 2, virtually guaranteeing more sweaty characters running in slo-mo from billowing fireballs.

Sylvester Stallone directed the original movie, but ultimately decided to just participate in the mayhem in front of the camera instead of behind it on the sequel. West recently directed Sly’s mercenary teammate Jason Statham in the remake of THE MECHANIC.

Most of the (surviving) cast from the first fight-filled flick will be back, along with a few additional familiar faces to be kicked and burned and knifed. The movie is expected in theaters August 17, 2012.

The SPOILER! synopsis: “The Expendables are back and this time it’s personal! After Tool (Mickey Rourke), the heart and soul of the Expendables, is brutally murdered on a mission, his comrades swear to avenge him. They’re not the only ones who want blood. Tool’s beautiful young and wild daughter Fiona embarks on her own revenge mission, complicating matters when she is captured and ransomed by a ruthless dictator plotting to destroy a resistance movement. Now Barney and the Expendables must risk everything to save her and humanity.”