It emerged in January (12) that the Rocky star was eyeing a PG-13 rating for the action movie amid rumours cast member Chuck Norris had requested no cursing in the script.

Fans of the first film feared the development meant the hard-hitting movie would be toned down for a younger audience - but Stallone, who writes and stars in The Expendables 2, has now revealed the sequel will have a restricted 'R' rating after all.

He tells the StalloneZone website, ""After taking in all the odd rumours and hearsay, Expendables 2 is an R.""