Sylvester Stallone has assured film fans that reports of a falling out between himself and Bruce Willis are not true.

The action man has confirmed that Willis was invited to return to The Expendables franchise for the upcoming third film, but the reunion "didn't work out" - and Harrison Ford was invited to replace the Die Hard star's Mr. Church. Ford plays Drummer in the new blockbuster.

Stallone tells Wenn, "That happens in film and casting. It's nothing personal. It sounded like it got personal and I'm sorry it did sound that way. But it was actors talking and things move on.

"I think Bruce Willis is a great guy and he does fantastically entertaining films and when he nails it, he nails it big time."

And Stallone reveals he and Ford became great friends when they were struggling actors looking for a break back in the late 1970s.

He recalls, "Both of us would be wondering how long this acting was gonna last. Actually we became very, very close... Harrison is a very insulated, intelligent and very funny, very witty, dry humorist. When you tap into that, it's great."