Getting the The A-Team movie off the ground has been as challenging as getting Mr. T’s character, B.A. Baracus, on a plane. Now, with the release date set and a new director and scriptwriter in place, the project’s finally coming together.
The A-Team, a hit TV show for NBC that ran from 1983 to 1986, stars George Peppard as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith; Dirk Benedict as Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck; Dwight Schultz as Capt. H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock, and Mr. T as Sgt. Bosco “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus. The group of ex-Vietnam vets are constantly on the run for a “crime they didn’t commit” while trying to help those in need.
Rounding out the cast in varying seasons are Melinda Culea, Marla Heasley, Eddie Velez, William Lucking, Lance LeGault, Carl Franklin, Jack Ging, and Charles Napier, with series narration by John Ashley.
Plans for the A-Team film version have been in the works since the ’90s, but with varying directors, scriptwriters, and producers bowing out over the years, the movie has never gotten off the ground.
Now, there are renewed hopes for a successful franchise.
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Casting has not yet been set for the revived A-Team movie, but Twentieth Century Fox recently announced it has chosen Joe Carnahan to direct, replacing the previous director pick, John Singleton. Brian Bloom and Carnahan will also help to polish Skip Woods’ script.
Stephen J. Cannell, one of the TV series’ creators, will co-produce the movie version, along with brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott of Scott Free productions.
The A-Team movie will be updated with a Middle Eastern theme, but production team members say it will retain the sense of fun that characterized the original series.
Rumors that Ice Cube would play Mr. T’s character, B.A, Baracus, have circulated for several years but he hasn’t been officially signed. Other casting rumors have included Woody Harrelson as “Face,” and Bruce Willis as “Hannibal.”
While Cannell has indicated he’d like to have the surviving castmembers appear in cameo roles, Mr. T has said that he’s not interested in playing any character in an A-Team movie but B.A. Baracus.
Although the show was frequently criticized for its cartoon-like violence and “same old, same old” plotlines, The A-Team and its theme song became a part of American pop culture in the ’80s and beyond.
Carnahan told Variety, “This was a coveted property, and reimagining a show that I remembered as a kid was tough to turn down… Fox hired me to make it as emotional, real and accessible as possible without cheesing it up.
Will the new film measure up? We’ll have to wait until the June 11, 2010 release date to find out.
Image courtesy NBC.
Dear Readers and Fans,
The A Team was a symbol of unity, team work and bravery. They worked together, sorted things our without using the FOUR letter words, which made them cleaner than other shows. They never killed any of their enemies.
I wish the movie can actually duplicate all these qualities.
regards,
Yasir
As long as the actor playing B.A. is big and mean looking, they don’t need Mr. T’s signature gold chains or Mohawk. Some one like the WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley would be a good choice. Look him up. Monsterous
after listening to Dwight (baby ur still a cutie pie) and dirk(was the guy stoned or what) in the interviews here on the web i totally changed my mind about being pro movie. Dwight said its going to be very real with 4 letter words and killing etc. and i knew this when it first came up but it was somthing about how he sounded when he said that , that broke my heart. I want my A-Team to stay clean, campy, funny and no one can replace any of them When it comes out at the theaters i think… Read more »
I think that Jim carry would play a great Murdock.
uhmm depends if you are going to be a restart or continuation of the series.
I DON’T THINK I COULD SEE THAT AGAIN WITHOUT
GEORGE PEPPARD!
NO WAY!
I DONT THINK THEIR HAS BEEN ANOTHER ICON OTHER THAN ALI THAT HAS TOTALLY INSPIRED A NATIONS YOUTH THE WAY MR.T HAS AND TO NOT GIVE HIM THE LEAD ROLE FOR A CHARACTER THAT HE MADE FAMOUS IS JUST WRONG!!!!!! HONESTLY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP WATCHING HIM ON TV AS A YOUNG KID HIS MESSAGES KEPT ME IN SCHOOL OUT OF GANGS AND OFF DRUGS!! AND UNTIL THIS DAY I ENJOY SEEING HIM AND I THINK IF YOUR GOING TO MAKE A MOVIE WTHOUT HIM ITS REALLY SAD.
I would love to see Mr. T back as BA. Nobody else will be able to as good as a job as he can. Mr. T is a legend; I even have him as the voice on my GPS. I got it from a site called Navtones, I think. Going for a drive is some much fun having Mr. T telling me where to go.Turn left fool!
Anyway, Bring back Mr. T!
I’d love to see Dennis Farina as Hannibal and Jeffery Donovan as Face