The A-Team

The A-Team is an upcoming feature film based on The A-Team television series. Its release is planned for June 11, 2010, and is produced by 20th Century Fox.^[2] As of January 28, 2009, director Joe Carnahan is set to direct and Ridley and Tony Scott are set to produce.^[3][4] The plot will involve a shift from Vietnam to the Middle East, and both Jules Daly and series creator Stephen J. Cannell are involved in the project.^{[5][dead link]}

According to writer Michael Brandt, the adaptation will be more in vein of Die Hard, The Bourne Identity, and Casino Royale.^[6]

Cast

• Liam Neeson as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
• Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck
• Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as Sgt. B. A. Baracus
• Sharlto Copley as Capt. H. M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
• Jessica Biel as Lt. Carissa Sosa^[7]
• Patrick Wilson as Lynch^[8]
• Omari Hardwick as Chop Shop J
• Maury Sterling as Gammons
• C. Ernst Harth as Gilbert
• Brian Bloom as Pike
• Gerald McRaney as General Morrison

On October 30, 2009, Dwight Schultz confirmed that he had filmed a cameo scene for the movie.^[9] This news was followed on the November 23, 2009, that Dirk Benedict would also make a cameo.^[10] Schultz and Benedict played H. M. Murdock and Templeton 'Faceman' Peck respectively in the original series.

Development

The film has been in development since the mid 1990s, going through a number of writers and story ideas, and being put on hold a number of times. Producer Stephen J. Cannell hoped to update the setting, perhaps using the first Gulf War as part of the backstory.^[11] John Singleton was initially assigned to direct, but in October 2008 he pulled out of the project.^[12] When Singleton was still attached to the project as director, Ice Cube was approached for the role of B. A. Baracus.^[13]

In June, 2009, Variety revealed that Liam Neeson was in negotiations with 20th Century Fox to star as Hannibal Smith, and Bradley Cooper has announced to MTV News that he will be playing the role of Templeton Peck after he first denied the rumors saying that he was involved and insisted that he had not seen any script.^[14]

On August 26, 2009, MMAjunkie.com reported that mixed martial arts fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would play the role of B.A. Baracus in the upcoming film,^[15] but this was later denied by a representative for Jackson.^[16] In September 2009, The Vancouver Sun suggested that that Jackson has been attached to the role and will be postponing his upcoming fight at UFC 107 due to filming for The A-Team, started filming in Vancouver in late 2009, but no official confirmation has been announced.^{[17] [18][verification needed][unreliable source?]}

On September 15, 2009, Variety confirmed the casting of Neeson, Cooper, and Jackson. They additionally reported that Sharlto Copley and Jessica Biel were in final negotiations to join the cast. Copley would be playing the role of H.M. Murdock and Biel would be playing the ex-lover of Face who is an Army officer in charge of pursuing the team.^[19] 20th Century Fox later confirmed that Copley and Biel were cast in the film.^[20]

On September 30, 2009, a silver-haired Liam Neeson and the rest of the cast were seen filming scenes in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as shooting got under way.^[21] The first official pictures of Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson in character were soon released, including one which features the iconic van in the background.^[22]

On December 1, 2009, it was announced that Alan Silvestri will compose the film score.^[23]

References

External links

• The A-Team at the Internet Movie Database
• The A-Team at Allmovie