I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

"Ten years ago in 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team."

If, like me, you still know the above lines by heart, then you'll be especially excited about this news: The 1980s television series The A-Team is coming to the big screen in 2010.

The intent is to give the campy show, known for its over-the-top action sequences and catchphrases like Mr. T's "I ain't gettin' on no plane!" an updated and more serious feel.  What I care most about, however, is who they're going to get to play Face, Murdock and B.A Baracus (sorry, Hannibal... I think you're much easier to cast -- Bruce Willis, anyone?).  Back in the day I was totally in love with Face (the suave, good-looking con man played by Dirk Benedict), so I'm especially interested to see who'll be stepping into his shoes.  For some reason the actor that pops into my head for this role is Greg Kinnear.  Do you see it, or am I crazy?

If you need a refresher on the show, here is its beloved opening credits sequence:

Ah, they just don't make 'em like that anymore.

Stay tuned for more rumors about this project... and for the inevitable "I pity the fool!" jokes whenever Mr. T's old role is cast.

Comments

[Lisa L.]

I was in love with "The Face-man" too - since his Galactica days. You are not alone. I hope that they make it over with some of the campiness in it, otherwise it will just be a knock-off of "The Unit", but it can't be so campy it comes off like the latest "Knight Rider" which I imagine children really like.

Also, let's keep it to all action all the time with that black/white bad v. good and no grey areas where we have to really examine our society's moral temperature or get into deep character development.

[Locke Peterseim]

The big news is that this merry-go-round project has, for the moment, landed on director Joe Carnahan's plate. I think that goes a long way toward answering questions about what tone and cast you might see.

Carnahan is a Tarantino baby with a love of visual mayhem, over-the-top violence, campy sleaze, and quirky casting: think "Smokin' Aces" silly, not "Knight Rider" silly.

While I'm guessing he'll tone his signature style down QUITE a bit for what you'd assume will be a mainstream PG-13 release, I'd say expect something along the lines of a slightly tougher, grittier "Charlies Angels" (the feature films, not the original series, natch).

Along those lines, I'll bet you anything the role of B.A. gets filled by a rapper-actor like 50, DMX, or T.I. Murdoch (always my favorite) will be a comic-actor (for some reason I can't get Dane Cook out of my head, and trust me that's not pleasant -- damn you and your hilarity, My Best Friend's Girl!). I LOVE your connection of Kinnear to Starbuck, er Benedict, er Face -- Kinnear plays that type of smooth-talking con-man perfectly, and even their voices match. However, I'm guessing they'll skew this cast as young as possible, so think more along the lines of a Chris Evans. My pick for either Murdoch or Face? Sam Rockwell, of course. Or Vince Vaughn? Or heck, if we're dreaming big and budget is no issue, why not Robert Downey, Jr.?

Willis is also a good pick for Hannibal, and Carnahan is exactly the kind of director a big star like Willis would do a film like this for. My choice? Sam the Man, of course. No, not Rockwell... Jackson.

But when it comes to cast-guessing these kinds of things, I think the best results usually come when the project comes up with actors who are either unknown, or whom you never would have connected with the role.

[Joe Allen]

I agree, Greg Kinnear would be perfect as Peck.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson would be a great BA Barracus. I've been surprised and impressed with everything I've seen him in.

Hannibal Smith needs to have a smooth, self assured confidence and be a strong father figure to the rest of the crew. Two words: Morgan Freeman.

HM Murdock: Harland Williams or Johnny Knoxville as long as they kept the ham-factor in check.

[Locke Peterseim]

Oh, Johnson is a great choice -- I'm a huge fan and supporter of the Former Rock. Seriously, I think he has the talent and savvy to become an even bigger star.

I'm not on board with Morgan Freeman, though -- as I noted in my Wanted review last month, I'm just about done with the whole "Morgan Freeman" schtick, especially in light action films, where he always plays... Morgan Freeman.

But yes, Harland Williams would be a GREAT Murdoch, though as much as I like Knoxville, I might slide him over to play The Face... except he's probably not handsome enough.

Hey, what about Dax Shepherd? Another under-appreciated smart-aleck comic actor I think has potential to do more than ham it up!