Summer 2010 Movie Releases: The A-Team

"The A-Team", a cult television action series, ran from 1983-1987 and was based around the story of four Vietnam veterans who were imprisoned for a crime that they committed, but did so because they were under orders. After escaping from prison, the colorful group of characters worked as vigilantes for hire on the run while trying to clear their names.

The 2010 big screen debut of "The A-Team", directed by "Smokin' Aces" director Joe Carnahan, is scheduled for release on June 11, 2010. The film is produced by Tony and Ridley Scott. In the 2010 movie, the team served in the Iraq War instead of the Vietnam War, but they're still mercenaries for hire seeking redemption after being wrongly prosecuted. Liam Neeson is in the role of Hannibal, the leader and brains of the team. Neeson has an extensive acting career, including roles in "Taken" (2008) and "Schindler's List" (1993). Mixed martial arts artist Quenton "Rampage" Jackson takes over Mr. T's role in "The A-Team" as B.A. Baracus. Bradley Cooper, who starred in "The Hangover" plays Templeton "Face" Peck and Sharlto Copley is in the roll of Howling Mad" Murdock. Jessica Biel is also part of the cast.

From the trailer, you can see that the character of B.A. Baracus still wears the iconic mohawk made famous by Mr. T and the group still travels in a black van. If you think the characters look overall to be slightly more beefed up than the characters from the television series, that observation can possibly be attributed to Carnahan's desire for these characters to represent what the bodies of actual Special Forces soldiers would look like. Bradley Cooper even reported that he gave up sweets as part of his regimen to get fit for his role.

Nostalgic fans of the series hoping to see cameo performances from the original A-Team cast won't be entirely disappointed. Dirk Benedict, who played the handsome and vain character of "Face" Peck, and Dwight Schultz, who starred as Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock are said to have roles in the film. While there is little available information on what characters they will play, in February 2010 Bradley Cooper said that Benedict was cast as a fellow prisoner that Face meets in a tanning bed. George Peppard, who was the original Hannibal, passed away in 1994. To the dismay of many of the series' fans, Mr. T has declined a role in the film.

You can view the trailer on the A-Team movie's website here.

Sources:
Bradley Cooper "On This Crazy Food Thing for 'The A-Team'", Access Hollywood
Bradley Cooper Reveals Dirk Benedict's A-Team Cameo, Screencrave
IMDB.com