We love it when the plan to put The A-Team on the big screen comes together – and it's coming together quite nicely, as a matter of fact, with the news that Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are in talks to star in the Joe Carnahan-directed adaptation of the ‘80s TV show about four resourceful Army vets on the run for a crime they didn’t commit.
As has been rumoured for a while, Cooper – who became a star this weekend with the success of The Hangover – will play Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck, the group’s ladies’ man, and the role originated by Dirk Benedict.
But it’s Neeson’s involvement, as the A-Team’s leader, Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, that’s got us all kinds of excited. The role, originally played by George Peppard of course, has been linked with all manner of A-listers over the years, including George Clooney and Mel Gibson, but Neeson is spot-on.
As Taken showed, he can still kick ass and take names, even at the age of 57, and he should bring gravitas to the project. Given that Carnahan is apparently keen to excise any camp, jokey aspects from the movie, Neeson’s presence is a step in the right direction. He’s Qui-Gon effin’ Jinn, for God’s sake…
There’s no word yet on who Carnahan will cast as the two remaining members of The A-Team, the African-American tough guy B.A Baracus (first played by some guy named Mr. T) and the batshit insane pilot, ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock (the legendary Dwight Schultz), but with production set to begin in August in Vancouver, we’d imagine that we’ll hear some news sooner rather than later.
Fox is stumping up the cash for this one, which is also produced, oddly enough, by Tony and Ridley Scott. The movie’s set for release on June 11, 2010.