Mr. T is nowhere to be found in this movie adaptation of the tongue-in-cheek ’80′s action series from director Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces). But if stars Liam Neeson (Col. John “Hannibal” Smith) and Bradley Cooper (Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck) have their way, this version will still be mui macho.
“When my agent said, A-Team, I said, ‘oh, please,’” recalls Neeson, who, after the success of Taken and an upcoming role as Zeus in Clash of the Titans, has unexpectedly hit the action hero phase of his career. “Some of these films can be so empty and bland, but this was riveting. Clearly a lot of thought had gone into it and it had a wonderful camaraderie between the guys.”
Filling out the rest of the A-Team’s van are former wrestler Quinton Jackson taking up where Mr. T left off as Sgt. B.A. Baracus and District 9‘s Sharlto Copley as Capt. H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock.
“If this movie works, it’ll have the feeling of older buddy action movies like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop,” says Cooper, who spent two months enduring fierce workouts and following a Hugh Jackman-like regimen of dry chicken and rice to buff-up for the role. “It’s always been a dream to do an action movie. I love sports and I love pretending to fight.”
For more on the new A-Team, check out this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands now.
Photo Credit: Michael Muller
Kickass.
Rampage Jackson is NOT a FORMER WRESTLER. He is a highly ranked UFC fighter who is perfect for this role.
Do a little bit of fact checking please!
Yo are Gay RANGER 99
here’s an idea, make the picture smaller so you can’t even really tell who the actors are.
oh wait.. you already did that.
They’re trying to sucker us into buying the issue!
They have phenomenal photography!
There’s been many times that I’ve wanted to use certain images as background wallpaper and they’re just too small!
haha im not buyin the issue… just go to another website where theyll show it at the normal size.
Seriously Ranger99. That “former wrestler” has a fight against Rashad Evans in December. Not that hard to figure out.
Actually, he doesn’t have a fight. Rampage dropped out of the fight and wanted the fight AND venue moved back a full month to accomodate his schedule for filming (even though he agreed to the fight prior to being offered the role)…when the UFC said no, Rampage through a fit and “retired”…
i think his fight with evans was cancelled because of time filming the role
Loved the A-Team as a kid and also loved Carnahan’s Narc. Smokin’ Aces was a bit lame, but I think he’ll be able to do something cool with this. Sure hope they have the “let’s build something cool to thwart the enemy” scene…favorite to date was the cannon that shot heads of cabbage. Remember that one???
Anyone have a link to a larger version of that picture?
Not bad casting. Looking forward to it. Do they still drive the same van?
http://nickleshi.blogspot.com
If Quinton Jackson can say “sucka” or “fool” right then he’s all good for the role. Mr.T could have played his daddy or his jeweler. This was my favorite show going up and I really hope they don’t mess it up. The show was actually kind of good/bad. Farmers with no phone could get in touch with the A-Team but the army couldn’t find them at all. Bradford is pretty enough to play Face but he has got to wear the suits. Face would be running though a field of mud with a rifle but he would still be clean in that suit.
Woo Hooooooo! I’m sold! It’s downright scary how much Liam Neeson looks like George Peppard! I was like, “Liam Neeeeeeeson????” but now I see! I saw the clip of the fighter dude and he sounds just like B.A. I’m really worried about Murdock, though. He was my favorite character and his casting is NOT to be taken lightly, ya hear? I’m not expecting an Ironman-caliber movie, but I hope it isn’t Transformers II lameness, either!
just so everyone knows, there is filming information listed at beforethetrailer.com for a-team!! if anyone has information, they can also share with the site
Quinton Jackson actually WAS a wrestler but not professionally. He’s known for being a Mixed Martial Artist and former UFC champion. Nice research, EW!
There are just some things you don’t mess with! A-Team is one of them! Can’t anyone come up with an original idea anymore?