The A-Team movie is a project that has been in development for years and years now, with various different people attached to write, star and direct at different stages. The first name attached to helm it was Boyz In The Hood director John Singleton, but he dropped out (due to creative differences), and then Smokin’ Aces director Joe Carnahan was brought on-board.
The last we heard, Chris Pine was in talks to play the role of Murdock, which was played by Dwight Schultz in the original TV series, and Ice Cube was in talks to play B.A. Baracus. Regarding the latter, it appears that nothing came of it as there’s a new contender for the role famously played by Mr. T: Rapper-turned-actor Common.
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In an interview with our friends over at IESB promoting the upcoming Terminator Salvation, Common confirmed that he was at least being held in consideration for the role:
“I can’t speak on it yet until we know what’s going on but that would be an incredible character to play… (laughing) I can’t do the Mohawk but we got to do something, we got to find something to make it work… I would love to [do it], just to work with Joe [Carnahan] is so exciting for me I just had such a great experience [making Smokin' Aces]. I feel that he is one of the freshest directors and innovative guys and fun, he is a quality guy, quality director and man, I just want to work with him… You know you need to keep your pace and patience and let things develop… I want it to be as diverse as possible, [but] first of all I don’t want act like I’ve been given the role of B.A. So let me be honest about that…
[But] it’s great to be in those talks because to be considered to be in another Joe Carnahan movie would be just an honor for me… You definetly have to give it something different [than what Mr. T did]… It’s a new day, you just got to give it something new. The kids don’t know that B.A. so you wanna bring something new to it and you want to pay respect to B.A. and the way B.A was created, too. I believe there is a way to find a combination, I have certain similarities to Mr. T already. We are both from Chicago, we are both rebels in our own way. I could really get that, I could really get that.”
In the interview, Common also talked a bit about his casting in the now dead (as far as we know) Justice League movie as the Green Lantern. He says that he hasn’t heard anything new since last year, and that he doesn’t think it’ll happen anytime soon, if it ever does. He talked about the fact that he had the Green Lantern costumed fitted, as well as saying it was taking the superhero characters (including Batman and Superman) in a different direction (based on storyboards he saw), with Mad Max and Happy Feet director George Miller apparently going to “smash” the project.
Common certainly ain’t no thespian, but I say more power to him for being able to get the sort of roles he’s gotten ever since he delved into the world of movies a few years ago with Smokin’ Aces. He’s in one of this summer’s biggest blockbusters, Terminator Salvation, and he played parts in other action fare: last year’s Wanted (which was awesome) and the aforementioned Smokin’ Aces. He’s not the worst actor in the world, but for what he does – that tough gun shooting type of guy – he’s at the very least serviceable from what I’ve seen.
Is he right for the role of B.A. Baracus? I wouldn’t say so, especially when he has Mr. T’s portrayal of the character to live up to. I am in two minds when it comes to the role for the new movie; on the one hand I think it has to be recast because I don’t think it fits well with the current movie going age and what audiences will credibly accept to appear on-screen. But on the other hand, Mr. T’s turn as the character is almost too legendary to try and top. I really don’t know what they can do – either way it doesn’t seem to work.
Just to throw my two cents in, I think Michael Clarke Duncan would be a good choice for the role if they’re going with the recasting route. He’s tough looking and yet has a charm and likability about him. He’s a decent actor (great when he’s given the right roles, such as in The Green Mile) and let’s not forget he’s built like a frickin’ house. I think he’d make a great B.A.
Who could you see replace Mr. T has B.A. Baracus? Is Common in any way suited?
The A-Team is supposed to be released on July 11th, 2010.
Source: IESB
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15 Comments
Never heard of this Common guy before. He sure doesn’t look the part to me. I agree with you Ross, Michael Clark Duncan would be great for that role. If they end up casting this Common guy, I hope Mr. T pitys that foo!
I think Terry Crews could do a awesome Mr.T. Search Youtube for his demo vid too.
Ugh, Ross, I can’t believe you thought Wanted was awesome. You lost some street cred with that, man.
Seriously though, that movie was awful AND stupid. I can suspend disbelief with the best of them, but that was just too much.
As for Common (I hate rapper names, they sound like idiots), he is NOT B.A. Baracus. I think Christopher Judge would be a GREAT choice for B.A…..
@Andy S,
I disagree. Wanted was frickin’ AWESOME. One of the most purely fun times at the theatre I’ve had in ages. The action was inventive, the visual style was great to look at, it was genuinely funny, it was ridiculous but in a knowing, “wink wink” sort of way, on and on. Some of the action scenes were JAW DROPPING (such as the guy jumping through the window to the opposite rooftop – !!!).
I loved it. Just my opinion, though.
@Andy S
When it comes to his taste in some movies Ross is our red-headed stepchild around here… you can see why I don’t let him review movies on the site, he tends to be completely opposite my opinion on some films.
Vic
Wanted didn’t necessarily suck,but it wasn’t super great either.I would say that it was entertaining enough that I didn’t walk out on it,but I’m not gonna go out and pick up the DVD (maybe on the used rack at a cut rate price though).
As for Common as B.A.,Hell,why not,but he’d better have the Mohawk.
I just hope that this movie has a serious r-rated theme instead of selling out and going PG-13.
C’mon, Ross, that last main scene was soooo bad. With the bullet going in a complete circle killing everyone? That movie had ONE redeeming value…Angelina’s nekkid butt.
The action scenes were such BLATANT CGI (like scooping him into the open car door), that they didn’t seem believable.
Thanks for the heads up, Vic. LOL…
@Longshanks…
There is NO way that an A-Team movie will be R-rated. It’ll be PG or PG-13, just like the show. There will be no blood, but I still think it’ll be a fun movie with the right story and right cast. I’d like it if they did it as an origin story leading up to their first case. I still love the idea of Bruce Willis as Hannibal and I think Chris Pine is the wrong choice for Murdock, but might be good as Face. Steve Buschemi as Murdock would be PERFECT.
Yeah,I know that it won’t be rated R,but I at the very least hope that it’s not like Starsky and Hutch.
Now that I think about it,The movie will probably have Ben Stiller as Face,Owen Wilson as Murdock,and someone like Rip Torn or Steven Root as Hannibal.Boy,I can see it now,and it ain’t good folks.
YOU KNOW THE BEST PICK FOR BA BARRACUS COULD BE CLARK DUNCAN, FACE-BRAD PIT,MURDOCK-JIM CAREY,AND HANNIBAL,-SEYMOUR HOFFMAN..DIRECTED BY LOUIS LETTERRIER
I vote for:
Jim Carey as Murdock!!!!
Robert Redford as Smith
Ice T as Mr T
Brad Pit as Face
Why not just use Mr T for BA Baracus? He’s still alive and doesn’t really look like and old man.
Chris Pine for Murdoch??? Um no. Face maybe by not murdock.
I was excited when I saw this title because I thought this film was finally coming to fruition. I’ve been reading about an a-team moview for at least 12 years now. I’m disappointed that there is still no cast. Please stop teasing me.
I agree Andy S, “Wanted” has got to be one of the worst films I’ve seen in recent times!!
Anyway back to the cast, I reckon Ving Rhames would be do a decent job as BA, he’s a big enough name and certainly has the size to carry the character.
Liam Neeson apparently is in talks as Hannibal which could work but not 100% sure. George Peppard was a funny guy and I’m not convinced that Neeson could do it as good. Depends what type of character they’re writing for him I guess!!
Woody Harrelson would be a great Murdock, he’s a crazy guy – nuff said!!
Can’t think of any for Face, but Brad Pitt? No chance!!
I agree with BA^^^. If it had to be somebody new my first choice is Michael jai White(SPAWN,Universal Soldier:The Return) is a qualified contender for Baracus. Im not a huge fan of the show,BUT would hate to see Mr.T’s most famous character suffer an injustice due to pop-culture(which is what I think of this rapper guy if he is casted).
Terry Crews would be ok i guess. I dunno about the tv stargate guy. Ving Rhames if they’re goin for the big names,but he might be a lil on the old side in which case they might as well go for my first choice who is Mr.T himself. And if they just want a huge guy give it to Bob Sapp lol.
Please say it’s not so. I’m really tired of all of these ’80’s remakes of classic shows. They all end of being ruined anyway. I think I’ll just rewatch the old episodes instead.
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