Liam Neeson in new A-Team film

[batman]

I have just read that Liam Neeson is expected to play the role of 'Hannibal Smith' in Joe Carnahan's 2010 scheduled update of The A-Team. As a big George Peppard fan I think Liam's a good choice to take on the role.



Other casting rumours ... Nip/Tuck's Bradley Cooper as 'Face' and (c)rap star Common as 'BA Baracus'. No news yet on who's up for the role 'Howling Mad Murdock'.

[christoph404]

Neeson I think has decided that his years as a serious actor in serious films are long over and is now going for the $, nothing wrong with that, actors have to make a living and support themselves and their family as best they can, "The A Team" as I remember it was a crash bang wallop kids teatime program where despite the explosions and car smashes etc no-one seemed to get seriously hurt, Peppard was good in the role and I believe there was talk of a big screen outing just before Peppards death. I had the misfortune to catch Neeson's last action film called "Taken" which was singularly the most mindless and crass film I have seen for a long time with sickening violence on a quite obscene scale.I just hope The A team Movie does not follow suit and manages to reflect the good fun that was the TV series.

[batman]

They were going to do a 'Return of the A-Team' TV movie in the 90s but GPs death prevented it. The TV series was pure kids comic book stuff .... lots of runnin around with guns, car chases and explosions with not so much as a bloody nose on show. Joe Carnahan is a self-confessed fan of the show so hopefully he will keep it on track. The spoofy remakes of old shows don't really work for me .... and as The A-Team was itself a spoof, that route is redundant before kick-off.

[blacknorth]

name='christoph404']Neeson I think has decided that his years as a serious actor in serious films are long over and is now going for the $, nothing wrong with that, actors have to make a living and support themselves and their family as best they can

If you get six million dollars per film how much more money do you need? Surely now that he has amassed a vast fortune it's time to pursue a few prestige projects.

[James Fox]

This film already sounds pretty terrible imo. LOL



They're now remaking shows that were never that good to begin with, just to cash in on the nostalgia factor. What next: "The Facts of Life" with Meryl Streep as Mrs. Garrett? "Petticoat Junction" with John Travolta as Uncle Joe? lol

[batman]

name='James Fox']

They're now remaking shows that were never that good to begin with.

I wouldn't put The A-Team in that category .... the show was IMHO great fun and GP displayed a great gift for light comedy, something that never emerged in his film career.

[James Fox]

name='batman']I wouldn't put The A-Team in that category .... the show was IMHO great fun and GP displayed a great gift for light comedy, something that never emerged in his film career.

Oh I loved it, too, actually. It's a guilty pleasure for me. And you're right, George was funny.

[TimR]

This sounds like a more likely film than most of the television-into-film product of the last twenty years.



The A Team was a product of Reagan-era America. It could not have been made before or since. It has "US in the 80s" written all over it.



It might make a fine Saturday afternoon action/comedy film if it is made in the spirit of the original, where the comedy and the interaction between the characters was as important as the crazy plotlines, the cartoon villains and the bloodless action.



I wonder, though, if the brutality and sadism that are central to almost every adventure film will be a part of this. Maybe this will be an exception - it would be an ideal Dad film. There aren't many now.



I'm not sure I can see Liam Neeson in the role of Hannibal as Peppard played him, but he is an excellent and likeable actor and he'll probably do a good job by putting his own personality into the part.



I can understand why he would punctuate a distinguished career with an occasional entertainment like this, but has he really given up on serious roles? At his age, with his gifts?

[Moor Larkin]

I would have thought Neeson would make a much better fist of the guy who was mad. He has none of the good-looking good humour that Peppard graced the leader of the A-Team with. Far too dour for such a goofy role.



I suppose we'll get someone called Ice-Dodecahedron or somefink as Mistar T... or was that the actors actual name...... ............ although going by the snickers adverts they should just re-employ the original!!............ or even better make him the new Boss!!....







And to concur with earlier comments, I think the A-team was famed for nobody ever dying in the explosions or crashes - there was always a cut-a-way showing the baddies shaking their heads in bewilderment, or tapping the dust off their trousers........

[batman]

"QUOTE by Moor Larkin - I suppose we'll get someone called Ice-Dodecahedron or somefink as Mistar T... or was that the actors actual name? QUOTE"







The character was called B(ad) A(ttitude) Baracus ..... as I put in my opening post the hot tip for that role is (c)rap 'star' Common (formerly known as Common Sense).



Mr T's real name is Laurence Tureaud ... so he really is Mr T.

[Moor Larkin]

name='batman'] The character was called B(ad) A(ttitude) Baracus .....

I remeber the duett he did with Maggie..... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHf1izCZ_Fs&feature=related]YouTube - B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell - Hold me 1982[/ame]

name='batman']as I put in my opening post the hot tip for that role is (c)rap 'star' Common (formerly known as Common Sense).

subliminally absorbed..............

[batman]

Maggie Bell would be great in the new film!

[Windyridge]

name='TimR']T

I'm not sure I can see Liam Neeson in the role of Hannibal as Peppard played him, but he is an excellent and likeable actor and he'll probably do a good job by putting his own personality into the part.



I can understand why he would punctuate a distinguished career with an occasional entertainment like this, but has he really given up on serious roles? At his age, with his gifts?

I should imagine Neeson has to take what he can get in Hollywood these days. He's not exactly a spring chicken and doesn't have Clint Eastwood's career.Also he now has two kids to bring up alone and probably wants to get a large amount of dosh behind him so he can spend more time with them or eventually do less work.A lot of A List actors are finding it's not so great for them at the moment.

[Mr Sloane]

name='Windyridge']I should imagine Neeson has to take what he can get in Hollywood these days. He's not exactly a spring chicken and doesn't have Clint Eastwood's career.Also he now has two kids to bring up alone and probably wants to get a large amount of dosh behind him so he can spend more time with them or eventually do less work.A lot of A List actors are finding it's not so great for them at the moment.

Some of us A list non actors are finding it a struggle as well.

[dremble wedge]

name='TimR']

I can understand why he would punctuate a distinguished career with an occasional entertainment like this, but has he really given up on serious roles? At his age, with his gifts?

He's still due to play Abraham Lincoln for Steven Spielberg next year but with taking roles in The A Team and Clash of the Titans I imagine he's making money whilst the opportunity is there...

[Windyridge]

name='Mr Sloane']Some of us A list non actors are finding it a struggle as well.

Of course it goes without saying that all actors are struggling, as indeed are the rest of us. I was talking about those people who never used to have a problem earning millions of dollars.

[Windyridge]

name='Mr Sloane']Some of us A list non actors are finding it a struggle as well.

I'm dyslexic and read your post wrongly as you will have noted from my response! Yes, from A-Z we are all finding it a struggle.

[TimR]

name='Windyridge']I should imagine Neeson has to take what he can get in Hollywood these days. He's not exactly a spring chicken and doesn't have Clint Eastwood's career.Also he now has two kids to bring up alone and probably wants to get a large amount of dosh behind him so he can spend more time with them or eventually do less work.A lot of A List actors are finding it's not so great for them at the moment.

Well, that's a good point. I hope he does find roles suited to his abilities. I don't really see him as the type for The A Team as I have not seen him in a comedy - and that's what The A Team is.



On the other hand, I don't think George Peppard - or Leslie Neilsen - ever cracked a smile in decades of film and televsion until they suddenly turned into comic actors with excellent timing late in their careers.

[TimR]

name='dremble wedge']He's still due to play Abraham Lincoln for Steven Spielberg next year but with taking roles in The A Team and Clash of the Titans I imagine he's making money whilst the opportunity is there...

Lincoln



Well, he does have the dignity and the garvity and the depth.



Hmmmmm....

[SirOllyBolly]

name='batman']I have just read that Liam Neeson is expected to play the role of 'Hannibal Smith' in Joe Carnahan's 2010 scheduled update of The A-Team.

I pity the fool....



LINK: Mr. T Pities the Fool Facts Page