Showbiz
DS Fantasies: The new 'A-Team'
Published Thursday, May 21 2009, 06:00 BST | By Alex Fletcher | 10 comments
"If no-one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team!" This teasing intro acted as the signal for five stunning series between 1983 and 1987 that we were about to watch some amazing kick-ass action from the coolest four-piece since the Beatles - George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz and Mr. T. Twentieth Century Fox and Ridley Scott have promised us a big screen remake of the action franchise, but no details of the cast have been 100% confirmed yet. To offer a helping hand, DS has put a plan together and picked out the stars we'd like to see on the run for a "crime they didn't commit" in the rebooted franchise.
George Clooney as... Hannibal
Not many men could step into George Peppard's hefty boots as the cigar-chomping leader Col. John "Hannibal" Smith. In fact, George Clooney may be the only man with the guile and necessary silver locks to pull off the role. Big action stars such as Bruce Willis have been touted for the part, but bulging biceps and gunning down bad guys was never Hannibal's method of attack. We reckon Clooney could pull of the black gloves, daft disguises and "plan comes together" catchphrase with the necessary modicums of cool and sophistication and hold the movie together.
Owen Wilson as... Faceman
Sadly, Dirk 'Celebrity Big Brother' Benedict is now way too old to pull off the suave, schmoozing moves of Templeton "Faceman" Peck. But who can possibly fill in as the nifty conman on the big screen? He might have lost kudos for family-pleasing roles in Drillbit Taylor and Marley & Me, but we reckon Owen Wilson has the required charm, banter and way with the ladies to follow in Benedict's footsteps. He already has previous experience in reincarnating classic TV shows as well, co-starring with Ben Stiller in 2004's Starsky & Hutch.
Russell Brand as... "Howling Mad" Murdock
It might seem like a bit of a wild card and it would no doubt anger certain A-Team purists, but why not have Russell Brand taking over from Dwight Schultz as the mentally-unstable chopper pilot? The sex-mad dandy is making big moves in Hollywood at the moment and with his well-documented history with drugs, he should have the necessary knowledge to play the quirky, kooky and possibly-insane funnyman of The Team. If nothing else, we want him to get the part just so we can see him forming a double team with the next man...
Mr T as... Mr T
We racked our brains, dug out all our old dusty A-Team VHS and searched madly through IMDb, but in our opinion there is not one single actor on this whole planet that can match up to Mr T as "Bad Attitude" Baracus. Yes, he may be 56, and yes, he may have sold out with those Snickers adverts, but who else could turn a couple of slabs of sheet metal into a state-of-the-art tank and utter the immortal lines, "I pity the fool!" and "I ain't gettin' on no plane". That's right, nobody could! So come on Ridley, get on the blower to his agent and make it happen.
Who do you think should form the new A-Team? Should they get the original Mr T back? Leave your opinions in the usual slot below!
Not many men could step into George Peppard's hefty boots as the cigar-chomping leader Col. John "Hannibal" Smith. In fact, George Clooney may be the only man with the guile and necessary silver locks to pull off the role. Big action stars such as Bruce Willis have been touted for the part, but bulging biceps and gunning down bad guys was never Hannibal's method of attack. We reckon Clooney could pull of the black gloves, daft disguises and "plan comes together" catchphrase with the necessary modicums of cool and sophistication and hold the movie together.
Sadly, Dirk 'Celebrity Big Brother' Benedict is now way too old to pull off the suave, schmoozing moves of Templeton "Faceman" Peck. But who can possibly fill in as the nifty conman on the big screen? He might have lost kudos for family-pleasing roles in Drillbit Taylor and Marley & Me, but we reckon Owen Wilson has the required charm, banter and way with the ladies to follow in Benedict's footsteps. He already has previous experience in reincarnating classic TV shows as well, co-starring with Ben Stiller in 2004's Starsky & Hutch.
It might seem like a bit of a wild card and it would no doubt anger certain A-Team purists, but why not have Russell Brand taking over from Dwight Schultz as the mentally-unstable chopper pilot? The sex-mad dandy is making big moves in Hollywood at the moment and with his well-documented history with drugs, he should have the necessary knowledge to play the quirky, kooky and possibly-insane funnyman of The Team. If nothing else, we want him to get the part just so we can see him forming a double team with the next man...
We racked our brains, dug out all our old dusty A-Team VHS and searched madly through IMDb, but in our opinion there is not one single actor on this whole planet that can match up to Mr T as "Bad Attitude" Baracus. Yes, he may be 56, and yes, he may have sold out with those Snickers adverts, but who else could turn a couple of slabs of sheet metal into a state-of-the-art tank and utter the immortal lines, "I pity the fool!" and "I ain't gettin' on no plane". That's right, nobody could! So come on Ridley, get on the blower to his agent and make it happen.
Who do you think should form the new A-Team? Should they get the original Mr T back? Leave your opinions in the usual slot below!
Your Views
10 Comments
Your Responses
Calum White, on May 21st, 2009
OK I think: HANNIBAL: Geroge Clooney or Richard Dean Anderson FACE: Ryan Reynolds or Jensen Ackles MURDOCH: Adam Sandler or Simon Pegg BA BARACUS: Mr T or Terry Crews Just my thoughtd
OK I think: HANNIBAL: Geroge Clooney or Richard Dean Anderson FACE: Ryan Reynolds or Jensen Ackles MURDOCH: Adam Sandler or Simon Pegg BA BARACUS: Mr T or Terry Crews Just my thoughtd
Martin Grant - Newcastle, on May 21st, 2009
Definitely not Sacha Baron Cohen OR Russell Brand as Murdock; Jim Carrey has to be him - he acts and looks just like the original actor, Dwight Schultz. Don't like Owen Wilson as Faceman; Michael Weatherly from "NCIS" would be a much better choice. And Kiefer Sutherland would make a great Hannibal - again, better than Clooney could, because the latter is now typecast as suave, cool, sophisticated, womanising, flash criminals.
Definitely not Sacha Baron Cohen OR Russell Brand as Murdock; Jim Carrey has to be him - he acts and looks just like the original actor, Dwight Schultz. Don't like Owen Wilson as Faceman; Michael Weatherly from "NCIS" would be a much better choice. And Kiefer Sutherland would make a great Hannibal - again, better than Clooney could, because the latter is now typecast as suave, cool, sophisticated, womanising, flash criminals.
Dan, on May 21st, 2009
Hannibal: George Clooney Murdoch: Jim Carrey Mr-T: Ving Rhames Face: Brad Pitt
Hannibal: George Clooney Murdoch: Jim Carrey Mr-T: Ving Rhames Face: Brad Pitt
Peter Hartley - Shifnal Shropshire., on May 21st, 2009
I agree with Clooney as Hanibal and Owen Wilson as Face, not sure about ice cube for BA Baracus but for me the only person to be able Murdoch would be Jim Carrey he would be fantasic.
I agree with Clooney as Hanibal and Owen Wilson as Face, not sure about ice cube for BA Baracus but for me the only person to be able Murdoch would be Jim Carrey he would be fantasic.
Sam, Nottingham, on May 21st, 2009
Hannibal: George Clooney Murdoch: Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey Mr-T: Ice Cube Face: Ryan Reynolds
Hannibal: George Clooney Murdoch: Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey Mr-T: Ice Cube Face: Ryan Reynolds
Zak, Glasgow, on May 21st, 2009
Are you kidding, Russel Brand as Murdoch? After all the controversy in his part in the Andrew Sachs scandal i think not. As far as I understand Bradley Cooper is the Faceman. I think cost may well be an issue for the study. Getting big names to be in this movie might not be viable for the study so they will probably go for lesser known names. Here is my A Team: Hannibal - Nicholas Cage Faceman - Bradley Cooper Murdoch - Sasha Baron Cohen (understated talent) Mr T - Michael Clarke Duncan
Are you kidding, Russel Brand as Murdoch? After all the controversy in his part in the Andrew Sachs scandal i think not. As far as I understand Bradley Cooper is the Faceman. I think cost may well be an issue for the study. Getting big names to be in this movie might not be viable for the study so they will probably go for lesser known names. Here is my A Team: Hannibal - Nicholas Cage Faceman - Bradley Cooper Murdoch - Sasha Baron Cohen (understated talent) Mr T - Michael Clarke Duncan
James, Nottingham, on May 21st, 2009
RUSSELL BRAND? Why not just cast Pauly Shore and have done with it?
RUSSELL BRAND? Why not just cast Pauly Shore and have done with it?
Karl Watson, Coalville, on May 21st, 2009
It should read "Mr T as... B. A. Baracus"
It should read "Mr T as... B. A. Baracus"
Neil Bowyer, Farnham, on May 21st, 2009
My dream cast would be Al Pacino as Hannibal, Tom Cruise as Face, Nicolas Cage as Murdoch and Ice Cube as Mr T. I have re-created the opening of the original show with these actors - please have a look and tell me what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxsMFTbf-fI
My dream cast would be Al Pacino as Hannibal, Tom Cruise as Face, Nicolas Cage as Murdoch and Ice Cube as Mr T. I have re-created the opening of the original show with these actors - please have a look and tell me what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxsMFTbf-fI
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don't think Clooney after his Batman proformance but Richard Dean Anderson is a good call for Hannibal, Jensen Ackles would be perfect as Face, Ryan Renyold's would be a gr8 back up but could quite easily pull off Howlin' Mad Murdoch. Ving Rhymes would do a good job of B.A