A feature lenght film idea has been in development since the mid 1990s, going through a number of writers and story ideas, and being put on hold a number of times, according to "Variety" Universal Pictures planned to release a big-budget version of the action-comedy show for summer 1998 co-wrote by Richard Hatem with an initial of budget $250,000.

Then in October 2004 after all the years of rumours and speculation it was officially announced that the A-Team

Premise: According to ComingSoon.net Joe Carnahan and the Scott brothers say they will use the original premise of the series as the template for an action film. In the original, four Vietnam vets convicted of armed robbery escape from a military prison and became do-gooder mercenaries. The Middle East will replace Vietnam as the place the four did their tour of duty, "A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their names with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed".

Who's Making It: 20th Century Fox with Joe Carnahan (Director/screenwriter), Brian Bloom (screenwriter), Skip Woods (screenwriter), Michael Brandt (screenwriter), Derek Haas (screenwriter), Stephen J. Cannell (Producer), Jules Daly (Executive Producer), Ridley Scott (Executive Producer), and Tony Scott (Executive Producer).

Starring: Bruce Willis (Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith), Woody Harrelson (Captain H.M "Howling Mad" Murdock) and Ice Cube (Sergeant Bosco "B.A" Baracus).

Release Date: 11th June 2010
Genre: Action, Adventure

26th June 1996: Universal has hired the screenwriter of Under Siege 2: Dark Territory to pen the first draft of the script (for $250,000 against $500,000 - in Hollywood terms this means Hatem receives a quarter of a million to write the script, and another $250,000 to bring his total paycheck to half-a-mil once the show gets a greenlight. Cannell has said the show will be on par with any other major action release. - Variety (US)

11th June 1996: The makers of the A-Team movie may be considering Mel Gibson for the George Peppard role and would like the other three main actors to reprise their characters, but only in cameo roles. - Corona.bc.ca (US)

22nd August 2000: Top Cow Productions has snagged this project out of the tenth circle of Development Hell for low-six against low-seven figures and it's now over at Fox 2000, where they're looking at developing it for release next year. - Variety (US)

9th February 2001: In the midst of all the recent A-Team buzz, even more juicy tit-bits seem to be storming into our scooping compound. As this project appears to be picking up speed, we've managed to uncover what very well may be a few possible yet solid casting potentials for this resurrected television to big-screen feature. From what we've heard, Brendan Fraser, Taye Diggs, Mel Gibson, and Owen Wilson may be the new and improved members of the elite squadron. But wait, there's more... at this stage of the game, Bosnia may be the top spot for the film's backdrop. - Corona.bc.ca (US)

25th February 2001: Mel Gibson is to star in a film version of Eighties telly show The A-Team. The Braveheart star plays cigar-chomping Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith in the explosive action flick. Smith, formerly played by the late George Peppard leads a bunch of rebel commandos who carry out missions for cash while being chased by the US military. Aussie heart-throb Gibson, 45, will pop up in different disguises, belting out the catchphrase: "I love it when a plan comes together." Producers reckon the movie will be as hot as the film remake of TV hit Charlie's Angels. Brendan Fraser, 32, star of The Mummy, plays Lieutenant Templeton "Face" Peck, a suave babe magnet. The part of Sergeant Bosco "BA" Baracus, played on telly by former pro-wrestler Mr. T, goes to Taye Diggs, 28. He will sport a Mohican barnet and lavish gold jewellery. And Meet The Parents star Owen Wilson, 32, will be Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock, spouting rapid-fire nonsense. Filming is due to start later this year. - John McJannet, Daily Star (UK)

12th October 2004: Eightie's TV shot The A-Team is being remade for the big screen. The series which featured the action-packed adventures of Hannibal Smith, BA Baracus, Face and Howling Mad Murdock, will be placed in a contemporary setting. Muscleman Mr. T, who starred in the original series, could be brought back for the film, alought not as his character BA. James Bond screen writer Bruce Feirstein is writing the movie version of the popular US series, which ran from 1983 to 1987, according to the hollywood industry bible Variety. Stephan j. Cannell, who created the original show is co-producing the new movie of Fox. He said "Mr. T and I had lunch last week, and I'd really like to have him in the movie, altough we haven't begun casting. "I always think it's nice to see the stars of the old show in cameo roles in the movie. But obviously he won't be playing BA Baracus." - Shropshire Star (UK)

25th March 2008: After being in development hell for almost 10 years, the big screen version of "The A-Team" looks like it may finally be coming to theaters in 2009. Based on the hit NBC series that ran from 1983-1987 and starred George Peppard (Capt. John "Hannibal" Smith), Mr. T (B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus), Dirk Benedict (Templeton "Faceman" Peck), and Dwight Schultz ("Howling Mad" Murdock), the film version will be directed by Oscar nominee John Singleton. Although a cast has not yet been announced, Singleton hopes to get Woody Harrelson for the role of zany chopper pilot "Howling Mad" Murdock. Expressing interest in the role of ace mechanic and all-around "Mr. Fix It" B.A. Baracus is none other than Ice Cube. Cube told blackfilm.com that he would even sport the Mohawk look if given the role. - Pop Culture Dish (US)

16th May 2008: John Singleton has apparently decided that Tyrese Gibson will play BA Baracus in his forthcoming feature film update of the popular television series "The A Team." But contracts have yet to be signed and the deal is not yet finalized. According to the Web site CHUD (Cinematic Happenings Under Development), the actor-singer confirmed that he has been offered the role made famous by Mr. T. But the script is still being worked on and taking the role would depend on scheduling. As for the character's look, Black Ty said he wouldn't rule out sporting Mr. T's trademark mohawk, but he's hoping to bring BA into the 21st century, so don't expect a ton of bling around his neck. - EURweb.com (US)

Personally I was hoping that the film would never be made, but unfortunately it was officially announced in 2004 that the film would made and placed in a contemporary setting, which basically means that it will have nothing to do with the original series other than its title and character names this seems to be common practice with Hollywood studios over the last few years they don't appear to be able to employ writers who have enough talent to write their own material, instead they have to copy whats gone before, producing endless poorly done remakes and follow-ups finished off with "off the shelf" chart music.

A prime example of this is The Dukes of Hazzard (rated 4.7/10 by 23,205 IMDB users), two remakes both of which had endless scenes of uncalled for nudity which had absolutly nothing to do with the plot other than to titillate the low IQ's of those that watched and worte the film and of course scenes like this mean the the film studio's can release the initial home video version without nudity and then two months later they can then release it again labeled as "Uncut", "Unseen", "Extended" and the list goes on. Along with the nudity came endless sexual expletives and lame sexual jokes "I think something bounced up into my undercarriage" and "You better be reading my nametag, friend" "I'am, I'am. I noticed your initials were double D." makeing the Dukes out to be foul-mouthed Drug dealing criminals which they were'nt. In fact the only thing these films have in common with the original is an Orange Dodge Charge, is this what we can expect in an A-Team remake?

The biggest problem behind these remakes, I feel lies with those that are responsible for researching the film they always fail to actually pay atention to the style of filming (the A-Team loved close up shots on car wheels and other strange angles) and the way in which the characters present them selves, their use of grammar, age, height (Tim Dunigan, who first played the role of Lt. Templeton Peck in the pilot epsiode was fired afterwards Because of the fact that he was "too tall and too young".) and weight, Sorrell "J.D. Boss Hogg" Booke, actually wore padding in the original series of the Dukes of Hazzard making him a short fat bloke who "comfort ate", yet in both remakes Boss Hogg was'nt even half the weight of the orginal character and in the second atempt at remaking the film he'd not only lost wait but got younger. You would have thought that now endless amounts of computer generated scenes, stunts and chart music that have completly replaced the use skilled stunt people and composers the studios would have more time to research things properly. - This is one of many reasons why I enjoy watching films and shows like the A-Team and Dukes, because of the Originally composed muisc, fight scenes and automotive stunts, I even enjoy the odd scene where you unintentionally get to see body doubles and roll cages!

As I've already said I was hoping that the film would never be made, but now that it is, I think that it should be a follow-up from the original, remember they where vietnam veterans, so the fact that the orignal cast are now in their late 50's/early 60's should'nt matter but unfortunately the film studio won't even consider them because of their age instead there'll cast a bunch of YT trainees chosen for their looks and not their talent as actors to help keep the budget down. So with the original cast almost certainly not in it who would I like to take over the roles of are misfit mercenaries, Mel Gibson as Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith (this role has actually gone to Bruce Willis (I'm reasonable happy with that), Jim Carrey as Captain H.M "Howling Mad" Murdock alought I think he's possable a bit to funny for the role (this role has actually gone to I belive Woody Harrelson (again, I think thats actually a good choice, He even looks a little like Dwight), Ben Affleck as Lt Templeton Arthur "Faceman" Peck, no toughts for Col. Lynch/Decker, Pen�lope Cruz/Natasha Henstridge as Amy Allen (only cos I fancy them and not because they would necessarily be suitable).

Which brings me to who will be IMPERSONATING Mr. T for the role as B.A, the original part was written for Mr. T who I believe has already turned down a cameo in the film. Both Tyrese Gibson, who was reportady offered the role by director John Singleton (who has now pulled out) and Ice Cube who looks set to play the part, both said that they wouldn't rule out sporting Mr. T's trademark mohawk. So with Ice Cube in it I guess the character of B.A is going to be some kind of Drug takening Mutha f****n "Gangsta wannabe" who can't string a sentence together without saying stuff like "Bitch", "N**ga" and Mutha F***a, which seems to be the norm with anything that he appears in not to mention the fact that he does'nt even look menacing enought to play the part of the A-Team's hard man, you certainly would'nt wet yourself if you met him up a dark alley where as 6' 6" muscle bound Tommy 'Tiny' Lister has got the physic and maybe even sounds a little menacing and therfore would be my choice for B.A.

As for the plot, well I personally think that it's a complete joke:

The A-Team (2010):- "A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed."

The Real A-Team:- The A-Team was about 4 VIETNAM SOLIDERS/VETERANS who in "1972", after acting upon orders from Colonel Morrison stole a hundred million yen from the Bank of Hanoi. Morrison, who took a round in one of the last shellings and with his headquarters burnt to the ground meant that no records of the mission were found. The team get court marshalled by the Army and sent to "Fort Bragg" maximum security prison "for a crime they didn't commit", but before the case goes to trial they escape over the wall 'to the Los Angeles underground'

1.) They were VIETNAM VETERANS not Iraq War veterans.

4.) "U.S. Military, who suspect the four men" One man (Murdock) was NOT wanted by the Military as he had been discharge and sent to the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Westwood, California on the grounds of insanity based on his "paranoid anxiety delusions and intermittent memory loss".

2.) They were not suspected of committing a crime the government imprisoned them for committing a crime.

3.) They were not framed they were "acting upon orders" from Colonel Morrison as stated in the pilot episode.

My point being is that how can you remake somthing when the writers are completly changing the original storyline, plot and time zone behind what made the series and characters who they were and what they were when non of the original story exists, yet still call it "The A-Team", you can't this is not "The A-Team". The changing of the story also mean's that the title for the film is now incorrect The "A" actually stood for "Alpha" meanig Alpha Team which was a military term used to describe the first team in a miltary squad of U.S. Army Special Forces troops now called ODA's (Operation Detachment Alpha) hence A-team. The second was a Bravo Team. An instance of it's use in a simple squad ambush the A-team would be the assault element and the B-team would be the support element, covering the objective as the A-team assaults it. The term is now used to describe a flight of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, Tactical Air Command And Control Specialists that supports the United States Armies 101st Airborne Division, 1st BCT, at Fort Campbell, in Kentucky.

Mr. T was "The A-Team" and they can never recreate that, but with shows orginal creator Stephen J. Cannell's input hopfully the so called remake might not be to bad but then agian it could be just another P**s take like Dukes of Flop.