The A-Team (12A)

27 July 2010

THE A-TEAM was one of the most popular and successful television series to come out of the '80s.

It followed the daring exploits of a colourful team of former Special Forces soldiers who were set up for a crime they did not commit, and starred George Peppard and Mr T.

Now it gets the big screen treatment with Liam Neeson in the Peppard role as the cigar-smoking leader, Hannibal Smith.

The team specialise in missions which require split-second timing and unusual skills.

Stephen J Cannell, creator of the original series, is one of the film's producers.

He says: "The A-Team series went well beyond being a hit television series. It was a phenomenon.

"There were never leading men like those on The A-Team on television before.

"At its core, the series had a simple premise: four guys who are wrongly convicted of a crime decide to go out and help people who can't help themselves.

"The need to fight back against injustice is a great subject for a story and audiences responded to the show with fervour.

"Generations of kids grew up on the series and then a new generation got a chance to see it in re-runs and got the same kick out of it."

Neeson says: "As an ex-smoker, I felt conflicted about the cigar.

"But I understood why the writers kept the conceit; it does add a contentment to Hannibal's character when a plan is going well and he pulls out a cigar and lights it."

Hannibal is joined by Lt Templeton "Face" Peck, the conman and go-to guy (Bradley Cooper), ace helicopter pilot "Howlin' Mad" Murdock (Sharlto Copley), and mechanic BA Baracus (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson), who can make a machine out of anything.

And because THE A-TEAM (12A) needs a female presence, Jessica Biel is brought in as the team's number one pursuer, as well as a former girlfriend of Face.