The A-TEAM Movie Info Page

      Formerly known as the A-TEAM MOVIE CAMPAIGN PAGE


      Last updated: August 11, 1998

      I'm basically turning this page into a bulletin board for any news/rumors/etc that I hear regarding the A-Team movie. Apparently it's "not quite dead-in- the-water" as I'd heard before. Please keep in mind the following as you read this page:
        I have NOTHING to do with this project. So if you write me a long email spouting off about how much you hate the idea of the movie/love the idea of the movie, realize NO ONE but me sees it! I'm not associated with Mr. Cannell, Universal Studios, etc. So write to them if you want to be heard, and don't kill me, the lowly internet messenger.


      Posted: August 11, 1998

      According to a chat session back in June, Mr. Cannell mentioned that the movie IS still in the works--though nothing so far as casting or a release date were mentioned. So it sounds as if the project is still stuck somewhere in development hell.

      For another site with news on the movie, though the latest information on the page is dated August 12 of 1997, visit http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/index.html.

      Posted September 20, 1997:

      In case you haven't heard the news, the first script submitted for the A-Team movie has been junked (and deservedly so!) The following was reported in the trade papers a short while back:

      "Meanwhile...Cannell's plans for a big-screen "The A-Team" aren't coming
 together as fast as planned.  After Universal gave a thumbs-up to the script,
 it was decided the story could be better, and new drafts of the screenplay
 are now being written.  No telling when casting will start.  Meanwhile,
 Cannell has finished the screenplay for his current "King Con" novel, and is
 halfway through penning his fourth non-fiction book."


      As someone who has personally read the entire first draft, as penned by Richard Hatem, I can say this is certainly a welcome bit of news. The first script was a terrible, cliche-driven mess of a standard summer action- flick, with no character and little if any resenblance to TV's A-Team. We can only hope that continued letters from fans, we can eventually get common sense (and good taste!) to prevail.

      More updates as we hear them!

      The Movie Campaign

      Are you dismayed/enraged about the idea of the A-Team being recast for theatrical release? If so, there is a campaign to encourage Cannell and Universal Studios to keep the original cast members in the movie. Considering some of the names that have been thrown around for the new cast (such as Mel Gibson) are of actors no younger than Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, and Mr. T, it seems that the argument that the original actors are "too old" for the parts just doesn't make sense. Here are the addresses you can write to:

      ADDRESSES

      Universal Studios
      100 Universal City Plaza
      Universal City, Calif. 91608

      Stephen J. Cannell Productions.
      7083 Hollywood Boulevard
      Hollywood, CA 90028

      OTHER VOICES ON THIS MATTER:

      Here is the letter I received which started the whole campaign going. 
      Attention Nicole:

                                                                      1-25-97
I need your help. I have been in contact with Mr. Benedict concerning
the chances of getting the original cast back in a television movie special,
and even the movie. He has informed me that everything comes down to Mr.
Cannell.  As loyal fans we need to write him and stating that we want the
orginal cast, not just some big names. They are the ones who made the show
appealing to all of us.  Aside from the fact that Mr. Benedict's character as
well as Mr. T's was written especially for them(who better to play them). If
we can generate large quanities of letters stating that we want them, there is
a good chance we can change Mr. Cannell's mind. Maybe even get him to consider
a television movie special. With all the fans that read your newsletter as
well as the home page,  I know you could benefit our ultimate goal. They take
letters very seriously, one letter is equal to many people's opinion, can you
imagine what hundreds could do. You could generate the necessary letters
needed to make such an impression on Mr. Cannell. Would you be willing to put
this in your newsletter as well as on the home page with Cannell's address.
I only have the Univeral Studios address at this time. But even so, he would
get the message. We need to show our support for Dirk Benedict, Mr. T. and
Dwight Shultz, by writing him. If we truly are fans of the show, we need to
speak out and make a difference. With your help we could.

Thanks so much,
             Joyce
             ATeam15444@aol.com

      
Here is another letter from a fan on this subject:

      
From: Ruoti10@aol.com
To: onthejazz@umich.edu
Subject: Fans should speak out!

How come The Rockford Files, Hunter, and Wiseguy (all Stephen Cannell shows)
got to have TV movies with its original cast? Why_Because the fans spoke out.
How come Star Trek the TV series became a big screen movie, 10 years after
the show went off the air and still starred its original cast? Why_Because
the fans spoke out. How come The A-Team is going to be a big screen movie and
NOT star its original cast??????

Maybe its time WE speak out. I don't want other actors playing The A-Team. I
want them to cast the original actors. THE REAL A-TEAM. What made the show so
great was the chemisty between the characters and actors. No one else can
recreate that. And without that chemistry this movie is just going to be
another action flick_but with The A-Team name.

I know that George Peppard not being around anymore makes things difficult.
But that doesn't mean the rest of the cast can't return. I rather see them
replace Hannibal than see them replace all four.

If we all feel the same way, we can do something about it. Just like the fans
of those other shows. I know it sounds like a long shot. But if the fans of
the shows I listed above never went for that long shot, those movies would
have never been made.

Those fans did it. So can we.
(If we want to)

Gina

      
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