“I pity the fool who goes to see the new A-Team movie,” said Mr. T. way back in 2010 when a big screen adaptation of the 1980s TV series was set to hit movie theaters that summer. Well, not verbatim, but that was pretty much his implication.

The then 58-year-old tough guy, who played the original BA Baracus in the hit 1980s TV show, saw a preview of the film and he wasn’t too pleased, saying he was shocked by how graphic it was, and that it contained too much sex and violence.

“People die in the film and there’s plenty of sex but when we did it, no one got hurt and it was all played for fun and family entertainment. These seem to be elements nobody is interested in anymore. It was too graphic for me. I’ve no doubt it will do big business at the box office but it’s nothing like the show we turned out every week,” Mr T said.

The movie was rated PG-13 by the way. I can only image what he would’ve said it was R-rated.

Franklin I vaguely recall the movie. I know I saw it, but I don’t think it was anything worth talking about after the fact. And I don’t remember it being over-sexed and violent. But maybe I’ll revisit it on home video this week, especially given today’s news courtesy of Deadline…

A new TV series adaptation of "The A-Team" is in development at Fox – something that will be set in the present day, as I’d imagine. "Fast & Furious" writer/producer Chris Morgan will executive produce the series, along  with director Tawnia McKiernan. "Sleepy Hollow" executive producer Albert Kim is scripting the adaptation.

No ETA yet; but I’d look for a fall 2016 debut at the earliest. And certainly no casting news either given how early in the process it is. Although of most interest to this blog is who will be cast to play BA Baracus, the character originated by Mr. T in the 1980s.

In the 2010 movie adaptation, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was the guy. He was joined on screen by Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Sharlto Copley. 

Joe Carnahan directed. 

It grossed just over $77 million domestic on a $110 million budget; Not quite a blockbuster.

It’s also worth noting that Mr T was offered a cameo role in the movie, but he passed on it.

So now we wait…