The Many Faces Of BA

BA “Bad Attitude” Baracus, of course, got his start with gold chain-adorned performer Mr T.

While T has said over the years that he’d be tempted to return to the role, most producers and directors have said that if he crops up at all, it’ll be in a cameo.

So who could play BA? We’ve already mentioned Ving Rhames (and Michael Clarke Duncan was rumoured at one point too), but several other men have thrown their hats (or should that be Mohawks?) into the ring.

First up, Ice Cube. The rapper-turned actor expressed a serious desire to snatch the role when John Singleton was attached. “Man, I am so ready to play ‘Baracus. I was a big, big Mr. T fan. I mean, c’mon, Clubber Lang (in Rocky III) was amazing. I even watched his Saturday morning show, but that was cheesy.

I was like everybody else, I watched it for about six weeks and said, ‘Man this isn’t any good.’ But the A-Team, I would love for this to happen.”

Of course, he had to wait out the various strikes. "Everything is in limbo. I really want it to happen and it’s the thing we’ve been talking about lately, the thing on the other side of the strike or no-strike.

“I think it could be great. I always look at how they did Mission: Impossible and even how they upgraded Batman from what it was not that long ago. The key is the story and the director.”

Sadly for Cube, Singleton passed and he hasn’t had much input since. But he could still be considered – hell, he even volunteered to wear a Mohawk…

Up next, Tyrese Gibson (above), who was also a Singleton alum. He looked to be a solid lock for the project (at least according to him), and told CHUD he’d been hitting the weight room to be ready. That, and learning double Dutch… There’s no word on whether he might actually make the final cut, but he’s not a bad choice given Bradley Cooper’s casting.

Hot on the heels of Terminator Salvation, Common also expressed an interest… "Yeah that would be something cool, but, I mean, let's see, I can't speak on it yet until we know what's going on but that would be an incredible character to play," he told IESB about rumours he might take the role.

He just wasn’t so sure about loading up on gold chains. "It's a new day, you just got to give it something new. The kids don't know that B.A. so you wanna bring something new to it and you want to pay respect to B.A. and the way B.A, was created too.

“I believe there is a way to find a combination, I have certain similarities to Mr. T already. We are both from Chicago, we are both rebels in our own way. I could really get that, I could really get that."

And finally, the latest contender – The Game. What is it with rappers-turned-actors vying for the part? Must be the bling…

Joe Carnahan plans to start shooting in August – let’s hope the Carnahan Curse (two films are already lodged in development hell) doesn’t strike again and we finally get this thing on screen…

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