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Website, BlackFilm is reporting that rapper (which, by default, makes him rapper/actor), The Game is a leading candidate towards landing the coveted role of B.A. Baracus (made famous by Mr. T) in the upcoming feature film reboot of The A-Team. The Game joins a rather long list of prospective candidates for the role, the most prominent of which, include rapper/actor, Common, rapper/actor, Ice Cube, and MMA fighter, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. (Pictured left to right, with The Game being in the third slot.)

Should he be cast, The Game would join (prospectively) Liam Neeson as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith and Bradley Cooper as Templeton "Face" Peck for the reboot film (currently set for a June, 2010 release.) 

Who is the right person to play the role? There certainly are plenty of "fools" that need to be "pitied," and plenty of "predictions" of pain to be made. While B.A. may be a somewhat of an amalgamation of Mr. T's off-screen personality and his Rocky III character, Clubber Lang, he is nonetheless, the Hamlet of 80's "badass" stereotypes. (Which I guess would make Mr. T either Laurence Olivier or Kenneth Branagh.) There's mighty big shoes to fill, here!

At this point, the casting would probably be based on the stylistic direction of the film itself. If they are going for a genuinely nostalgic experience where the characters are caricatures of the original, placed in an authentic setting, with a watered-down version of original show storylines as a plot, then The Game or Common would probably NOT be a good idea. In that instance, an Ice Cube who is ready to bust out his comic chops as a Mr. T impressionist would be preferable. However, in my opinion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would be perfect for the part. He has the badass look and obviously can fight. Also, whether it be in his pre and post-fight interviews, or his tenure as a coach on last year's Spring season of The Ultimate Fighter (he will serve as a coach again this Fall with Kimbo Slice in the cast), he clearly shows that he could pull off a role that entails comic skills while being believably tough. Unfortunately, I seriously doubt that he would be selected, since the film seems to be going into a different direction.

Given the type of film that this remake is sounding to be (with Smokin' Aces Director, Joe Carnahan at the helm), it's certainly sounding like a film that will merely use nostalgia for the show as a platform to produce a conventionally modern type of action film, full of slow-motion shots, rap music, obligatory over-the-top sexuality, and an overall "too the extreme!" attitude. (At least, that's my impression.) Therefore, while the news about The Game should be taken with a grain of salt, it also seems highly likely that a rapper will be named for the role, by virtue of getting hip-hop fans into the theaters. The Game certainly sounds like someone they would cast for the role, therefore, I'm inclined to agree that it will happen.

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