Joe Carnahan Reflects On The Box Office Performance Of ‘The A-Team’: “We Just Blew It”

Director Joe Carnahan recently shared some candid thoughts about why the 2010 big screen adaptation of ‘The A-Team’ failed to launch a long term franchise. Although the film featured a high profile cast and plenty of explosive action, it did not perform well enough at the box office to justify a follow up. Many fans have wondered for years why the project stalled despite having stars like Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper in the lead roles. The filmmaker now admits that certain external factors played a massive role in the disappointing theatrical run.

Carnahan pointed specifically to the marketing strategy and the unfortunate timing of the theatrical release as the primary culprits for the low numbers. The movie arrived in cinemas on the same day that the World Cup began, which drew away a significant portion of the target audience. He noted that selecting such a competitive date was a major mistake for the production. This scheduling conflict made it difficult for the action flick to gain the momentum needed for a successful opening weekend.

The competition was also incredibly fierce because ‘The Karate Kid’ featuring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan opened during the same window. That family friendly martial arts film ended up dominating the charts and earned significantly more money than the military adventure. In the domestic market, the remake of the classic television show brought in roughly 77.2 million dollars. This total fell quite short of the expectations held by the studio executives at the time.

Even though a second film never happened, Carnahan had already developed an incredibly creative and bizarre concept for how ‘The A-Team 2’ would have started. The director envisioned an opening sequence that would have immediately subverted the expectations of the viewers. It featured Liam Neeson as John Hannibal Smith navigating a platinum white landscape while leading a team of sled dogs. As the camera pulled back, the audience would have realized that he was actually in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

The purpose of this strange journey was to reach a location known as the Citadel to rescue Bradley Cooper as the character Face. Instead of a typical shootout, Hannibal planned to win his friend’s freedom by engaging in a high stakes game of blackjack. He was prepared to wager a Lamborghini and various other luxury items against a mysterious figure called The Shape. Carnahan believed this unique opening would have set a fantastic tone for the second installment of the series.

Despite the initial financial struggles, the filmmaker highlighted that the movie has found a second life and a loyal following on various streaming platforms. Many viewers often approach him to express their genuine love for the project and its over the top energy. He also praised the work of composer Alan Silvestri, who provided the musical score before he went on to work on ‘The Avengers’. The director expressed a sense of sadness that they were unable to continue the story with another chapter.

The filmmaker is currently focused on his latest project titled ‘The Rip’ which is available for audiences to watch on Netflix. This new movie features performances from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon during a busy year for the two stars. While the era of this specific action team may be over, the original film continues to be appreciated as a fun and rewatchable experience. It remains a unique piece of modern cinema that tried to capture the silliness of its source material.

Share your thoughts on the creative opening planned for the sequel in the comments.