Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson close to joining ‘The A-Team’

During happier times.

The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper is in negotiations to play Lt. Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck in Joe Carnahan’s big-screen adaptation of The A-Team. What, that’s not enough? How about Liam Neeson (who is quite the master of bad-assery in Taken) playing John ‘Hannibal’ Smith?

Based on the ’80s TV favorite, the film will keep the basic premise of the show while maintaining a “more serious tone.” The A-Team is the story of four vets who are wrongly convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. They escape to become mercenaries. They ride in a sweet van.

20th Century Fox is shooting for a late August production start, with a June 11, 2010 release.