how bout BEYONCE AS UHURA!!!!

Hey, when it comes to casting a new young James T. Kirk, the physical look is one thing, but for gawd’s sake, make sure the new guy CAN ACT!!!

uhm.
AWESOME!
I hope they get the whole re-casting thing right though.

This is excellent news! This means it’s not a young Lt. Kirk or Ensign Spock story or whatever. Although actually I wonder, isn’t there a HUGE gap between TMP and TWOK (2271-2285)? Thats a lot of room to tell a story in, much more than pre-TOS I would say. Since they’re recasting the entire crew anyway…why not? Plus I believes it solves the problem of how do you make those rainbow-brite looking 60’s sets look modern but still true enough to canon; not to mention the Enterprise, which is a classic but it’s not detailed enough for a movie. Heck, 1. They could easily make the bridge/sets/costumes look however they want (i.e. futuristic enough), the bridge changed enough from movie to movie anyway, and 14 years is a lot of time for refits or whatever. and 2. The TMP refit Enterprise is also a classic, but it doesn’t look nearly as dated as TOS Enterprise. After all, its sole purpose was to make detailed enough for the big screen. Sorry for the rambling but I think a post TMP, pre-TWOK direction would be a more logical place to go. 1. It’s a bigger gap in the canon to fill and 2. it solves the problem of updating the 60’s look.

Keep the ORIGINAL TOS Enterprise with modern tweaks. We don’t have to up-grage a 19th Century wooden ship to a WWII era battleship because “classic but it’s not detailed enough for a movie” if making a pic on those times.

I, however, agree that if it is set between TOS and TMP, we should see some more “modern” innovations in the sets. They should still look like TOS sets in terms of demention and scope…but I would say upgrade them to refect the advance of Technology.

I have always maintained that the designs of the TOS Enterprise in the TREK universe was a design ethic of that period to “streamline” and simplify (or you could say consolidate). This has precedent in our times with the PT Cruiser and in the way steam locomotives of the 1940s were smoothed out.

Thus, keep it the same…

Rosario Dawson as Uhura. ‘Nuff said.

Anthony…

http://hometown.aol.com/ledz4aces/images/arenaleslielean.jpg

Thsi is the best I could find…it’s from the “Mr. Leslie” reference page.

thanks major joe but that one has chekov

I think Gary Mitchell must feature as well. It might also include the vampire cloud monster as well. Very exciting.

Long time TNG fan, but even I find I am tired of TNG…….looking forward to this movie!

8. Anthony Pascale - August 4, 2007

That is not Chekov, but rather looks a bit like Sean Kenney, the “Pike-look-a-like.”

It is a scene from Arena.

AICN’s a good outfit. I’m pretty much inclined, given my experience with the good folks running it, especially Harry, that this’ on the mark. I look forward to further developments.

If they do it between TMP and TWOK, that’s ok with me, but I think it’s unlikely. But I do love the TMP Enterprise. But hated the uniforms. Hopefully they will use TWOK uniforms, which are my fav.

I still think it’s most likely to be 6 mos. to a year prior to Where No Man Has Gone Before. The only uniform that I really liked in TOS was Kirk’s wrap-around green tunic.

Meh.

I’m disappointed, particularly if they end up doing a “How The Trek Family First Met” sort of story. I would much rather have had either (a) a “Kirk’s first Enterprise mission” story with Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and otherwise new people, OR a (b) story with the entire TOS character roster, but set during the span of TOS itself. I’m not a canon-obsessed literalist, but I really like WNMHGB as a glimpse at an “early” Kirk, and that would be overridden by a story that had the whole shebang fully formed from the start. I felt that Vonda McIntyre made the same mistake with her “Enterprise: The First Mission” novel way back in the ’80s — she even found a way to cram Chekov into that one!

Anyway, I’m disappointed, but still more excited by the possibilities of this movie than I’ve been about any other Trek-related news in more than 10 years. We’ll see how things develop.

One other thing: Kudos to the new guys for remembering Sam! I mean, even *Kirk* seemed to forget him after the one episode where he appeared.

Aww, Anthony, you beat me to the photo thing. I was just going to suggest you photoshop Doohan’s head over the Yeoman’s behind Kirk. Oh well.

OK, my third post in a row, but I’m looking over the character descriptions and noticing some things.

Namely, since when is McCoy “a bit danger-loving”? He certainly cultivated the opposite persona as far as I can recall — his constant annoyance about the transporter, his response to T’Lar during the Fal Tor Pan ceremony, etc.

And the ages strike me as too close to each other — a maximum of a 9-year spread, with almost of the target ages overlapping?

If McCoy is in it then may I make a rather bold, and perhaps crazy, suggestion.

Daniel Craig as Bones.

I changed it out, the Arena shot seems to be the best bet at getting them all together without resorting to a publicity group photo that has Chekov in it.

If it were between TMP and TWOK why no Chekov? Has to be Pre-TOS. That’s something really exciting because anything prior to the TOS will be uncharted waters. I loved BATMAN RETURN’s they way they presented the past and told us the real story of Batman. I hope STAR TREK is along the same lines.

It will be an early adventure set during the first season, an episode we didn’t see, which is never mentioned again except by Spock in the newest Trek film, now can we quit this supposition?

it has to be Daniel Dae Kim as sulu, his a good actor , is in lost, so the Producers know him , plus he was in an esp of voy , what more do you need.
hmm as for the rest not to sure. I think alot of good actors could play bones and uhura. but its kirk and scotty that i think will be the hardest to cast . hmm i wonder if they will go with a Scottish person for scotty, or at least a British or Irish person . cause to be honest i have not seen to many american or canadian actors who can do a good scot accent (James Doohan was really one of a kind ( even if his accent was cheesy at times it added to the character but i think now days they need someone who is a Scot,Brit or Irish.

#21 - Definitely need a real Scot.

If you want a real Scot for Scotty, how about Paul McGillion from Stargate Atlantis? He looks like a great deal like James Doohan, and the accent is a natural!

16. Cranston ,,, I’m glad I’m not the only one!

McCoy “danger loving”?? Sulu “a wild cat”?? Not the McCoy and Sulu I know! They were recalcitrant and academic, respectively. Both on the conservative side.

That sucks! Honestly, the whole thing is written so childishly (’Hey look everybody, the chick is FUN! WHOOPEE!!’), it gives me pause.

Gary Sinese as McCoy is just such a dead on casting choice. How can this be overlooked? I don’t care if he’s over fifty. He looks younger. He looks like Deforest Kelley so much. And the voice is good. Mission to Mars was very much like a Star Trek story, and I was struck by how much he could play McCoy just from watching this film.
I do think James Doohan’s son (Chris?) would make a good choice as Scotty, based on the photos I’ve seen.
Aye, the haggis is in the fire for sure…let’s get the casting right.
And have I mentioned that actor Jesse Lee Soffer (Will Munson) from the CBS soap “As The World Turns” looks like a young Shatner? I might have said this before.

According to the Star Trek chronology…

2263-

James Kirk is promoted to captain of the Starship Enterprise and meets Christopher Pike (for the first time), who is promoted to fleet captain.

2264-

Captain James Kirk, in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise, embarks on a historic five year mission of exploration.

1 WHOLE YEAR PASSES

2265-

“Where No Man Has Gone Before”

1 WHOLE YEAR PASSES (2 years thus far that the Enterprise is on her 5 year mission).

2266-

Leonard H. McCoy assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise as ship’s surgeon. He replaces Dr. Mark Piper.

Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu accepts transfer from staff physicist to helm officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Uhura joins the crew of the USS Enterprise in 2266 as a lieutenant, serving as chief communications officer under Captain James T. Kirk

“The Corbomite Maneuver” takes place.

There is a one year gap between ‘where no man has gone before” and “the corbomite maneuver.” In this one year gap is where the crew we all know and love finally merge. This movie HAS to take place between “where no man has gone before” and “the corbomite maneuver.” If Abrams doesn’t he’ll be screwing up history. I hope he or the writers are reading this or that they have the star trek chronology on hand.

::thumbs up::

Paul McGillion / James Doohan

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0569295/iid_1162756.jpg.html?seq=11
http://www.badmovies.org/tvshows/startrek/scotty.jpg

If this is Kirk’s first mission as captain then you can’t have sulu, mccoy, or uhura. They don’t meet until 2 years after Kirk gets command. According to the Chronology anyway.

::thumbs up::

No already-famous actors. They don’t need the work, and if there’s one resource this country has in abundance, it’s talented (and unemployed, hungry actors.) It’s simple numbers…somewhere out there, there’s people who need the work more than Beyonce (blech) or Gary Sinise (ugh), and could also do a better job for less $.

In fact, I think every time a movie is made (be it a sequel or not) there should be an entirely new and unknown cast. Then people would have to spend more time considering the content of the story, and less time memorizing the names and faces of actors.

Phillip Baker Hall as Dr. Mark Piper.

YES WHOOOOoooooooo No stupid academy crap! Thank god.

Please be real.

Oh and I don’t mind someone like Beyonce as Uhura, it would go along way to getting a certain audience in who wouldn’t give Trek a chance otherwise, because the annoying thing about the whole geek/nerd stereotype is these folks would actually enjoy it if they watched it !

I have a comment and a question I would like everyone to ponder.
This question would be an interesting thread all in its own. (Anthony?)

I am so looking forward to this movie, time can’t pass quick enough. The last 2 Trek movies left a real sour taste in my mouth. I believe most true Trek fans would probably agree. A lot of us have an insatiable desire to try and “virtually” speed of time and get whatever little tidbit of information possible, NOW!?

My first though when I seen the word “Leaked” to start this thread was should I read any of it? I have a conflict between wanting to get to 12/25/08 sooner with leaked information, and not reading any of it to enjoy every scene of the movie with a type of virgin discovery.

Question:

If you had a chance to read the entire “Leaked” script before the movie came out, would you read it? (I would not)

Great news can’t wait for casting news.
LLAP

I know already that they’re going to miscast Uhura.

-TGP-

Remember guys this is a Reboot, so anything in the old time line can change, Characters like Kelso, and Gary Mitchell may not even appear which if it’s the first mission(before “Where No Man has Gone Before”)they should. Hell Mitchell was Number 1. Let’s give the Team a chance to get us something new instead of a remake.

Was it now stated somewhere that Kirk took command of the Enterprise at the age of 30?

Fellow Trek Fans,

I think we need to prepare ourselves for this movie taking certain liberties with established canon. So, while Leonard McCoy may not have joined the Enterprise crew officially until after the “second” pilot, you should ask yourselves whether its more important to keep up the chronology or to include McCoy in the new movie, where we can see him along with Kirk and Spock, doing their “classic” schtick? While I would love to see a canon-tight movie, something like McCoy being in this film (pre-WNMHGB) is fine with me as far as the big picture is concerned. So, be prepared for changes like this in other areas as well. I believe they’re being done to make this the best film possible.

Oh, and #33, I would absolutely read the script– without any hesitation. Scripts and actual movies seldom match up perfectly. Unless there’s a major twist that gets ruined by reading the script (like if one read “The Sixth Sense” before seeing it) I don’t see the problem.

I think Sanaa Lathan from Alien vs Predator would be a pretty good Uhura. And I really do think they should cast a Japanese/Japanese-American to play Sulu. I know people tend to mix up Asian ethnicities (Japanese, Chinese, Thai, etc) but they are all very different.

And regarding the chronology posted by “The Wild Man of Borneo” (26.), Is that really official canon? I don’t recall a definitive timeline ever being laid out in the series or any of the movies.

Thank you folks!!
This site is absolutely awesome!!

There is nothing in WNMHGB and Corbomite Maneuver that declares that Doctor Bones McCoy is not all ready aboard the Enterprise ..except what’s written in the Chronology. There’s a dozen reasons that can be “facted up” to explain that he was on Holiday’s, in bed sick, off on a humanitarian mission.

If it ain’t been on screen it ain’t Canon … isn’t that the way it goes? “Facts” in a book can be simply updated. I am a 40 year Star Trek veteran and whilst I know that McCoy didn’t APPEAR in WNMHGB, I didn’t know there was a year between it and the next episode. I even own the ST Chronology and have never read that!

So how many people really are going to be upset with McCoy, Scotty, Uhura etc, being in this movie? I think everyone will be devastated if as many characters as possible are not included.

PS Thanks for a great site Anthony - I love the weekends because that seems to be the best time to get a comment on. My trouble is I live in Australia, so you guys get your comments on early and by the time we’re up downunder and I get to it there’s a 100 or so ahead of me.

This seems rather dubious to me. I don’t think it’s real. The character descriptions don’t match up to the Original Series and movies (Danger-loving McCoy? Wildcat Sulu?). Now, before anyone says “Oh well then it’s real and Orci & Kurtzman are messing with teh characterisations blah blah blah” I’d like to point out one thing: LEONARD NIMOY LIKES THE SCRIPT. And I doubt he would like it if the characters were being screwed with.

Also, there are lots of little things. Sulu and Uhura are both much older than they should be - McCoy and Scotty’s ages make sense when compared to Kirk’s, but Sulu and Uhura are listed as being older than Kirk and (in Sulu’s case) possibly as old as Scotty. Also, the point that Kirk’s in his 20s and McCoy & Scotty in their 30s suggests the movie takes place before Kirk’s captaincy, but it would be odd and unlikely for them all (except for Chekov) to have met each other before serving on the Enterprise together. And finally, this contradicts the creative team’s hints that McCoy at least may not even be in the movie - something which would be consistent with the “Kirk-assumes-captaincy” theory.

This movie has had quite a few bad rumours and hoaxes attached to it - such as the Damon-Brody-Sinise casting rumour (which if you remember was said to have come from a “studio insider”). This is probably one of them.

I’m a little surprised by the age requirements on Bones and Scotty. I always got the impression they were a good bit older than Kirk, somewhere in their 40s. Scotty always came off as a lifer who had been in Starfleet forever, and Kirk benefited from his experience. And Bones, certainly seemed like an older trustworthy doctor, reminding you of the old doctors from westerns that used to make house calls. I really hope the screen isn’t full of young, fresh faced 20-something Ken dolls. Scotty and Bones were much older with character and experience in their appearence as well as their actions, I think the age requirements for those two characters is all wrong.

I thought maybe I could photoshop the photo to eliminate Chekhov but it had an unfortunate side effect in changing the dynamic between Kirk and Spock. Oh well!

http://www.jacil.org/arenaleslielean2.jpg

Well, I’m a little surprised by this, as I suspected the new movie would be taking place before the entire gang got together. On the other hand, I feel a little relieved, because if this really is the course the movie is taking, it seems like it’s really not about the Academy…a concept I didn’t love.

I reminded of, during the production of the TOS cast movies, the use of props that had unique identifiers to allow the production staff to ‘trace back’ leaks to those on the set who either inadvertently or deliberately allowed material into the hands of fans.

I’d heard about script-looking material similarly treated.

The group in the info sounds like the cast of “Gidget, In Space”.

#42 Recall what was written for Sulu in “The Naked Time”, after being infected.

I don’t envy the casting staff.

Paul McGillion would be great as Scotty, but he’s 38, so he misses the age allowance by 6 years.

Geez, this is a site dedicated to Star Trek and people don’t even know what Checkov looks like? Uhm, Arena took place in season one, folks, and even with Khan “recognizing” Checkov, he made no season one appearances. It IS the correct picture to use. Geez!!!!!

Paul McGillion as Scotty is a very good choice. He looks a lot like a young James Doohan. The fact that he is on Star Gate Atlantis is another plus, as sci-fi fans of that series could be drawn to Trek because of him.

Uhura… definitley Beyonce… but I worry about her “star power”. Being as famous as she is, she could be quite pricey. Nevertheless, she would be my first choice.

Kirk… Not many actors come to mind. One who does is CHRIS EVANS. Evans (Torch from Fantastic Four) has the right looks and humour for the role.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=545749270&size=m

I agree, Rosario Dawson for Uhura.

I think Michael Landes (of Lois & Clark) would make a *great* Bones!

Folks, this is probably fake. AICN’s track record is, shall we say, not exactly spotless when it comes to being fooled by stuff like fake casting sheets and so on. So I wouldn’t place a great deal of trust in this. Besides the out-of-sync age requirements, go to the original article and check the punctuation, or think about the weirdly divergent characterizations. (McCoy is “danger loving”? Uhura is a “tomboy”?) I’d bet a dollar this was written by one of AICN’s twelve year old “talkback” morons and never got fact-checked. The rule at AICN seems to be, the more likely it is to get the fanboys excited, the less likely they are to do their homework on it.

And if this is genuine, it makes me immediately concerned, as it seems that they’re going for a lame “how we all met” type story rather than one that could genuinely function well as a TOS movie.

Let’s remwmber, there are two possible ‘first missions’ scenarios to tell a story about? One would be Kirk’s first mission just after taking command,
when Pike was abruptly promoted to fleet captain in the middle of his 3rd five year mission? It would be later during this time frame when the events in WNMHGB take place, and so this ‘first mission’ should involve Gary Mitchell. The other scenario would be Kirk’s first ‘official’ mission upon embarking on his first full five-year mission as chronicled in TOS, and Gary Mitchall would already be gone.

MCcoy and Scotty are older than Kirk. At least 8-10 yrs older

Not roughly the same age as Kirk

#38

I’d echo that, and add one thing. Obviously, the character ( McCoy ) had a TOS-era existence before the events of the series, some of which is included in current canon, some of which is in film that “may be considered apocryphal” (GR, on STV), so, there’s nothing that says that the screen time for the McCoy character occurs on-board the Enterprise.

I’m not certain, but has there been any confirmation that the Big “E” herself will actually be the setpiece for the movie?

#33

I’d probably opt-out. I’d be tempted, but (a) I wouldn’t want to limit the enjoyment of the movie when it came out, and (b) I’d want to be tempted to blab about it with some of my Trekker friends/colleagues

Casting Jimmy Doohan’s son would be a nice way to honor a beloved character.

#23 they just killed off the stargate scottish guy. Could it be hes already in talks?

#36 - I wonder how many times it has to be said… No, it’s not a reboot.

#26 - Actually, the Chronology itself is outdated, with new on-screen info. e.g., the 5-year mission is now established in 2265-2270, etc. More directly, though, there are so many things that the Chronology (and even previous canonical Trek!) didn’t cover that this new film might that I’m not too worried about blatant contradiction.

The ages listed in that character sheet seem a little off in a couple of cases, but OTOH, we are talking about the 23rd Century, in which folks live longer, so perhaps the 40-year-old Scotty and 35-year-old McCoy might look just a little younger. ‘Course, too, if we’re seeing them at different points in their lives, perhaps actors of the listed ages would be the best to portray those characters, with a few makeup adjustments to cover the different timeframes. There’s ways to fudge that.

Best,
Alex

I don’t know if people would consider James Blish’s adaptations of TOS as ‘canon’, but in WNMHGB, Blish states that McCoy is part of the crew already, but is away at a conference, which is why Piper is acting as Chief Medical Officer. Granted, it conflicts with the ‘Chronology’, which just goes back to the whole canon issue that was extensively discussed in an earlier thread. I choose to believe that he was already assigned to the Enterprise, as it seemed their rapport was already established in the first season, indicating some degree of familiarity. But maybe that’s just me.

Did the writer’s bible for TOS say anything about it?

Someone else came up with this suggestion but I really think that James Franco ( Harry Osbourne from Spider-Man I,2,&3) would make a really good Captain Kirk.

#49 Ive agreed for some time that chris would be the perfect kirk. He swaggers, jokes, yet can show that empathetic side that kirk always had.

Franco comes off a lil meek in everything he plays, and is a bit whiny and has a slight lisp.

as for mccoy…thers a guy that looks like gary sinese i see on tv alot as a guest star…someone help me out…but the most important thing is the HAS to have bags under his eyes thats as noticable as ears on spock. Isnt that why we all thing sinese looks like mccoy?

Adam Cohen … you are exactly right. Sadly, though, I fear the nit-picking will overwhelm your logic. (Although, I would never read the script!)

IDIC.

#36. Mitchell was helmsman (even though he’s sitting in what’s usually the navigator’s chair). Kirk calls him helmsman at one point. Spock is never referred to as first officer in the episode but nobody else seems to be doing the job.

Spock has plenty of seniority from his time as a bridge officer under Capt. Pike so he could be first officer prior to WNMHGB. Despite Kirk and Mitchell’s long friendship, the movie could take place while Mitchell was assigned somewhere else, and McCoy’s absence in WNMHGB could be similar to Dr. Crusher’s absence in season 2 of TNG.

[JAMES KIRK] 23-92 Handsome,cocky self assured and earnest. Great physical condition. 6 ft or less

Hmmm.. one little typo and Shat could still pull it off.

Great news that we get the whole crew, give or take a faky-Russo Monkees clones. I hope that means it’s mostly onboard the E trekkin’ around. But, it could still mostly focus on early stuff and shunt the familiar bridge scene to a tiny bit at the end. We’ll see.

I love these leaks. I hope they time them out well, so we’re still getting tid-bits but NOT any big spoilers right up until the premiere.

53. Drew - August 5, 2007
MCcoy and Scotty are older than Kirk. At least 8-10 yrs older
Not roughly the same age as Kirk

It’s never stated, (except maybe Kirk referring to Scotty as “a man of Scotty’s years) but you are right. I think JJ simply wants to keep it young. Kelley had ten years on Shatner. kelley said in an interview one time that Roddenberry cast him to appeal to middle-ged women. I think the sense in Hollywood is more 12-17 have 100% disposable income (namely, their Daddy’s) and all the world must be young.

AICN is NOT a paragon of accurate reporting. I take anything I see from there with a hefty dose of salt.

Having said that, if it is true, it sounds like a movie version of “Enterprise: The First Adventure”, which featured various crew members in addition to Kirk joining the Enterprise crew after Pike’s mission, including Scott and Sulu. I don’t think they’ll go with the “encountering the giant snail shell collection” adventure part, but the basic concept was the crew comes together for the first time, each character learns to adapt to their new crewmates (or in Spock’s case, whether to stay in Starfleet or leave) and have an adventure that welds the crew together. Really not a bad way to go. They could even spin it off into a new series where the new TOS adventures take place in the interim spaces between the original episodes and then years four and five. After all, lets not forget TOS played pretty lose with both continuity and stardating. Anything’s possible.

Yeah James Franco, I started the campaign here. He has the right look (he looks a great deal like young Shatner), build , age, he can certainly do the physical stuff and can act. Don’t know if he has a lisp??? Never paid that much attention. They do have speech coaches on every major motion picture though. Don’t think it will be a problem. The Lord is rarely wrong. I wager all the quatoos in the Izar treasury that it will be Franco.

Now on to Uhura.. I bet Kerry Washigton of the Last King of Scotland gets the role. She is gorgeous, she, unlike Beyonce, can actually act and she looks a great deal like Nichelle.

Scotty…. Seems like a forgone conclusion that it will be James McAvoy. He was the first star rumored to be in the new Trek. Almost a year ago if my fellow founding posters remember.

Sulu…..This film will need to have worldwide appeal so why not cast one of the biggest stars in Asian cinema..Takeshi Kaneshiro. You know him from House of Flying Daggers. He speaks fluent English, he is in his early 30’s, very handsome and not only is he one of asia’s top five action stars but he also stars in many significat Asian dramas and comedys as well. Want to pull in the second largest movie going audience on earth cast Takeshi

McCoy… Sinise would have been perfect. So perfect in fact that the Lord is at a loss. Topher Grace however (with his that 70’s show hair) might fit the bill.

Rand…. Is she in this???? How about Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Geller to take the Captain’s Log

If this news really comes to pass, I hope the secondary characters remain that (as in the series). Star Trek (unlike the spin-offs) was not an ensemble show. Three characters stood out from the rest.
Don’t waste time developing the secondary characters too much.

Cast whomever you want, Abrams. I have no suggestions. You have my permission.

And if there is no Chekov in the movie, that makes me very happy.

As for McCoy being ‘danger-loving,” that would be iconsistent with the character. McCoy was courageous, certainly, but often promoted the idea of not rushing into danger.
I know he once spoke “I’ll take the danger,” but he certainly wasn’t loving it.

correction - “I CHOOSE the danger.”

For McCoy_

#61 - I think the “baby blues” are more important for McCoy than the bags. Not many in their 30’s have bags.

#67 - If Topher wore contacts, I could definitely see McCoy. Good choice!

A few things I’d love to see…

1. GARY MITCHELL!!!
2. Mark Piper… nothing to say McCoy wasn’t on the ship at the same time, and we could see or refer to Piper’s transfer/retirement/whatever, and see McCoy take over the CMO position. At least a verbal reference would be nice, if it’s that time period.
3. GARY MITCHELL!
4. Gary Sinise!!! Sadly, he’s likely considered too old for the part of McCoy.
5. I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE to finally see canon confirmation that McCoy joined Starfleet due to a bad divorce, and did NOT attend the academy. It shows that not every character has a happy/cookie cutter background. For those that don’t know, the original script for WAY TO EDEN revealed all of this, but was so heavily rewritten, that it was all thrown aside for singing space hippies.

I will accept Sulu as a wildcat… to a degree. He’s a well-controlled wild-cat

also must add… nothing wrong with having Chekov… just not on the bridge. Nothing to say he was not transfered to bridge duty after season one (always wondered why an ENSIGN was at the controls?)

AND it would verify Khan’s line of “I never forget a face, Mr…. Chekov, isn’t it?” Perhaps he met him below deck!

I agree that Gary Mitchell would be an important character to have.

This sounds great.

As far as Checkov is concerned in ST II, I know what Myers has said about it, but what if he really was a part of the crew first season, and was just below decks, doing somehint or other. Thw ould be very plossible. I would love to see a bit of Chekove doing something below decks, pinning about wanting to be on the bridge “I wish I was the navigator”…or whatever it was he does (This is a third generation Trekki writing, so forgive me if I don’t know ever little detail about the original series, all though I have watched the entire first two seasons and think it’s great”

Great news and some great nams have been throwing here for those roles.
43.
I’m a little surprised by the age requirements on Bones and Scotty. I always got the impression they were a good bit older than Kirk, somewhere in their 40s
I agree both bones and Scotty need to be closer to their 40s.

67. Now on to Uhura.. I bet Kerry Washigton of the Last King of Scotland gets the role. She is gorgeous, she, unlike Beyonce, can actually act and she looks a great deal like Nichelle.
This awesome choise and i can see her as Uhura. Kerry Washigton is 30 and agre that Rosario Dawson(28) would fit to as Uhura.
However i nominate also Zoe Saldana for role for Uhura.

We need more Asian actors for Sulu. Daniel Dae Kim(39) is too old we need younger Asian actor.

As for Kirk i want throw this actors Jensen Ackles(29) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers(30). Kirk need to be age between 27-30 and 5,10 to 6,1.

Come let have more ideas.

#67

Right on the money about Kerry Washington. Great actress, and a wonderous beauty!

And speaking of “Last King of Scotland” I wouldn’t mind McAvoy after having seen it. He doesn’t remind me of James Doohan in the least, but he’s a fine actor. Has it really been a year since that casting rumor popped up at Trekmove.com? Yikes.

Yeah Adam i believe it’s been almost a year since we heard McAvoy as Star Trek’s first casting rumor.

Daniel Craig as McCoy!

Sure he’s a little old but… with a slightly rounder face, the resemblance would be prettttay prettttay prettttay good.

Plus, he’s said publicly he wants to apprear in a Star Trek film AND can do a southern accent. Not to mention, he can act. C’monnnn!

Re: Canon — In the end, the canon is whatever Paramount says it is. If the new movie needs to accord with the chronology, Paramount will rewrite the chronology. They will not alter what they see as a good script simply to keep canon literalists happy. There aren’t enough canon literalists to make a difference to the movie’s bottom line, one way or the other. That doesn’t mean they will set out to trash canon. It means they’ve set out to make a movie that rakes in as much money as possible. Remember, if this movie flops, it is the last Trek movie, period.

I have to agree the ages don’t much up. McCoy and Scotty are older than Kirk. The rest should be younger.

sorry should be …ages don’t match up.

#71 youve obviously never saw an old western with kelley in it…he was in many for many years. the guy was born old lookin has had bags his whole life. they were his wisdom and his pain.

“So how many people really are going to be upset with McCoy, Scotty, Uhura etc, being in this movie? I think everyone will be devastated if as many characters as possible are not included.”

I don’t know if I’d be “upset”, but I do think it would have been interesting from the standpoint of shaking up the dynamic we’ve all been watching for the last 40+ years to *not* have the same 6 characters back again. To take a note from WNMHGB and throw in almost completely undefinied characters like Kelso, Mitchell, Piper, Alden, Smith and anybody else for that matter who could essentially be all new characters to play off of Kirk and Spock. If they are going with the “first mission” story, recasting 6 of the 7 original series characters just seems a little less interesting to me, and *that* seems a little less interesting to me than the “Kirk and Spock: The Formative Years” concept that’s been the subject of speculation.

I thought Uhura’s backstory was that she was from the United States of Africa. She is an African. Not an African-American.

That aside, it’s interesting but not unexpected that these characters will appear. I’m still hoping for Mitchell and Pike (and No. 1)

LOL, both Gary Sinese and Daniel Craig are HORRIBLE choices for McCoy. Facially there might be a slight resemblance, but neither of them could pull off the southern charm that Kelley had, or convince me that they were just “an old country doctor” at heart. They can do the grumpy thing well, but not the warm and friendly side McCoy also had.

And as for the canon thing, while it might be cool to see some of the Pike years on the big screen as part of Spock’s journey, it also wouldn’t bother me too much if they just ignored all that stuff. Some fans want to guard it with their life, but to me those were more just “early experiments” by Roddenberry than part of an official timeline he was trying to lay out.

Uhura grew up in a house full of brothers?That’s cute.

26 - The Star Trek Chronology and Encyclopedia from Pocket Books are outdated. An episode of Voyager established that the 5 year mission ended in 2270, which means “Where No Man Has Gone Before” still takes place in 2265. McCoy did not come onto the ship until 2266, first seen in the “Corbomite Maneuver.” Unless he was a junior doctor.

I certainly hope this report is incorrect, because like I’ve said, I have little interest in a TOS remake. Although it does seem to jive with what Nimoy has said. I am just sick of remakes, especially of things like Star Trek. Maybe if they did a series of films that eventually ended up with the first Enterprise mission for Kirk, that would make more sense to me. And how are they supposed to have McCoy? Canon? Just like Kirk is dead canon, McCoy is not on the Enterprise on the first mission.

Maybe they could get Nichols, Takei and Koenig to play their characters alongside Nimoy and hopefully Shatner.

re 24 & Cranston…

I’m inclined to agree with you that these descriptions are not only off base, but so ridiculously short, that it’s unlikely to me that this is the real casting bible.

Can’t be. DL

How about that girl from Doctor Who (his companion) She is apparently a big fan of Trek so I have read.

“unlikely to me that this is the real casting bible”

What you’re seeing is information sent to casting directors to give them a shorthard description of the characters to be cast and the “type” that the producers are looking to see. This is precisely the kind of information that goes out on every project, every TV show and every movie looking to cast roles. And since its sent all over town, this is exactly the kind of information that always gets “leaked” for high profile projects, because its being sent to all the agencies who could care less about keeping aything “under wraps”.

As for the Uhura speculations above, the casting sheet isn’t saying Uhura is African-America, its saying that they’re looking to cast African-American ACTRESSES. And its also not saying Uhura grew up in a houseful of brothers, its saying that they’re looking to cast an actress who can bring a “tomboy-ish” quality to the role, a quality one might get if one “grew up in a houseful of brothers”. Don’t take that stuff quite so literally.

And finally, for the people who are assuming its a phony story because it came from AICN, I’d think twice about that.

Mark Piper could be Cheif of Medicine on the Enterprise…McCoy could have been one of the Staff Doctors, like M’Benga. A good scene toward the start of the film might be McCoy coming aboard.

Piper and McCoy might have a brief “Pike/Boyce” like talk where Piper is thiniking of taking retirement from Star Fleet for a private practice and McCoy start talking about his bitter divorce, the sceen should not drag…it woudl be interupted by “Kirk” breaking in or some other thing that prevents it from taking too much time.

McCoy is likely my favorite character. I hope they don’t SOIL the chracter.

The definitive origin story of the Enterprise crew has not been done on screen to this point so no canon can possibly be violated as there is no properly established timeline. I know some have tried to tell this story already, but if it isn’t on-screen it isn’t canon so officailly it hasn’t been done.

Nothing has been set in stone as of yet and this movie has the perfect opportunity to do that once and for all. As another poster commented TOS did take liberties with continuity and stardates, so this is a chance to fix some of that while also telling the story that has yet to be told on-screen. The potential here is HUGE!

In regards to McCoy and Sulu not being characterized properly; wouldn’t a starship doctor be at least somewhat “danger loving”, despite their own claims to the contrary? Did we not see some of Sulu’s “wildcat” side in The Naked Time (brought to the surface by the intoxication) and movies 3, 4, 5 and 6? And further, Sulu is also piloting a starship for crying out loud! Is that not pretty “wild”? LOL

This isn’t really that much of a suprise, but it would be if they were thinking of giving the surviving crew members a role. My guess is they’ll get down and dirty with a completely recognizable TOS team as soon as possible for the sake of the story. I think they said they have a villain to contest, which suggests there wouldn’t be much time for a whole lot of backstory for the entire crew. Or I could be full of tranya.

With a reboot the “canon” starts fresh. It may be based on the previoius canon, but it establishes its own timeline of events.

Let Abrams establish a Star Trek canon that will work for the series going into the future — don’t worry about whether it agrees absolutely with what went before. This is, after all, not the Word of God we’re talking about, but Star Trek. And for Star Trek to be successful all it has to do is tell a rousing and fun story.

Canon shouldn’t get in the way of that.

Sounds fakish to me. There are problems with every one of those descriptions. (23 yo Kirk and a 32 yo Sulu?!?!)

Besides, wouldn’t Abrams and co be more secretive about their casting?

28. The Wild Man of Borneo - August 5, 2007
If this is Kirk’s first mission as captain then you can’t have sulu, mccoy, or uhura. They don’t meet until 2 years after Kirk gets command. According to the Chronology anyway.

These are very good points. Unless Abrams intends to ingore this. I would prefer that they do not ignore it. I’m not a big ‘canon’ stickler, but it would be weird if those characters were present on a 1st mission plot.

I do like the idea of a post TMP/pre TWOK adventure, but still think it’s unlikeley for this movie. Maybe down the road in the “new” franchise.

I completely agree with those who say that Chekov COULD be in this. TWoK made it canon that Chekov was part of the Enterprise’s crew in Space Seed, which was in ’season one’. There is absolutely no reason to deny the line in TWoK by saying it was a mistake by the writers. It can fit perfectly into Star Trek’s continuity.

I laways thought that Chekov could have been part of the bridge’s ‘night crew’ or ‘third shift’. You don’t think Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and Sulu were on the bridge 24 hours a day, do you? They did need to sleep.

Anyway, I would like to see them find a place for the chartacter of Chekov, but since much of the action may take place on the bridge, it may be difficult.

re 93… and 98

well, I don’t doubt this is exactly the “kind” of thing they do… it doesn’t ring true to the sense of character appreciation that both JJ Abrams and Leonard Nimoy (in his interview) have alluded to.

Whether its real or not, doesn’t matter too much to me, but it rings a little fakish as BIG E put it.

dl

Wait a minute– what does “fun” mean in reference to Uhura. Sounds like a description for somebody on a dating service; not necessarily for an astronaut on the flagship. Sketchy for such a dignified character. Is this a party boat now? The ages of those characters are cause for concern, but I have an open mind. Don’t think success is assured at all, though. 29 is waaayy too young for Kirk, but there could be somebody who could do it justice.

If it is a “reboot” then they can bugger off, I’ll save my money for the TOS REMASTERED DVDs.

I have no faith in anyone that tampers with long established elements key of things I like…

Many of you here are apologists of the “reboot,” but you fail to realize that there are a HARDCORE of STAR TREK FANS that simply “won’t come with you.” Any fan base on a reboot would require years to support the merchandizing and others such elements where…psst…(THE REAL MONEY IS)

I don’t see why they can’t make a good film based on established canon. Like a period movie. You don’t make a movie about the American Civil War and replace the weapons they use with 1928 Thompson Sub machine guns. The Characters drive the story in the medioum of the time/period. This movie should be the same.

The HISTORY of the CHARACTERS is already there…show us what you can do with them. Add…don’t change nor take away.

I’m sure the character descriptions are for the personality, not bridge deportment. For all we know Uhura may be fun-loving. We know she likes to entertain the crew off-duty, and she’s somewhat mischeivious.

We know that people are different off-duty, and professional on the bridge.

So give a little leeway. They’re not robots.

This sounds fake to me… That being said… I agree, McCoy could have been a staff surgeon, just not chief medical officer…and Chekov could’ve been assigned to stellar cartography for all we know, and transferred to the bridge later as navigator.

As far as the descriptions go, with the characters being so young (before we met them on tv) - these qualities may have existed pre-WNMHGB -remember the characters we know are what they matured into… whose to say McCoy wasn’t danger loving and then something happened in his life to make him the cautious carmudgeon we all love?

I still think Matt Damon is young looking enough to pull off Kirk. but I trust these guys & Nimoy!

I think the movie will nd with the big E pulling out of orbit to begin the 5 ear mission… but wasn’t there talk about the story jumping around thru their lives?

First of all, sorry me for My english. I’m Spanish. I hope everything is understandable.

In answer to all the people saying that “according to the cronollogy” Most of the cast isn’t there in the during “Where no man” and “Corbomite maneuver”; I’m sorry to remember you that nothing not present in the episodes is canon. For god’s shake Even most of the animated series isn’t.

There isn’t anything at all said in any episode ever even sugesting that any of them (Including Sulu) wasn’t atending other post, sleeping or even on vacation, while those episodes happen. It is exactly the same as whenever only Chekov or Sulu is present on the bridge during seasons 2 and 3 and the other one isn’t.

Lots of star trek novels and comic books contradict one another because none of them is canon. They are all Fanfic regardless of who wrote them including Shat himself, and this is so including the cronology, which is also a fanfic as well as fanfic dependant.

If any of you is going to be dissapointed if JJ doesn’t take as true your favourite novel, you should begin your therapy already. He will only respect what has been aired on TV or the cinemas, and he will look for any hole in them to explain anything he comes up with that seems even relatively non canon.

Sorry if anyone is ofended by this (I don’t see any reason why anyone should, but I’ve had very violent reactions to any opinion similar to this –or any positive comment about Enterprise, which I love, by the way– in other forums.)

Canon is a dangerous and beloved thing to fans… but it doesn’t have to be held word for word and it doesn’t have to be ignored either… Things can be mentioned in an almost offhand manor that will not confuse newcomers, but will THRILL fans.

A lot of people mention BATMAN BEGINS as a good film that restarts a franchise (I can argue for and against for days, but I digress). An example of a tidbit to the fans were the side characters of Falcone, Flass, and Mr Szaz. Barely there, but served the story and delighted diehard fans. And, it didn’t confuse newcomers.

Mitchell, Pike, Piper… any of these characters can be handled this way. If they are mentioned at all.

Here’s things people ACCEPT as canon… but has NOT appeared on film… until it does, we cannot assume otherwise. Only TREK committed to celluloid is continuity. And again, none of this really matters in the giant plan of the film.
1. Uhura being from Africa… granted, she spoke Swahili, but it was never said she was BORN there… remember, many people thought Sulu was from Japan… he stated in trek4 that he’s from San Fransico.
2. Chekov was not on the Enterprise from the beginning… Not ever said. He could just have been promoted to the bridge after season one.
3. Same with McCoy not being there from the start… he just wasn’t Chief Medical Officer, Piper was. Remember, the ship did have more than one surgeon… remember M’Benga

I could go on and on… in the end, they’ll make what they hope will bring in a GENERAL audience. I’d love to see background and history respected… but we’ll have to wait and see.

guys as of now I cannot confirm the AICN report, but this isnt outside of what we have reported before. Last year we reported that McCoy and Scotty were in the treatment before the script was even written. I will try to learn more this week.

I also would not get too worried about the ages…in hollywood it is standard now to have actors play older than they really are.

It seems people are focusing a lot on WNMHGB…..i find it ironic that Roddenberry himself seemingly ignored this episode. It is not consistent with the rest of the series (characters are different, ship is different, etc) and it was not shown as as a pilot episode, but was instead aired third after The Man Trap and Charlie X. The episode has always been an anachronism. Any differences can be explained with fanon anyway. (Piper was just temporarily CMO, Uhura was aboard but not seen, the regular uniforms were in the laundry, etc). If you can accept the changes between WNMGB and the rest of the series, then you should be able to accept any difs between Star Trek 2008 and WNMHGB

if you can explain away Chekov meeting Khan, you can deal with McCoy and Uhura showing up before WNMHGB

Those casting descriptions remind me of those early pencil sketches of the Enterprise crew as kids before The Animated Series had finalized on the adult versions of the cast as in TOS.

In other words, for me, it raises a red flag that this is questionable. I know Anthony has a good sense this could be real and it’s a matter of what’s on papar does not represent reality when all is said and done.

I thought the characterizations seemed off on the casting sheet as well, but like someone said, these descriptions could be of the crew in the off-hours. Now, I am not a visitor to AICN, but I was a little leery when I read this, as I had heard that their reporting isn’t the most reliable. However, since I do not visit that site, I cannot and will not say it’s totally bogus, either.

#107 — 1701 over Gotham

I don’t have the time to watch all of WNMHGB right now, but was Piper ever introduced as the Cheif Medical Officer?…When they introduced him (on the bridge with Sulu right outside the turbolift), he was introduced as the “head of the Life Sciences Department”. As you said, one could easily argue that McCoy WAS assigned to the Enterprise as CMO for WNMHGB, but for some reason was not on the ship for that particular episode, so Piper filled in for him. Or if Piper was the CMO, then McCoy could have been his (unseen) assistant.

‘Fanon’ (canon made up by fans) says that McCoy and Chekov weren’t there for WNMHGB, but actual canon (from what was said ON SCREEN) is silent on this…i.e. it was never revealed on screen exactly WHEN McCoy and Chekov joined the crew. Therefore since it wasn’t revealed, then they could have been there from the beginning.

#108 … I too was hoping for a WNMHGB-era epsiode, with Mitchell and a different doctor and maybe McCoy transferring aboard near the end of the film as a nice surprise. That way this entry could *really* focus on the characters of Kirk and Spock, and have the classic 7 bridge crew be something we evolve towards (similar to how the recent Batman and Bond films showed the evolution towards what we have come to know).

Still, point well taken, Anthony. That works for me; I can deal with little inconsistencies if it’s a great film. I have high hopes.

In actual chronological age, Kelley and Doohan were both 17 years older than Takei. That’s a pretty wide age range, and it’s not represented in the casting breakdown.

The only ways I can rationalize the too-young target ages are these:

1. There is some time-jumping in the story (structurally, not actual “time travel), and some of the characters will have to play “younger” versions of themselves. If done right, this can work (although one of the only 20-something actors I’ve ever seen who *really* convinced me as and older character was Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane.”) Most 20-somethings playing older just don’t seem convincing to me, and seem perpetually immature to some degree.

2. They are casting with sequels in mind. Remembering that it’s probably a good 2-3 years between making movies, they may want to have the cast remain reasonably young for a run of several movies (all to take place more or less during the TOS time frame), rather than getting too-old too quickly and edging into the TOS movie-era time frames.

Either of these seems reasonable to me. The main criterion that I’ll judge the success on is how it all comes together in the end, and how the performances are. We’ll see.

#112 Shatner Fan — I agree completely.

Casting news not yet confirmed by Star Trek.com. I smell a fake.

“I too was hoping for a WNMHGB-era epsiode, with Mitchell and a different doctor and maybe McCoy transferring aboard near the end of the film as a nice surprise. That way this entry could *really* focus on the characters of Kirk and Spock, and have the classic 7 bridge crew be something we evolve towards (similar to how the recent Batman and Bond films showed the evolution towards what we have come to know).”

Thank you. My point exactly.

Mr. Roddenberry may or may not have considered the second pilot as “not counting”. That’s entirely speculative. Its really irrelevent though since it did air and since we all know “if its on screen, it ‘counts’”. Its been rolling around in people’s imaginations for 40 years and its part of the lore. I personally think its a great opportunity for Mr. Abrams, et al, to have an in-universe excuse to break the mold, shake things up, inject some different characterizations into what became a very set formula of the same faces at the same stations doing the same things.

Some of you seem more than happy to ignore anything that gets in the way of Mr. Abrams telling the story you perceive he wants to tell. Hey, we’ve all been watching WNMHGB for 40 years and have some reasonable expectations based on that? “Who cares. Its in JJ’s way and thus if you’re at all interested in seeing anything pertaining to it in the movie, you’re in the way and you’re in Star Trek’s way, so get with the program. Ignore the ‘canon’. Its all about JJ.”

If that’s the case, then let’s just have an full-blown reboot and be done with it. If he wants to build his movie on the established lore and good will built up over 40 years, then there’s no reason not to allow a reasonable accomodation for what has gone before. And that may well happen, as we have nothing to do for the next 18 months but dissect every little bit of information that trickles out. But I don’t think I’m a criminal for wanting to see some kind of nod to WNMHGB in the script, if it is indeed “the first mission” being depicted. It may not matter to you, Anthony, but it matters to me. At least a little bit. WNMHGB is a terrific episode and I don’t think it deserves to be thrown out of the series’ continuity and ignored because it’s in the way of the wunderkind and his cheerleaders. If JJ’s movie is building its own sandbox, then he can do anything he wants. But if he’s playing in the 40 year old sandbox, then throw me a bone.

about a year ago i predicted that we would see a ‘Bring Back Piper’ campaign….i was actually only joking

One thing I may have learned is that the term ‘reboot’ means different things to different people.

we’ve never used the term “reboot” or any other term. These terms are too imprecise.

Allthough I allways wen’t with the idea that “bones” did come to the ship untill later in its mission, why couldn’t it be something similar to Crusher/Pulaski - McCoy/Piper. If it is to be set after Kirk is in command McCoy could be there but at some point he is gone and returns in “The Man Trap”.

Only 508 days to go.

Gabrielle Union as Uhura, well known but not too famous. Good acting chops and a babe to boot.

McCoy and Uhura showing up before WNMHGB is easy. Uhura just was on another part of the ship. 400 people means we don’t see all of them.

McCoy may have been on leave, or not stationed on Enterprise yet–just a friend of Kirk’s. It could have been a time in his life when he wasn’t a part of Starfleet. Plenty of ways to get McCoy in the movie.

I bet if ten people posted, we could have ten different explanations, and all ten would not violate canon.

We can have Dr. Piper too. Doesn’t mean much. It would show a nice sense of knowledge by the writers if that happened.

Not too worried here.

OR, they can jump around and have scenes set AFTER WNMHGB.

Casting McCoy could even have the possibility of an older McCoy appearing with Nimoy. Or maybe bring in Gary Sinese and age him.

I don’t know if they’ll do that or not., but there are always possibilities.

re: 92. Flake - How about that girl from Doctor Who (his companion) She is apparently a big fan of Trek so I have read.

Good idea, Flake, Freema Agyeman would be superb. She is also no longer a regular on Dr Who. But as she is not known in the US I doubt the producers would consider her. But if she could pull off an American accent, she would be superb.

All in all, I think I would prefer a cast of unknowns.

REBOOTists
Where does that keep word keep coming from? Please refer to #119 Roberto Orci .

I notice that Roberto Orci posted shortly ago - if this cast sheet is a fabrication he could, of course, put an end to it with a single post.

#103: “Many of you here are apologists of the “reboot,” but you fail to realize that there are a HARDCORE of STAR TREK FANS that simply “won’t come with you.”

I don’t “fail to realize” that at all. I just say, “too bad for the Hardcore.”

i think we are all hardcore fans….including people like Bob Orci and some others on the new movie.

Sinese is actually too old, to me, to be in the movie - and he’s said he’s not interested. But if you’re looking at that age range for the part, his Apollo 13 castmate Tom Paxton could make just as good a case for the part, if he can do a Southern Accent, or if you put a hairpiece on him, Billy Bob Thornton. Why the hell not? But with all due respect to fans of the other characters, while I think the roles of McCoy and Scotty are important, I don’t think it’ll be that hard to fill them - there are lots of lesser known actors that can do those roles. Based on what we’ve heard, the story is going to revolve - as it should - around Kirk, Spock, and their relationship, and no doubt at least 80% of the scenes will have one or both of them in it. Those are the roles that need to be scrutinized.

#125 Xai, who canna speak..

Pardon my english..it’s my only language. #125 SHOULD say…
“Where does that word keep coming from? Please refer to #119 Roberto Orci .”

(bows and goes back to my desk)

Also…this cast description is just a few words on a piece of paper… not worth worrying about.

Rosario Dawson is hands-down my favorite as Uhura… but an interesting alternate would be Tia or Tamara Mowry (Sister Sister)… they still look very youthfull.

One thing we can be sure of: Sulu is mentioned, so Takei will have a public comment out tomorrow.

dennis give us an Exeter update

re: 119. Roberto Orci - August 5, 2007
“we’ve never used the term “reboot” or any other term. These terms are too imprecise.”

I was not implying that you had used it. Many others have, and it seems like, as you say, it is not a very precise term anyway.

#132: “dennis give us an Exeter update”

Oh gee…I think we’re looking at two weeks. How’s that?

Re: McCoy’s age:

The Writer’s Guide for TOS had him at around 45 or about eleven years older than Kirk. Apparently, during the third season, the producer (presumably Freiberger) thought the character should have been closer to Kirk and Spock in age and not old enough to have a grown daughter like Joanna. In “Encounter at Farpoint”, either Fontana or Roddenberry made McCoy 137 years old, so he would have been 39 - 43 from 2266 -2270, so McCoy became about six years older than Kirk.

Scotty in “Relics” was 147, so was made retroactively five years older than McCoy.

I really want this to be as close to the the original series as possible, in look and, more importantly, style. TOS is a very stylized show…it’s part of the show’s identity.
But If I could beam myself to some alternate timeline, where this movie is also being made…I’d love to see them really turn this upside down and make Chekov chief engineer and have Spock serve as a yeoman under Kirk…who took command from Robert April who is first officer Roberta April’s father.

The “canon” slave’s heads would explode!

Mr. Ocri and company, please just make us a good movie that sticks to the key elements and characters that gave Star Trek it’s identity. Don’t bastardize it, but no need to overthink it either. If there are some breaches of “canon”…we’ll get over it.

(but please, no young Ken Doll MCoy and Scotty!)

126. Dennis Bailey - August 5, 2007

Exeter is best thing going that is TOS oriented. I can watch an expisode of “Starship Exeter” as say…that is TOS modern. It is everything I would hope for, another Crew, on another ship where total liberties can be taken with the characters. There can be mentions of USS Enterprise and Jim Kirk, but the rest is totally open.

What I do not want to see is some movie that tries and fails because it misses the point. Star Trek, Kirk and Co., is established ground. There are certain things that can not be done without “peeing in someone’s cheereos.”

Redesigning the ship, neglecting/disregarding canon or taking massive liberties with the Kirk & Co. are sure ways to lose a long established fan base. Really cool Sci-Fi movies are usually 1 shots…on the scene and then gone (like the NEW LOST IN SPACE film) Star Trek is here…altering it beyond what it is to pander to fans that we don’t have is folley…and expensive mistake that will slander TREK and prevent films for some 5-7 years.

Also, if you “screw” with your formula for “Starship Exeter” to reflect these trends here, you will lose a fan in me. I just say, “too bad for the Hardcore.”

#126: ” Really cool Sci-Fi movies are usually 1 shots…and expensive mistake that will slander TREK and prevent films for some 5-7 years.

Hey, “Star Trek” wasn’t even a one-shot with much hope of coming back at all until this movie got underway. So if we get one really entertaining movie out of this, we’re beating the odds.

It all sounds pretty good.

Not that he’s on the list, but here’s my choice for Piper

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001311/

I still like Sinise as McCoy. Not sure why he would look too old.

I LOVE Sinise but they are thinking franchise here and how will he look three films and six years from now?

I think both Nathan Fillion and Stuart Townsend could pull off Kirk, but it appears they’re too old (!!)

Shame, because they both have that leading man charisma, and that twinkle in the eye. I’m sure Townsend could pull of the american accent nicely.

Michael Landes for Bones!

Reboot or respect continuity? Both can be done simultaneously imo - with a more organic approach.

If Nemesis hadn’t sucked I would have eagerly been anticipating another TNG film, even with Berman in charge

This film may end up being more Hollywood then any of us will be able to stand

Something tells me Mr. Orci is sitting at his desk having a good chuckle at how COMPLETELY off the mark we all are regarding this movie. LOL

#143

Eh, I doubt that. I wouldn’t be surprised if they “loosened up” some of the characterizations a little, or simplified some of the more complex mythology, but I doubt this is going to be as dumbed down for the masses as Nemesis was.

JJ & co:

Please please PLEASE consider Peter Sarsgaard as Kirk. He’s a talented actor, has teh right look, and he’s not too well known.

Sinese unfortunately, is too old for young McCoy, but if they want to work with a 24th century older McCoy in full old makeup to play off Nimoy and if the producers know what they’re doing Shatner, then Sinise would work fine.

there are lots of great actors in their mid 30s and 40s that would be great for these roles….like Sinise as Bones or Matt Damon or Russell Crowe as Kirk. The trick is finding someone who will grow into a star like that who is now only in his mid to late 20s. I imagine the new Kirk will be somone like Brandon Routh where everyone will go ‘who?’ But Routh stepped into that role well and so lets hope they do as good a job.

Sinise is in his 50s. Not right for a TOS era McCoy anymore. And I agree an unknown that can grow is key. Damon would just be too controversial and he’s too well known.

DEFINITELY Kirk should be a Brandon Routh.

Well they need to find actors who will want to commit to lots of sequels, and be part of huge, continuing franchise. Which kind of rules out a lot of big (and expensive) actors out there.

Frankly I’d rather they go with unknowns anyway. Just like with Supes, you want someone who doesn’t carry too much baggage from other roles, and who’s kind of a blank slate.

108–”if you can explain away Chekov meeting Khan, you can deal with McCoy and Uhura showing up before WNMHGB”

Makes sense to me. I can also accept Kirk with, or without the 3rd season protruding belly.

Just what do you mean by that?

Wow!

Paul McGillon From Atlantis would be great for Scotty

Spot on. I’m sure he’s so sick of McKay that he’d gladly jump universes.

The characters in Atlantis reference Star Trek ALL the time - so how inside would it be if one of their gang ended up playing Scotty!

and Daniel Dae Kim as Sulu. good choice!

He was kinda odd/wooden as the Exec in Babylon 5/Crusade (But as a Telepath I suppose he’d have to be). Good Actor.

I’m still thinking Nathan Fillion would be an excellent “rogue” for Kirk, but since no one has seconded that on my previous posts in other threads… I’m on my own. (except for #141 Aaron A, above.)

Rosario Dawson for Uhura? Perhaps - but she might overwhelm the others. She was great in Clerks II , though, huh? Tomboy? hmmm…

Oh, and Bob Orci- just please make a great story first.

Won’t canon will have to bend a little in order to accommodate the new faces, anyhow?

No colloquialisms or contractions for Spock /Vulcans though, Back in TOS they were very formal. Someone in Berman’s group forgot that. I half expected T’Pol to come out with: ” Hey, yo yo yo was’ up Cap’n?”

Oh, and no anachronistic techno- jargon, please!

In TOS Kirk/Spock would say “Play the record TAPES” or “Put it on Speakers” and the TNG crew was always “downloading” this or that into the memory core. I’m sure all terms will change- can just a “Get the Records” suffice?

Man, that would make the movie timeless.

just my 2 cents.

I don’t have a clue who half the people are that you guys are talking about and maybe that’s a good thing. Do any of you have any pics of these folks or links? What do we all feel as a concensus about whether they are look-alikes or act-alikes. I would prefer act alikes, but I don’t know if that is the important thing.

ok, who is that in the bridge picture with all the regulars. That’s not Chekov in that pic-doesn’t look a thing like him at all.

The navigator in the picture is Sean Kenney as Lt. DePaul. Kenney also played the scarred Pike in The Menagerie.

It’s interesting to hear from Roberto Orci. All the secrecy is certainly creating a lot of “buzz” which I guess is a good thing. I just want to see new “Star Trek”. TNG and the rest never really felt like TOS to me. Enterprise had a couple good moments when it connected to TOS but it was mostly recycled claptrap from TNG/DS9/VOG. Give me something new that feels like my good old TOS.

Stephanie Hudson would be a great Uhura.

Sorry, that’s Jennifer Hudson

To All,

I have a suggestion for everyone who posts here. Roberto Orci, one of the screenwriters of the new film, takes the time to visit and post responses. He is intimately involved in the development of this project. That means we have an unprecedented opportunity to show him, and by association JJ Abrams and Paramount Pictures, that Star Trek fans are so much more than just wild speculators and obsessive fans.

Let’s show Mr. Orci that, despite the bickering and in-fighting that can go on here, we wish nothing but the best for this project and give our hopes that Star Trek will be treated well. I’m glad he’s checking this site out. I believe it will give the film crew signposts about the direction the film should take. We are being watched by the “Powers-that-Be.” Let’s give them every reason to be impressed with us. If nothing else, it could score Anthony a few exclusives as production commences.

#27. I took the two pics you posted (Scotty and Mcgillion) and did a quick photoshop. Think he might be a good choice, I allways liked him on Atlantis…never seen the other guy rumored in anything.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6821/scottymcgillionlk8.jpg

#145
No I think it could be even more Hollywood than Nemesis, for one thing Nemesis bombed so it seems the new movie will have to be flakier than that film

Don’t know if this has been brought up or not, but they need to go much older for Bones and Scotty. Scotty was about 43 at the beginning of the Kirk’s five-year mission (2265); McCoy was about 39 when he first appeared (2266). Not that the actors can’t be made up to *look* older, but still… unless the casting is for their appearances *prior* to the five-year mission? Like, 2250-ish? THEN that would definitely make sense.

I think Ryan Reynolds would be great as Kirk. He was great in Smokin Aces and has the look and attitude to carry this role. He’s afantastic actor. He’s also Canadian. What do you think?

http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/premiere_photo/20050905/16/2930594774.jpg

To cite the above (for those non-TNG-era fans), McCoy was stated to be 137 years old in the TNG pilot, set in 2364 (or, at the earliest, 2363 - the final episode of the first season was specifically set in ‘64). 2364-137=2227. The first half of the first season of TOS was set in 2266 (with the possible exception of “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, which may have been a year earlier). 2266-2227=39.

In the TNG episode “Relics”, Scotty was specifically stated to have been born 147 years prior to the episode (set in 2369). 2369-147=2222. Scotty was supposedly chief engineer of the Enterprise from the start of Kirk’s mission in 2265 (remember, the Voyager episode “Q2″ revealed the mission ended in 2270), so 2265-2222=43. And there you go.

That said, I don’t think these facts should hinder the casting process. So long as the character can play the part and at least somewhat looks the part, the makeup people can do the rest.

To correct my previous post, I meant to say “so long as the ACTOR can play the part”, not the character. Also, obviously, I was referring to my first post (#162).

Roberto Orci@119: Hi there! First, great job with M:I 3 — I still need to see Transformers, though. Secondly, definitely can’t wait for Trek. And thirdly, in reply to the reboot thing, many news sources and, as a result, many fans, believed the film would be a “reboot” because you or Mr. Kurtzman supposedly referred to the new Star Trek film as a “re-imagining of the franchise”. Naturally, since this term has been associated with other rebooted products such as Ron Moore’s “re-imagined” Battlestar Galactica, people jumped to conclusions and interpreted it to mean it would be a complete reboot. The more savvy folks who knew better, though.

146: Peter Sarsgaard… that’s a new one. Nice pick. I think he would be great as Kirk… sadly, at 36, he’s a bit too old for the role.

I wouldn’t actually mind Beyonce playing Uhura.
weird, but I can imagine it!

# 163: Hmm….after looking at the picture you provided - I think he could easily be cast as the New Captain Kirk. He has a lot going in his favor. One can only hope that the casting
director sees this actor and gives him a screen test.
It would be so nice IF someone could compile all of the actors that they feel are worthy of merit so we could see them and comment.

Posting this again just for the hell of it…

According to the Star Trek chronology written by Michael and Denise Okuda…

2263-

James Kirk is promoted to captain of the Starship Enterprise and meets Christopher Pike (for the first time), who is promoted to fleet captain.

2264-

Captain James Kirk, in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise, embarks on a historic five year mission of exploration.

1 WHOLE YEAR PASSES

2265-

“Where No Man Has Gone Before”

1 WHOLE YEAR PASSES (2 years thus far that the Enterprise is on her 5 year mission).

2266-

Leonard H. McCoy assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise as ship’s surgeon. He replaces Dr. Mark Piper.

Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu accepts transfer from staff physicist to helm officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Uhura joins the crew of the USS Enterprise in 2266 as a lieutenant, serving as chief communications officer under Captain James T. Kirk

“The Corbomite Maneuver” takes place.

There is a one year gap between ‘where no man has gone before” and “the corbomite maneuver.” In this one year gap is where the crew we all know and love finally merge. This movie HAS to take place between “where no man has gone before” and “the corbomite maneuver.” If Abrams doesn’t he’ll be screwing up history. I hope he or the writers are reading this or that they have the star trek chronology on hand.

If this is Kirk’s first mission as captain then you can’t have sulu, mccoy, or uhura. Unless they’re there and do not have the positions they have in TOS. They don’t meet until 2 years after Kirk gets command anway. According to the Chronology, that is.

::thumbs up::

I’ve got a mental image of Roberto Orci sitting in a high-backed chair, fingertips pressed together, saying “I think I’ll let them sweat for a few more days…”

I also thought Freema Agyeman from Dr. Who would make a nice Uhura. Definitely babilicous and about the same height as Nichelle.

I think people scould let go 0f Star Trek canon as it is writen in stone.
Non Star Trek fans have probarly heard of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Scotty and Sulu but they havent clue abot Pike, Piper and Gary Mitchell are and frankly they scould be irrelevant for XI.
The Cage was cancel pilot, ONE EPISODE.. Star Trek TOS is Kirk and Crew.

163:and Daniel Dae Kim as Sulu. good choice!
agreed but again he is too old. He is 39 years old and if their is seguel 2011-12 he would be 42-3 years old.

Have to agree with Jeffrey S. Nelson on the Uhura casting.
I think Ewan MacGregor would make a brilliant Scotty don’t you?

This dude some of you have pegged for Scotty looks pretty spot on to me. I’ve never seen him act but if he’s half way decent and a natural Scott to boot, I’d say he’s pretty spot on!

Doug L.

#171: Sadly, Freema is African-European. Those nacionalist jerks made perfectly clear that they want African-AMERICAN and Asian-AMERICAN, instead of mere African or Asian… presumably, they aren’t good enough for them unless they are AMERICAN. There goes the multinational crew. Screw the rest of the world, eh?

I’m very very afraid that new Uhura character won’t be Swahili anymore, but instead, she will be from New Orleans or Bronx. :-/

I hope there is some hip hop in this, having Beyonce there is just not enough people!

this belongs on another thread but really the reason Trek got bad under Berman is when he decided to make Brannon Braga executive producer, WORST DECISION EVER!

#171 & 175

I would think that in the late 23rd century most of the world has been intregrated culturally, socially, etc. Although ethnic groups will still exist, the world’s population would be more (for lack of a better word) Americanized. The casting need for African/Asian-American, to me, seems justified.

#169-
Sulu was apart of the crew in “Where no man has gone before” but as this math guy who tells Kirk that Gary Mitchell’s power is like doubling a penny.

This I HAVE to comment on…

Firstly, if this casting call DOES prove to be accurate…then I as a Scot myself, will absolutely expect J.J. Abrams to actually cast a Scots actor in the “Scottie” role… Now here in Scotland, fans of Star Trek adored the role played by the excellent James Doohan in the series, with his amiable “McHaggis” accent voicing various expressions conjured up by his scriptwriters, some of which we’d never heard of before…HOWEVER…that was way back then, and it would seem quite ridiculous to not cast from the wide pool of upcoming Scots actors at this present time, not to mention, will sound quite ridiculous to our sensibilities nowadays if a non-Scot is once again to try a “McHaggis” accent… I am hoping this role can be a star-making vehicle for some relatively unknown young actor ( PLEASE NOT James McAvoy or Ewan “Spud” out of “Trainspotting” Bremner, who are both too wimpy for the role ), who will then be a good ambassador for our country in the future, if interest is strong in the Movie and any sequels… I strongly hope j.j. realises this, or I will officially joining Stanky McFibberich in denouncing this endevour as FAKE Star Trek…and I’m NOT kidding…

Having said all that…I hope this news proves true, as it will be great to have ALL the main staple ORIGINAL crewmembers together again.

Finally, Orbitalic…
I am just putting some last additional touches to my “Director’ Cut” of my extended intro. and I will put it up in the next few days… I hope you catch it.

The writer’s/director’s guide written by Gene Roddenberry puts Kirk at 34 and McCoy at 45 during TOS. He says that Scotty is several years older than them “having come up through the ranks”, meaning he didn’t attend the Academy.

This whole process is so inside and becoming so self referential we all may be in danger of becoming “movie poop shoot.com” (Kevin Smith movies)

#160 - Skippy 2k - Perfect Scotty. Nice work if that was just a rush job.

Can you Photoshop someone competent behind the presidential podium?

Regarding #168 Duane Boda’s suggestion-

Skippy, do you have time to do some of the other suggestions made here, and try em on for size. Perhaps Anthony can create some sort of visual poll.

If he doesn’t feel like it, I can throw up a temporary blog just for voting purposes, with all the photoshopped cast menbers. It would be like “Wiki-Trek”… a horrible way to cast a movie, bun fun anyhow.

Oh, and yes! Freema Ageman for Uhura. That would get the Doctor Who fans to come back for that second showing - & she’s smart, sassy and NOT overwhelming. She may be busy with Torchwood, though.

Beyonce For Uhura?!? Are you people on Crack? Is this a Woo-Hoo Armegeddon /FF movie or is this Star Trek?

#169-

Commenting again for the heck of it.

The OKudaChron is now *outdated* in several respects, the dates of the 5-year mission being among them. It is now canonically established as taking place in 2265-2270 (VOY, “Q2″), pushing ST:TMP back to 2273, rather than 2271. Therefore, said book can no longer be considered fully authoritative.

However, a theory has been proposed at times that Kirk actually took command of the ship some significant time prior to the commencement of the 5-year mission. It might be interesting if the new film is exploring this possibility.

AS for the writers having a copy of the OkudaChron, I’m sure Roberto could comment if he chooses, but previous interviews with him and Alex Kurtzman have said that they had researchers/fact-checkers available to them to make sure the details get sweated properly. I would imagine they’ve done some homework for this.

Best,
Alex

#172 Vger.

How could Gary Mitchell be irrelevant, since he was introduced as Kirk’s best friend in WNMHGB? If the film takes place prior to that episode (which was NOT a cancelled pilot), then it would be very wrong to ignore a character who is supposed to be the best friend of the main character.

But I do agree that Piper is not important…as I said in an earlier post, I’ve always felt that McCoy COULD have been Chief Medical Officer during WNMHGB, but was just not on the ship at the time (for one of various reasons). Piper was not the Chief Medical Officer — they referred to him as the ‘Head of the Life Sciences Department’.

Here’s my Kirk pick:

Oops…

Here…now…is my Kirk pick:

http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0923529/HH/0923529/01-034.jpg.html?hint=group

Justin Whalin

I think that casting sheet is bogus.
# 26 Wild Man- I agree.

186. Admiral Kent

I’m not sure on Jimmy Olsen as Kirk.

Well, what the hey…Superman has been suggested for Kirk, and James Bond for McCoy…;)

#183 - I would take anything written by the Okudas over anything in B and B ridden Voyager (instant shuttles, just add water; Janeway and Paris into Warp 10 salamanders, have baby salamanders, and are magically turned back to humans) any day of the week.
Any live action “Star Trek” is supposed to be canon, but Voyager is canot.
#177-You said it!

#180 Cervantes

I look forward to it. I will re-tack my opening teaser up then and hope we both can influence Mr. Orci….

169 - The Wild Man of Borneo, again not to nitpick, but you’re posting information from an outdated book. The last Okuda book was in 1999, and did not include information from the last 2 years of Voyager, Nemesis, or Enterprise. An episode of Voyager “Q2″ established Kirk’s mission as being 2265-2270. Go to www.memory-alpha.org, a wonderful site with all the updated information. 2265 was also the year on the bottle of Dom Perignon in Generations. Nonetheless, you are correct, about a year between those episodes.

As for the premise, I wouldn’t call it a reboot either, but it is now seemingly a remake. I am not a fan of remakes, but I am but one man. I would rather see adventures prior to the 5 year mission. But a remake of TOS in this way should have included more of TOS cast in cameos or whatever. Flame me if you will, but I feel it’s only fair. The track record of remakes, particularly scifi remakes, is very poor.

Some casting ideas:

Kirk: Jason Dohring (”Veronica Mars”)
Scotty: Paul McGillion (”Stargate Atlantis”)
Uhura: Marsha Thomason (”Las Vegas”)
Sulu: Ian Anthony Dale (”Surface”)
McCoy: Rory Cochrane (Dazed and Confused, Empire Records, “CSI: Miami”)

Paul McGillion looks good in that photoshop. And as far as I can tell, he can act. Nice job, Skippy.

As the Okudas point out in their introduction to the Chronology, anything in it could be superceded by what actually appears on screen - and some of it has.

Beyond which, anything which appears on screen may be contradicted by something else appearing later on screen. This has been true of “Star Trek” from Day One, and still is.

trektoday says aintitcool says this list went out to talent agencies.* So, there you have it. Not only is Shatner replaceable, but the next Kirk is currently hanging on a wall in Burbank, between the part-time magician and the midget Elvis.

(You know I’m kidding, Bill. We will always love you.)

(* trektoday attributes to aintitcool: “that site managed to obtain a memo sent out by Paramount to talent agencies.” Unless it’s written in lemon juice, there’s no mention on aintitcool’s brief note that this character description actually went anywhere. May be true. May be just the latest guess.)

I believe that the whole script thing is a farce! Besides, what paramount is really doing is getting ready to shoot ” generations II The return of the kirk! ” With alan rickman as mister spock, Brenda wilson as uhura, jackie chan as mister sulu, walter koening (From new voyages) as chekov, jim belushi as scotty, robin williams as mcCoy, and william shatner as captain james “R” kirk! and a special appearance by clint howard portraying the emperor of the known universe:P

Re: #5 … has anyone seen the ‘tweaked’ version of NCC-1701 in this month’s 2007 Ships Of The Line calendar? The rendition is by Gabriel Koerner. I’m really impressed with it — an updated version of the Enterprise that very strongly reflects the original.

#198 Rick,
believe me it’s been discussed, argued and worked over several times in here

Does anyone know if we can send suggestions to Abrams? I think Jensen Ackles would be a good kirk.

And also yah Beyonce would be a great uhura! Except maybe too tall

#190 - Well, the Okudas were part of Voyager, too, after all. I can pretty much guarantee that if there’s ever a new version of the Chronology published, it *will* reflect those new dates, unless some other Trek production between now and then has done something different yet again.

Speaking for my biased self, I liked 2265-2270 better than ‘64-’69, anyway, based on my own chronological analyses of Trek over the years, so I have to admit to being influenced in favor of “Q2″.

Stll and all, we have the possibility that Kirk took command of the ship before the 5-year mission actually began (something not yet established on screen, but also not yet explicitly contradicted, either), so there’s a good deal of “wiggle room” in all the interpretations.

Best,
Alex

Re #195-

I for one refuse to accept the Warp 10 barrier as seen on VOY “Threshold”! Couldn’t they just destroy the negative of that ONE episode?

Ha!

What WOULD be interesting and a great nod to the fans would be to not only have Gary Mitchell, but to address the James R. Kirk issue. It was done in the novels (a personal joke between the two). It would be great to do it on film.

#200:

An interesting option. Ackles looks the part of “young Kirk” without a doubt — bordering on too young — but does he have the necessary acting chops? I haven’t seen anything he’s done since “Days of our Lives” and he wasn’t exactly knocking anyone’s socks off back then.

204:

That would be a good idea.

#179: Sulu was the head of the astrosciences department aboard Enterprise before replacing Gary Mitchell as helmsman. And yes, I said Gary Mitchell, not Lee Kelso. It’s popular belief that Kelso was the helmsman and Mitchell the navigator based on their positions at the conn, but Mitchell has the responsibilities of the helmsman and Kirk even calls him helmsman. Also, Kelso himself was credited as “Navigator” in early cuts of “Where No Man Has Gone Before”.

If Sulu and Mitchell are in this film, I hope they get their positions right…

Speaking of Mitchell, if the film takes place during Kirk’s early Starfleet years or at the beginning of Kirk’s voyages, then I would very much like to see Mitchell. Not having him or even referencing him would be rather… odd. Not that I wish to see a retread of “Where No Man…”, but including Mitchell in some form or fashion certainly couldn’t hurt (though not doing so could, potentially), assuming part the film takes place when he was alive. I know the film is primarily about Kirk and Spock, but having something on the friendship of Kirk and Mitchell - perhaps serving as a contrast to the budding friendship of Kirk and Spock - wouldn’t be a bad thing. Mitchell WAS Kirk’s best friend, after all. Kinda hard to ignore that fact…

Com’on guys!
All this speculation about the secondary cast.

Spock is there
Kirk is there
McCoy hopefully is there

All the others were just that ….secondary.
The most endearing aspect of TOS was the relationship between the three main characters. If they start fleshing out the others it will be boring and confusing and slow down the plot (whatever it is).

It has already been confirmed that the story revolves around Spock - that
is good enough for me!!!
….and to top it all we have NIMOY as well.
Can’t wait……don’t care about the others.

Let’s analyse this a bit..

>>STAR TREKFeature FilmSAGPARAMOUNT PICTURES/BAD ROBOT[JAMES KIRK] 23-29 Handsome,cocky self assured and earnest. Great physical condition. 6 ft or less.>[LEONARD(BONES)MCOY] -28-32 Medic on the Enterprise. Smart, clever and a bit danger-loving. Dark hair, blue eyes.>[UHURA] 25ish -African American. Brilliant, beautiful, heroic and FUN!, Uhura is almost tom-boyish - as if she grew up in a houseful of brothers.

[SULU] 25-32 -Asian American male (preferably Japanese). Helmsman on the Enterprise. Extremely fit, capable and dedicated. A bit of a wildcat>[MONTGOMERY(SCOTTY) SCOTT] -28-32 a brilliant ship’s engineer. Must be able to do a flawless Scottish accent!

Let’s try this again. Might take a few posts to get it all in.

[JAMES KIRK] 23-29 Handsome,cocky self assured and earnest. Great physical condition. 6 ft or less.

Make it a lot less. 5′10″ at the most. Should also be a couple years older than what they’re looking for.

[LEONARD(BONES)MCOY] -28-32 Medic on the Enterprise. Smart, clever and a bit danger-loving. Dark hair, blue eyes.

Danger loving? McCoy? The man who was always advocating caution? Who groused every time he had to go through the transporter? Plus, McCoy is a good ten years older than Kirk.

[UHURA] 25ish -African American. Brilliant, beautiful, heroic and FUN!, Uhura is almost tom-boyish - as if she grew up in a houseful of brothers.

[SULU] 25-32 -Asian American male (preferably Japanese). Helmsman on the Enterprise. Extremely fit, capable and dedicated. A bit of a wildcat

Putting aside the character descriptions (Uhura is African, not African-American), and the sniggling fact that Sulu wasn’t the helmsman until after the second pilot, are they seriously considering Sulu and Uhura, both in their twenties during the run of the series, to be in the same age bracket as the as-stated-on-screen 34-year old Kirk? By all rights, Sulu and Uhura should still be in high school, first year at the Academy at best, when this movie supposedly takes place.

[MONTGOMERY(SCOTTY) SCOTT] -28-32 a brilliant ship’s engineer. Must be able to do a flawless Scottish accent!

See notation on McCoy regarding age. Jimmy Doohan was storming the beaches of Normandy while Bill Shatner was in junior high.

And as others have noted, where’s Gary Mitchell? Lee Kelso? Dr. Piper?

If this memo is legit, and they haven’t figured out by now that they’re in the process of royally screwing up, then we are in very deep trouble.

If this memo is legit, it was written by a Paramount executive. That should explain why it makes little sense.

It worries me that the casting call focuses on only the ‘classic’ crew, and no other character is being mentioned. If the movie is in the time period we’ve been assuming (’Young Iowa Jon-, er, JT Kirk’), the focus should be MUCH more on Mitchell, Dr Piper, Capt Garrovick, Ruth, Capt Pike, etc. Instead it sounds like ‘First Voyage of the Enterprise’ . “Capt Pike? Who’s him?”-type retconning is NOT going to be appreciated by the old fans.

Also, the phrasing about Uhura being “in a housefull of brothers” could easily be misinterpreted, I hope that we don’t get a ‘modern’ hip ‘cool chick’ with all the topical humor and ethnicity that popular nowadays. I love Uhura’s line to Lincoln in the orinal episode that they don’t worry about words in their future. To me that’s what a major point of what makes Star Trek interesting, they’ve been able to eliminate what we focus on and costs so much time and effort rather than work on the actual problem.

If you’re going to analyze completely, factor in at least the possibility that we may be seeing some of these people at different times in their lives, as opposed to all of them together at only a single point in time. Perhaps they are seeking performers who could convincingly portray that span of time, thus why we may be seeing calls for younger performers to portray characters that we know are a bit older than some of the others.

BTW, with regard to the whole James R. Kirk thing…? While it might be a cute nod to a few of the long-time fans, the problem is that for the vast majority of the audience, it’s likely to be utterly incomprehensible. I think that a detail like that is one of the continuity bits that is probably better left alone.

(Watch, and now that I’ve said that, I’ll find out that there’s a cute bit that they put into the script on just that topic. )

Best,
Alex

On the contrary, if done right, it would not be that big of a deal.

In the books, Mitchell made it a private running joke. The R stands for …..

Haven’t you heard? The second pilot was an irrelevent mistake. It has been decreed. Otherwise you risk being labeled part of the “Bring Back Piper” crowd, which means you have no legitimate points worthy of being discussed

Note to the Producers/Writers:

If it’s NOT a reboot, it damn well better fit in with what the world’s been seeing over the past 40 years, or you’ll NEVER hear the end of it.

You’ll end up looking like B&B- the guys that sank the franchise due to shitty writing and bad decisions made because they thought they knew more than anyone else could possibly ever know.

But now, we know YOU guys are listening… keep doing it.

re:has anyone seen the ‘tweaked’ version of NCC-1701 in this month’s 2007 Ships Of The Line calendar? The rendition is by Gabriel Koerner. I’m really impressed with it — an updated version of the Enterprise that very strongly reflects the original
Yeah it is as outdated as Orginal Ent. It still has its weak points f.e. thin neck, thin and too long pylons and exposed brigde.

These are gonna be some big shoes to fill, especially Captain Kirk.

I hope they go with unknowns who are solid actors and have a certain resemblance to the original actors. That would be the best thing, IMO.

I’m still hoping it’s going to simply be an adventure within the established 5 year mission. All this prequel shit is getting old. And I think they’re taking care to cast the actors young so they’ll have a long shelf-life. You can have a 27-29 year old actor playing a 31 or 32 year old Kirk as long as he fits in every other way. As noted before, you can’t have the supporting actors being high school age, so they’re placing the floor for all of them at early 20s, regardless of their characters’ ages.

As for the descriptions - they always seem to be written rather immaturely. Remember, the target audience is actors.

The target audience is agents.

Re; The dam casting sheet.
Some may realize that the descriptions given are in regard to the ACTOR’s attributes (age and ethnicity) For example the actress portraying Uhura CAN be African-American but the character is African. Keep in mind that actors can play “older” too. It’s not uncommon. If this is a continuing series of movies, I’d like the actors a bit younger for obvious reasons.
I like the hidden “easter eggs” in movies as much as anyone. I do hope that only a few are used in the final edit, however. With all that could be going on, I don’t think we need to resolve the “R” problem for example, but hey, that’s my opinion.

#202 - Well, nobody’s perfect Just gripeing about Voyager and B&B. ‘64, ‘65, whatever it takes!

Meanwhile, the actual audience gets taken for granted AGAIN!

This whole exercise is getting tedious.

Keep the original cast. Recast McCoy with Peter O’Toole. Recast Scotty with…. Burt Reynolds?? Grouchy Kirk, Spock, & McCoy amble onto the bridge with their walkers and go in search of the perfect depends undgergarment, with the help of alien Depends expert, I.P. Freely.

Why are so many in an uproar over this?! While I’m not a canon fanatic, I definitely don’t want alot of liberties taken. However, all we’re going on are a few tidbits of information. Certainly, it’s not enough to get so upset about. Let’s wait and see what develops. I’m confident that the movie will be quite satisfying to Trekkies, Trek fans, and non-Trek fans. There’s enough wiggle room in the time period before “Where No Man Has Gone Before” and just after it to remain fairly faithful to established canon as well as not being strangled creatively by canon. The big problem is fans’ preconceptions. We as fans must not allow our preconceptions to cloud our judgement about the film. I’m sure on at least a few things, the film makers will have to take some liberties, but as long as they’re relatively minor, we shouldn’t mind it. Besides there are things that many fans consider canon which never have been established as such.

#223 Robert April

What audience is being taken for granted? I believe #219 and #220 are talking about the casting sheet target, not the movie if that’s what you are worried about.

I’ve always been a Captain Pike fan, despite his only appearance in the pilot episode “The Cage” and reused footage in “The Menagerie.” I’ve read Jerry Oltion’s Star Trek: The Captain’s Table “Where Sea Meets Sky” novel and the “Early Voyages” comics published and Marvel. To me I can’t picture any actor that can fill the shoes of Jeffrey Hunter, even if only for a brief scene. I’ve seen a couple of his movies and he’s not your average modern day Hollywood actor he belongs to the category of other great actors of his time such as Gregory Peck and Ronald Reagan. I hope that J.J, Abrams and company pick an excellent Jeffrey Hunter-like actor to play Pike. The actor that plays Pike has to have black hair and be a man of unwavering integrity and dignity. Looking for a new Jeffrey Hunter for Star Trek would be like looking for a new John Wayne for a new western movie!

#227 Christian

How about Tom Hanks, a fan of the series? He’s been known to act in a couple films

Yes. Pike was hardcore. Kirk was a parody. (Of… I dunno!)
JJ should definitely stick Pike in.

“houseful of brothers”

Best line I’ve read on this site.

JJ; you’re out.

Get me Mel Brooks!!

i have been pushing hanks as pike for a year….it is a great choice

Christian, with all due respect, did you just write Ronald Reagan and Gregory Peck as comparable actors in the same sentence? Not to confuse the former presidents’ contributions to our country, but acting wasn’t the best thing that he was good at. Mr. Peck was on a whole ‘nother level.

Anthony, I got lambasted for mentioning Tom Hanks in a previous thread, but that would be a very intriguing idea. And I bet he might just jump at the chance.. Taking into consideration that a part for Pike has actually been written.

My concern is that, because of the age requirements, the agents won’t send somewhat older actors in for auditions. So the perfect choice, the 41 year old actor with the lines of wisdom and life’s lessons written in his face…won’t even be considered. Scotty and McCoy have experience that Kirk counts heavily on, the actors need to convey that in order to be be believable.

Yeah, the super young Scotty and the really young McCoy don’t sit right with me. Is the plan to recast the entire crew with just eye candy? Sure, young GL Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Sulu, but since when were McCoy or Scott sex symbols? Maybe we will get stuck with a WB/CW “Pretty White Kids with Problems” only in outer space after all.

…sure I expect the new crew to look less like the original actors and more like thier muscley action figures but come on. Take a look at Deforest Kelly and tell me he looks like a 28 to 32 year old man.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/a/ac/250px-320×240.jpeg

And if a 28 year old came up to me and said he was going to operate on me, I’d tell little Doogie I’m sorry, I’m gonna have to get a second opinion.

Hanks as Pike? Sure he’s got the acting chops but so does Ian McClellan. Neither of them look very Pike-ish to me.

#227 “great actors of his time such as Gregory Peck and Ronald Reagan”
Ronald Reagan?? AHAHAHAHAHAHA……THAT’S SO FU…AHAHAHAHAHAHA…….NO, WAIT……AHAHAHAHAHAHA…..HAHAHAHA…..CAN’T BREATHE…..AHAHAHAHA……(gasp)……HEY, I JUST COUGHED UP A KIDNEY!

Uhura should be played by that chick thats in Clerks 2 and Men In Black 2.

All good Star Trek captains are Shakespearean-trained actors. This must be kept in mind when picking the new Kirk.

I agree, cast the scrumpdillyishus Rosario Dawson as Uhuru! My gawd, I’d like to butter her muffin! Er,…was that my outer voice?

bnr has a point. They may want to look to the stage and the rsc for their young kirk…maybe someone with no film or tv experience.

Then we’re back to picking a Canadian actor, more than likely. We really don’t want a British actor where we know he’s disguising his accent, so it’s off to Stratford, Ontario to get us a new Kirk!!

Remember that McCoy was already divorced with a daughter old enough to be considered a possible love interest for JTK when he signed on.

What a disgrace

Definately would prefer another CANADIAN actor ( but I’d settle for and AMERICAN also ) for the star-making “younger” Kirk role…not some Brit…just so you know J.J.

Yes I said Ronald Reagan and I stick by that. Besides from being one of the greatest presidents in modern U.S. History he was also a great actor, perhaps not on the same level as the legendary Gregory Peck, but still a great actor. One of the reasons that I stick by Reagan is because the 1957 movie Hellcats of the Navy. In that movie Reagan played US Navy submarine Commander Casey Abbott, Captain of the USS Starfish. The movie is only an hour and half long but it’s a good black & white World War II. Watch the movie before you criticize his acting. He did an excellent acting as a sub captain. Anyway my original point was that the actor for Pike who resembled an actor of that period. It just wouldn’t feel right to have some new young actor do a character of Pike’s stature and integrity. As for this whole business with Tom Cruise, I honestly believe that he would be the worst possible actor to play Pike. Pike/ Jeffrey Hunter should not even be written in the same paragraph with the name Tom Cruise. Besides Tom Cruise he to much of a boyish-looking actor. As for Tom Hanks, maybe he does some pretty good maybe Alec Baldwen. Mr. Baldwen nor Mr. Hanks could replace Jeffrey Hunter, but still they are good choices.

Reagan and Peck, in their time, were indeed highly respected actors. Don’t go by “Bedtime for Bonzo”. Just because you’re looking from the perspective of 2007 doesn’t mean you know any history. Please keep the knees in unjerked position.

BTW Jim Caveziel for Captain Pike. He’s our contemporary Jeff Hunter. They both admirably played Christ, Caveziel could do Pike easily enough.

If he’s a rising-star Captain of a capital ship, then Kirk better be obviously mid-30’s or he can’t be taken seriously. And both McCoy and Scotty need to be clearly senior to him by at least five years. They’ve already “been there, done that”, and may have been hand-picked to guide a more impulsive yet talented Kirk. And yes, Sinise would be a perfect Bones. I can almost visualize the scene; his quiet drawl in an after-hours drink with a certain Scot as they discuss their impetuous Captain.

Spock can look young as long as he has the acting chops to come across much older than he looks. I can’t remember how old he is supposed to be, but even this half-breed is going to have a Vulcan perspective on age. The character is really sort of hormonal and bi-polar at this point; only a savage self-discipline and inhuman intelligence makes him functional in human society. At this point in time neither the humans nor the Vulcans really know if he will be able to pull it off.

As a 41 year old lifetime fan, I’m willing to submit to a reboot. The story better be character driven or the franchise is dead. I have an affection for the old ship designs. I’ve built models of them since I was 8 years old. But I’m not going to be like the BG fans who hate the changes. I’d rather have good Trek than no Trek, and I know that to have any Trek it has to be commercially successful. So they’ve go my permission to mix ‘em up.

Just give me a believable cast with lots of chemistry and a good script.

Bones and Scotty should be contemporaries of Pike, maybe slightly younger officers who served once or twice under him or who caught his attention otherwise. Pike is a beloved CO who would want to put discreet wisdom on each side of his successor. Caveziel would be a good Pike. There’s a hint of torment beneath within his prematurely wizened face. That’s good.

I still think Matt Damon could pull off a good Kirk, but I agree that his fame might actually get in the way of the story. Who is a good 30-something actor?

That’s the challenge of picking an unknown for the role of Kirk. If they’re unknown, how can we know to pick them? The producers should audition every actor who steps forward, short list the best ones and then have the finalists act out a handful of scenes with Quinto (new Spock), to see if they have both the acting chops and the chemistry! This is a critical role they’re trying to fill!!! I hope you read this J.J.!

Going by dates to ages:

* Kirk - 23-29 | 2256-2262 (overlap with McCoy 2256-2259; overlap with Sulu 2262)
* McCoy- 28-32 | 2255-2259 (overlap with Kirk 2256-2259)
* Uhura - ~25 | 2264 (overlap with Sulu 2264)
* Sulu- 25-32 | 2262-2269 (overlap with Kirk 2262; overlap with Uhura 2264)
* Scotty- 28-32 | 2250-2254 (no overlap)

So given the character’s ages, there is no matchup whatsoever in a 19-year placement, and no year that more than 2 characters can fit into. If we go by the actor’s ages (and assume an additional 300 years), we get:

* Kirk (Shatner)- 23-29 | 2254-2260 (overlap with Uhura 2258)
* McCoy (Kelley)- 28-32 | 2248-2252 (overlap with Scotty 2248-2252)
* Uhura (Nichols)- ~25 | 2258 (overlap with Kirk 2258)
* Sulu (Takei)- 25-32 | 2262-2269 (no overlap)
* Scotty (Doohan)- 28-32 | 2248-2252 (overlap with McCoy 2248-2252)

This type a 22-year placement with no year with more than 2 characters. The median for both is between 2258-2260 if we make some actors little older (Scotty) and some younger (Uhura, Sulu) than what is presented on the callsheet. This setting is well before the ~2265 “first mission” of the Enterprise, but it could be an earlier adventure (involving Pike’s Enterprise somehow) or something.

Not much is known about the character’s activities in the 2258-2260 range. None of their “first meetings” are shown, so they could all have easily known each other back then (of course some like McCoy and Spock might not corresponded in the interim between this mission and the five-year one). Uhura and maybe Sulu were presumably in the Academy at this time. Spock was on the Enterprise in canon, and conceivably Scotty (maybe even Kirk and McCoy in non-Captain/CMO positions. This is after Kirk’s Farragut mission.)

Quinto is 30 years old, which would make it around 2260-2262 (depending on which Spock birthyear you accept. I always preferred 2230 over 2232). Not really sure how that figures into it, but it roughly figures into the median date (you might have to make him up to 2 years younger) or the “first mission” date (3-5 years older).

#226 You mean Captain Robert April, not me I assume,.

I always thought Ray Liota would make a good Pike. He may be a little old for Captain Pike, but Fleet Captain Pike? Commodore Pike?

A good deal of this debate is moot if this casting snippet is correct. It confirms that the movie is simply a recasting/remaking of TOS. A tad different than normal remakes in that they are placing it within the pre-established universe, and not changing anything. Think of it as Star Trek New Voyages, only made by Paramount. This turn of events is disappointing to me. I was hoping to see the real beginnings of the characters, particularly Kirk and Spock, and then eventually the rest. Which have given the opportunity for many more new characters and adventures. This remake is the easy way out if you ask me. Just stick new actors in the pre-established characters, typical remake. I know many people want to see Star Trek continue in this way, a la James Bond, but I am not one of them.

#252 - I don’t think I’d jump to that conclusion. First, we don’t even know if it’s at all complete. Second, the ages themselves suggest we may be seeing the characters at possibly different periods of time, so the backstory you’re looking for may yet be part of it. Third, given J.J. Abrams’s penchant for non-linear storytelling, I’d not be ready to conclude it’s at all as simple as you’re portraying it.

I suspect there’s still more going on than meets the eye.

Best,
Alex

I concur with #253. It’s still far too early to jump to conclusions. If this casting sheet is the real deal, all that it proves is that all those characters appear in the movie, at one time or another. For all we know, characters like Sulu and Uhura don’t appear until somewhere around the middle of the film. Also, we already know the sheet’s not complete - Chekov will indeed be in the film, according to The Hollywood Report (see separate news item).

Give the movie a chance. A lot of close-minded people are ready to jump on this and denounce it and rip it to shreds without knowing squat about the actual story.

The new film might work, but here’s the thing (Rich Vos opening line)… Enterprise will likely be better because the whole cast was new and many episodes (not all) looked like feature film work. Jesus JJ don’t frack this up. You ain’t no Ron Moore and this ain’t BSG. My goodness don’t make this a Shark Sandwich.

253/254 - I didn’t say the movie was going to stink. I’m just displeased with the concept.