TrekHQ

Russell Crowe As ‘Star Trek’ Villian?

Anthony Pascale — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:00:50 +0000

Multiple reports (including TrekMovie.com’s sources) have indicated that Paramount and the Star Trek film makers want to balance the lesser-known actors of the main cast with some big name stars. They are determined to have the new Star Trek appeal to a much wider audience than previous Trek films and well known stars are part of that plan. The likely spots for the big names would be for Captain/Fleet Captain Pike and for the villain. IGN recently hinted they had heard about interest in a very big name for the villain and now they have revealed that name to be none other than Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe. However, they also noted this was only interest and that their source ’seriously doubted’ that Paramount and Abrams could convince the busy star to make time available from his other big film projects. Although it is likely that Crowe will not be the one, it is an indication of the caliber and star power they are looking for.

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Business Week: Trek Franchise Prospering

Anthony Pascale — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:00:11 +0000

In a new lengthy feature Business Week takes a look at the current crop of film franchises in Hollywood, including Star Trek. In their introduction they note that some franchises come to a natural end (like Lord of the Rings), others (like The Matrix) peter out, “but some franchises—a Bond or a Star Trek—will keep on going until the studios stop making money on them.” The article includes a snapshot of 16 franchises, including Trek. On Trek they surmise…

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Star Trek Vegas Con Starts Tomorrow - Shatner, Nimoy (and TrekMovie.com) will be there

Anthony Pascale — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:59:37 +0000

Creation’s Sixth Annual Official Star Trek Convention kicks off on Thursday at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel (home of the Star Trek Experience). Creation are expecting over 15,000 Trekkies from all across the world to attend. 75 Star Trek Celebrities including Trek ‘captains’ William Shatner, Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks will be appearing. In addition to Shatner, all other surviving TOS cast members will be there (Takei, Koenig, Nichols and Nimoy). This year marks the 20th anniversary of Star Trek The Next Generation and and much of the cast will be in Vegas to celebrate: Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Will Wheaton, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton and even Dwight Schultz (Barclay). This year there will also be some big behind the camera names appearing, including Nicholas Meyer, Brannon Braga, Bob Justman and D.C Fontana.

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Sydney Tamiia Poitier Auditioned For ‘Star Trek’

Anthony Pascale — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:05:15 +0000

Grindhouse hottie (and daughter of Oscar winner Syndey Poitier) Sydney Tamiia Poitier revealed last week that she auditioned for J.J. Abrams new Star Trek film. Rotten Tomatoes report on the Grindhouse DVD panel at Comic-Con quotes the actress asking "did they announce the cast of Star Trek? I auditioned for it and I’m curious who got what roles in there." She asked this while Paramount was making the Nimoy and Quinto announcement in another hall at Comic Con. No indication as to what role she might have auditioned for, but a good guess might be Uhura. However, Poitier is 34 which is a few years older than they appear to be looking for that role. It could be another role…a love interest for Kirk perhaps?

Variety: ‘Star Trek’ Starts Shooting November 5th - Abrams Sells Another Film Project To Paramount

Anthony Pascale — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:11:41 +0000

In an article about a new film project being set up at Paramount by J.J. Abrams company Bad Robot, Variety states shooting will start on the new Star Trek feature on November 5th. This is the first time I have seen a specific date, but it is in line with other recent reports both in the media and from sources at the studio. So assuming this all pans out, we are 89 days away cameras rolling. This would make it exactly 32 months since the last time any Star Trek was shot at Paramount (principle photography on Star Trek Enterprise ceased on March 5th, 2005).

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Abrams Close to Casting New Chekov - Looking For Big Names For Villain and ‘Federation Captain’

Anthony Pascale — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:13:57 +0000

The casting news is coming faster and faster these days…now from the Hollywood Reporter no less. According to trade paper, the up-and-coming (and Russian-born) Anton Yelchin is in negotiations to play Pavel Chekov for the new Star Trek film. THR also confirms that casting is under way (in New York and London) for "Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, the film’s villain and the Federation captain." It is not entirely clear what they mean by ‘federation captain,’ it is possible they actually mean ‘fleet captain’ which would be Chris Pike. THR reports that Abrams is expected to sign bigger-name actors for the villain and the ‘federation captain.’ roles. Yelchin is only 18, but has been working steadily since 2000, most recently with a recurring role on the Showtime drama Huff. He is starring in two feature films opening in the fall of 2007 (Charlie Bartlett and Fierce People).

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Damon Still Too Old To Play Kirk

Anthony Pascale — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:28:38 +0000

Another Star Trek movie rumor that seems hard to kill is the Matt Damon as Kirk rumor. A few readers have sent in links to a long MSN Movies article on Matt Damon that had a paragraph about him playing Kirk, starting off with the line "After "The Bourne Ultimatum," Damon has agreed to play Captain James Kirk." Although some thought this was confirmation it was actually just a bit of rumor inertia working its way into the article. In the last couple of days MSN has updated the article and the paragraph on him playing Kirk is now gone. Damon recently denied the rumor and now in a new interview with the Australian AP he repeats he is too old to play Kirk, saying…

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Return of the Tom Cruise Rumor: Now As Pike! [UPDATE: Rumor Denied]

Anthony Pascale — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:32:06 +0000

Remember last fall when TrekMovie.com crushed the Tom Cruise in Star Trek rumor, when his own people told us it wasn’t true. Well it is hard to keep a good rumor down and now IGN are saying that JJ Abrams wants Tom Cruise to play a cameo as Chris Pike…the captain of the Enterprise before Jim Kirk (originally played by Jeffrey Hunter). TrekMovie.com cannot confirm or deny this report at this time. IGN has good sources, but some of their previous casting rumors didn’t pan out.

UPDATE: Rumor Denied
Arnold Robinson, a publicist for Mr. Cruise, tells TrekMovie.com that this story is "not true." TrekMovie.com has also not been able to get any confirmation of the story from any sources.

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Shatner On ‘Collision Course’ - His Vision Of Kirk and Spock’s Early Years + Preview

Anthony Pascale — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:48:12 +0000

William Shatner (along with Judith and Garfield Reeves Stevens) has a new book coming out this fall called "Star Trek: The Academy–Collision Course". In a new video Shatner talks about how the book has a disclaimer making sure fans know it is ‘his vision.’.

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Leaked Character Casting Sheet For ‘Star Trek’ - Entire TOS Crew Being Recast

Anthony Pascale — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 06:03:42 +0000

It was long rumored, and has since been confirmed, that the new Star Trek film will recast the Original Series characters Kirk and Spock (with Spock already cast with Zachary Quinto). TrekMovie.reported last October that the film will also have McCoy and Scotty and now (if a new report is to be believed) it appears we will get the whole gang. AICN claims to have obtained a partial character casting sheet for the new Star Trek film which includes Kirk, Scotty, McCoy, Uhura and Sulu (but no Chekov who didn’t join until the second season). Details below:

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