New Star Trek Movie: 2008

February 28th, 2007

Star Trek
Star Trek: Get ready for a whole new cast.

Star TrekI’m a pretty big original series Star Trek fan, so any news about a new Star Trek movie catches my interest. The latest news is that “Star Trek XI” will come out at year’s end, 2008. J.J. Abrams (responsible for Mission Impossible III, Alias, Lost) is supposedly directing this thing.

Most of the rumors I’ve read is that this flick will be a prequel set at Starfleet Academy - showing the early days of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

So that’s why I wonder about this list of rumored potential actors: Matt Damon as Kirk, Adrien Brody as Spock, and Gary Sinise as McCoy. Other than Damon, they seem a bit… old. However, I’d much prefer these quality actors over other ridiculous rumors that suggested Ben Affleck as Spock.

I’m still skeptical however. I’m unsure how I’ll feel seeing other actors doing the roles so synonymous with the original cast. I don’t see “Captain Kirk” as interchangeable as James Bond. Will Matt Damon just do a Shatner impersonation?

Also, the whole concept might be flawed. The Enterprise television series was a strange attempt at a franchise reboot that failed miserably. Personally, instead of all this prequel, young Kirk stuff, why not go forward several centruies and start with a clean slate with totally different people?

On the other hand, seeing how Batman Begins and Casino Royale were successful “re-imaginings”, and that Rick Berman isn’t involved, maybe this Trek movie will succeed.

As long as they stick to the relationship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy it could be cool. Just don’t screw with the miniskirts or the theme song please!

Note: Here’s the tongue in cheek cast list for the image I whipped up above: Kirk: Matt Damon, Spock: Adrien Brody, McCoy: Gary Sinise, Scotty: Evan McGregor, Sulu: John Cho, Chekov: Luke Wilson, Nurse Chapel: Reese Witherspoon, Uhura: Jennifer Hudson.

11 comments!

  1. comment Gravatar Mike - February 28th, 2007

    That looks…kind of strange. I’m not even a Star Trek fan, and even from a casual standpoint, Shatner is integral. On a side note, “Has Been” is genius.

    I’ve seen some of The Next Generation, and I like Patrick Stewart…I think you’re on to something with having a different cast portray different characters.

  2. comment Gravatar webomatica - February 28th, 2007

    I suppose it’s inevitable, as Hollywood likes to remake old stuff from The Flinstones to Bewitched.

  3. comment Gravatar Wayne - November 4th, 2007

    I’ve just heard that Shatner was left out…and He’s upset about it.
    I would be too!
    Why cant they at least roll him as a retired Admirel or something.
    He’s still alive People! Dust off His rug and stand Him in a corner for crying out loud!
    When i saw Christopher Reeve appear on “Smallville” in his wheelchair, I felt like standing up and saluting. A Brilliant Homage!
    I hope they re-think they’re decision on this!!

  4. comment Gravatar webomatica - November 5th, 2007

    Yeah since I wrote this post, there have been casting announcements. If Nimoy is in there, not having Shatner is kind of a snub. I hope Abrams figures out a way to get the Shat in the movie.

  5. comment Gravatar Dave - November 6th, 2007

    Here was the quote I had read from Shatner:
    “”I couldn’t believe it. I’m not in the movie at all. Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me,” Shatner, 76, said. “I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office. It didn’t seem to be a wise business decision.”

    He claims he had met with Abrams, but nothing has come of it.

    I don’t have too much of problem of not having the old dudes, but I agree that if you include Nimoy, not including Shatner is a diss. But surely a funny cameo could work, right?

    Despite the outcome, I can’t help but laugh a little. With the size of Shatner’s ego, this must come as a huge, huge blow to the guy…

  6. comment Gravatar webomatica - November 6th, 2007

    Especially with Nimoy in the film - although Shatner and Nimoy are friends, I can’t help but think if one of ‘em is in the film, the other should be in there. The Shat is still Kirk - that’s all I can say.

  7. comment Gravatar rick - December 30th, 2007

    are there any plans to do a new move with the next generation cast.
    what is jonathan frakes up to?

  8. comment Gravatar Joanne - January 7th, 2008

    You should have put W. Shatner in the movie, you can not replace a legend, you saw what happened in the beginning with the first captain, it did not work until captain James T Kirk, W. Shatner came on board, it is ok to make new characters and I would love to see a new show, but people like me, that have loved Star Trek form the beginning and have all the movies and video and DVD, would rather see the old characters come back than be replaced with pretend ones

    Remember in the movie Generations when Kirk gave the order to get under way, take her out, and they all clapped and Scotty said it brings a tear to my eye, well it did for me and also a shiver all over, you can not replace that
    all the best Joanne

  9. comment Gravatar Misha - March 17th, 2008

    hmmm not so sure one can recapture the magic that is original star trek. You must either offer up a pure “fake” or give up and do your own thing. I’m not sure either will do much for me. Also Spock is to appear as a very old version of himself and as Kirk was killed off his role as an older version of Kirk, as his age and uh, girth would require him to play, Is not going to be a possibility.

  10. comment Gravatar Greg Born 1966 - April 14th, 2008

    It’s hard to believe that after all these years I am like a kid again when there is a Star Trek Movie. I was born when the series aired. Now that I am 42 years old Star Trek still plays a roll today in my life.

    I am not going to get all philosophical here but let’s not forget that Gene Rodenberry’s vision of the future was what Star Trek was truly all about. A planet called Earth and its inhabitants reaching beyond the stars and travelling the universe working as one to attain peace, prosparity and acceptance of all races. Just image today if there was no famine, war, poverty and our planet was clear of green house gasses and everything was done to make things environmentally safe.

    Picture it if our Governments truly did listen to the people and a coalition of all people working together to obtain a better world and life for everyone. WOW what a dream it is and what a place it would be to live in. Thanks to Star Trek most of the gadgets in the original series and the ones there after which need no mention, did come to life today just in another shape, form or style. The technology today is unbelievable. As a kid watching Star Trek I could only dream of such things. Now at the age of 42 here I am in my own home working away on a computer! And my cell phone is at my side and my cordless home phone on the other side. The world is at the tip of figures thanks to the internet. I can’t thank Gene enough for making my world such a wondrous and unique time for here it is 2008 and there could be a Mars mission in the next few years. The point to all that I have said is this, what difference is it going to make if James T. Kirk is going to be in the next movie and Spock is that is not what should be the topic of concern. What should be taken into account is that people are still interested in the shows, Movies and everything they represented. As long as we still continue to follow the dream and get the message out there PEACE AND ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO ABTAIN A SAFE WORLD. Hopefully in the next 50 years we will be travelling around the universe at warp speeds and meeting new and exciting races and perhaps fantastic plants. Kirk and Spock will be long gone by than and will they even be of concern 50-100 years from now. Thanks Greg

  11. comment Gravatar Jason Kaneshiro - April 15th, 2008

    Greg that’s a good sentiment. Star Trek definitely has a core message of solidarity and using technology to advance the human race rather than destroy ourselves. That’s a good message and I hope it’s captured in the new movie.

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