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Thursday, November 5
As the DVD/Blu-ray release date approaches, more deleted Star Trek scenes are finding their way online. Last week's scene saw Nero (Eric Bana) escape from a Klingon prison.
This week we get to see Kirk's apology to the green-skinned Orion Gaila (Rachel Nichols). Only it looks like Kirk can't tell his Orions apart and Diora Baird is the victim of Kirk's intergalactic ignorance.
Next Showing: The Star Trek DVD and Blu-Ray release on November 17
Posted 11/5/2009 by Ryan
Related: Chris Pine | Diora Baird | Rachel Nichols | Star Trek
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Wednesday, November 4
When it comes to iconic villains in Star Trek movies, there's none more memorable than the late Ricardo Montalban's Khan. In a recent interview with MTV, Star Trek director J.J. Abrams didn't say for sure whether Khan would appear in Star Trek 2, but he also didn't rule out the possibility.
Dealing with Khan would certainly be a challenge, but we had an equal challenge in finding our crew of the Enterprise. While I don't want to approach the second film as a remake of episodes we've seen in the past, and, you know, I don't think any of the other writers and producers are interested in just rehashing, or throwing characters in for the sake of it, and Khan is certainly the most obvious one in the history of the series for me.... Nothing is off limits in terms of what we're discussing.
Star Trek screenwriter Roberto Orci has said that Khan's chances to appear in the sequel are about "50/50." Javier Bardem could be he front runner for the role should it be written into the sequel.
Posted 11/4/2009 by Ryan
Related: Ricardo Montalban | Roberto Orci | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | Star Trek | Star Trek 2
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Thursday, October 29
In anticipation of the upcoming Star Trek DVD release on November 17, a deleted scene was shown at the 2009 Scream Awards. The scene has Nero (Eric Bana) escaping from incarceration in a Klingon prison and saying "the wait is over," a line that was often featured in Star Trek's trailers.
Check out Bana's brawling skills and the helmeted faces of Klingons below.
Posted 10/29/2009 by Ryan
Related: Eric Bana | Star Trek
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Tuesday, October 27
Zoe Saldana is certainly getting her fanboy credits in order. There's James Cameron's upcoming Avatar later this year, the comic book adaptation The Losers next year, and a Star Trek sequel likely arriving in 2012. Saldana spoke with E!Online and revealed she has watched some scenes from Cameron's much-anticipated Avatar.
Just last Friday, I went to Fox and Jim was able to show me scenes along with [composer] James Horner's music incorporated in it. O-M-G is all I'm going to say.
Saldana was a little more forthcoming about The Losers, which follows a CIA black ops team seeking revenge after being left for dead, that co-stars Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
I play a toughass broad — sort of like a viper, snaky girl. Guys find it really sexy when they see a girl hanging from wires with guns. They even like it more when there's a girl-on-guy fight and it looks like she's kicking his ass. Jeffrey Dean Morgan was such a gentleman. He was like, "Zoe, you can kick my butt any day."
Saldana is hoping to kick some butt in Star Trek 2 as well, which looks like it may happen sooner than later.
We're working on it. They were calling to see where we were going to be and how my schedule is next year. Just that was worth me doing a cartwheel when I got the phone call, because I cannot wait to put on the suit and go back to theEnterprise, take my shirt off, and be with all those yummy guys.
Next Showing: Avatar opens December 18
Posted 10/27/2009 by Ryan
Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Avatar | Star Trek | Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Star Trek 2
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Thursday, October 22
Leonard Nimoy enjoyed his time working with director J.J. Abrams in Star Trek so much he would come back if asked. But first, Abrams would like to see if William Shatner will appear in Star Trek 2. According to an Associated Press report, Abrams revealed that Shatner almost appeared in Star Trek.
It was a foregone conclusion we wanted him in the movie. The problem was his character died on screen in one of his Trek films and because we decided, very early on, that we wanted to adhere to Trek canon as best we could ... the required machinations to get Shatner into the movie would have been very difficult to do given the story we wanted to tell and also to give him the kind of part that he would be happy with.
It was this thing where it would have felt like a gimmick in order to get Shatner in the movie, which would have honestly, to me, been distracting.
For now, Abrams and company will have to work out the story for the sequel, but it may include Shatner. "In terms of moving forward, I am open to anything," Abrams revealed. "Maybe there's less of a burden and there's going to be more opportunity to work with him." Abrams said the two have a lunch date planned.
We're assuming Abrams will be picking up the check.
Posted 10/22/2009 by Ryan
Related: William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2
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Tuesday, October 20
There's some confusion in the Star Trek universe over when Star Trek 2 will arrive in theaters. Karl Urban, who played Dr. McCoy in the reboot, told Collider that "the hope would be mid next year ... mid to end next year," adding that it "would be great to have another Star Trek out for 2011."
Urban admitted he has heard that screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were turning in a script in December. Kurtzman confirmed to IGN that December was the date, but says that the deadline date has been moved.
Originally we were thinking we'd have to have it by Christmas, but the release changed. Certainly I'd say in the next eight months.
The writers continue to remain mysterious about what story the sequel will follow, with Orci saying they have no idea what the Star Trek 2 will entail.
We're in the process of re-reading some of our favorite Star Trek novels and looking at the [original TV] show again. We have some basic themes. The honest answer is we don't know yet.
Orci did say that the characters in the sequel will be more like the original characters.
They're established. They're finally a crew. It will resemble more of what you've seen in terms of they're already how they are.
Orci and Kurtzman have also said that the sequel won't be about torture or split into two movies.
Posted 10/20/2009 by Ryan
Related: Roberto Orci | Alex Kurtzman | Star Trek | Karl Urban | Star Trek 2
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Tuesday, October 13
Previously, Star Trek screenwriters Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman had mentioned that the studio asked them to possibly split their idea for the sequel into two separate movies. At a recent press junket, though, Kurtzman stated that it is not in their current plans.
It's very, very important to us to make sure that each movie is good, not "Hey, let's do as many as possible." We feel like we've inherited this incredible honor and this mantle of Star Trek, and the most important thing is to make sure that we're protecting that first.
So, if the studio wants more than one, great. But, our thinking is going to be very much about the story and whether the story prescribes that there will be more than one. Part of what is great about Star Trek is that it's a continuing adventure, so you naturally think that there will be many, hopefully, but we only focus on what comes next, and then build off of that. Right now, we're not thinking specifically about making 2 and 3. It may come up, but it's not where our heads are at right now.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Roberto Orci | Alex Kurtzman | Star Trek | Star Trek 2
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While Leonard Nimoy has said that his days of working on Star Trek have run their course, director J.J. Abrams addressed this concern in a press junkent for the Star Trek DVD/Blu-Ray, saying that this is not necessarily the case.
I can't imagine a Star Trek movie not needing him. I'm sure that what he's saying is a combination of modesty and honesty. He may actually feel that way. But, the truth is, we could never have made this movie without him, and working with him again would be a joy. It is clearly too early, given that we are just now talking story, to conclude whether or not Spock Prime is in the film or not. Do I want to work with him again? Of course, 100%. I’d love to.
Abrams also explained that Star Trek was almost made in 3-D, which was stopped when he became too nervous about the technology. He claims the sequel may be different.
Paramount talked to me about doing the first one in 3-D and, having it only be my second film, I was petrified just at the addition of it. I thought it would be another dimension of pain-in-the-ass. I was just like, "I want to make a decent 2-D movie." I was so worried that, instead of being a decent 2-D movie, it would have been a bad 3-D one. I'm open to looking at it 'cause now I feel a little bit more comfortable. And, if I, in fact, direct the Star Trek sequel, 3-D could be really fun, so I'm open to it. What I've seen of Avatar makes me want to do it because it's so crazy-cool looking.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2
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At a press junket for the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of Star Trek, director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman gave a few details on Star Trek 2. Orci and Abrams have said that the sequel will deal with "modern-day issues" such as torture or the economy, but Orci is quick to clarify their allegorical intentions.
The torture thing was just a for instance. Someone asked, "Modern day issues?," and we said, "Yeah, sure, modern day issues." But, we're not doing a story about Gitmo. I read on some site that it was going to be about Guantanamo Bay. But, now that we've established the characters, we can have a more philosophical allegory, where what's happening in the future represents our world, like the best versions of it in the 60s did with women's rights and racial equality.
Abrams agreed that Star Trek 2 won't be about making an overt political statement.
It's not like we're looking to make the second movie some kind of heavy political allegory. I think that it's important that there is metaphor to what we know and that there is relevance, and I think allegory is the thing that made shows like The Twilight Zone and Star Trek resonate and still be vital today.
But, because the first movie was so much about introducing these people, and it was very much a premise movie about how to bring these people together, it made it difficult to also have the film go as deep as it could, about certain conflict, certain relationships and the heart of who some of these characters are. I think it was successful in what it needed to do, to introduce these people, but I feel like, now that we've done that, it is the job of the next film to go a little bit deeper. It shouldn't be any less fun or take itself too seriously, but consider who these people are now and grow with them, and just examine them a little more closer, now that we've gotten through the pleasantries and introductions.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Ryan
Related: Leonard Nimoy | Roberto Orci | J.J. Abrams | Alex Kurtzman | Star Trek | Star Trek 2
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Friday, October 9
Leonard Nimoy enjoyed his return as Spock this summer in J.J. Abrams's Star Trek reboot, but despite having directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Nimoy told Star Trek Magazine that he won't be directing a sequel.
[Star Trek] is technically on a scale that I would be not be able to handle. The technology has increased and evolved so far beyond the kinds of things that we were doing when I was making those films. It's beyond me. It takes a certain skill and an understanding of the technology that I do not have to achieve the integration of the sets with the extraordinary special effects that are in this film.
Despite saying he would not appear in a Star Trek last month, Nimoy said he would be willing to return if Abrams asks him to.
If the phone rings again, and its J.J. calling to talk about another project, I'm more than willing to enter a discussion about it, and explore it with him. I have the feeling that my involvement has run its course — but then again, I've had that feeling many times before. I've felt that I was finished with all this, so this was a very pleasant surprised to be called back after all these years and be able to make a contribution here. If it happens again, I would glady work for him again.
Posted 10/9/2009 by Ryan
Related: Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | Star Trek | Star Trek 2