Wednesday, November 18

• Faran Tahir Talks Iron Man 3 and Star Trek

  Earlier in the year, Iron Man actor Faran Tahir mentioned the possibility of a return as Iron Man's nemesis Mandarin in Iron Man 3 ... or at least as a "conduit" to Mandarin. Tahir told Moviefone that no decision has been made yet, but the possibility is there.

  Jon Favreau and [the producers] are not stupid. They're also listening in on all of this and wanting to get the pulse of where the audience is. But at some point, they want to introduce Mandarin into the storyline and my character, like Mandarin, was the leader of the Ten Rings. We're leaving it open because, partly, it makes good business sense for us to leave a little bit of uncertainty for people to speculate on.

  Tahir says Favreau has known "where he wants to take" Iron Man 3 "for a long time," and that there will be "linkage somewhere in [Iron Man 2" that will set up a third movie.

  In the meantime, Tahir has taken roles in television shows as well as the supporting role of Captain Robau in Star Trek. Tahir's screen time is brief, which may be why he feels that director J.J. Abrams may be out to get him.

  J.J. and I keep joking about that. I've done four things for him and every single thing I do for him, I die. It's like, "What the heck is your problem? Do you just not want me on Earth?" His last e-mail to me was, "I promise you the next time, you are not going to beepin' die."

  My thinking was that because it sets the mood for the entire saga, it was worth doing and was going to have an impact. So it's 10 minutes, but it's a good 10 minutes.

  
  

  Posted 11/18/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jon Favreau | J.J. Abrams | Faran Tahir | Iron Man 3 | Star Trek

• J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof Tease Star Trek Sequel

  

  Considering the incredible success of director J.J. Abrams' Star Trek revamp, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Paramount Pictures would move forward with plans for a sequel. However, in the months since Star Trek debuted, there has been little heard about the proposed sequel beyond William Shatner 's plea to appear in the next movie and numerous internet rumors about Khan Noonien Singh, the genetically enhanced superhuman played by Ricardo Montalbán in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, making a return.

  At the recent Star Trek DVD/Blu-Ray release party, Abrams and writer-producer Damon Lindelof spoke with Sci-Fi Wire about the planned sequel, which Lindelof said Paramount would be "hard pressed" to release by 2011, joking, "If that's the case, we'd better get to writing right now." Abrams confirmed Lindelof's statements about the script, or lack thereof, and mentioned that his involvement in the sequel is not set in stone.

  In theory, I would be available [to direct Star Trek 2], and it would be fun to do. Since there's no script, it's hard to talk about directing a movie that the story doesn't even exist.

  However, even without a script, Lindelof teased that Star Trek 2 might not be a linear sequel after all.

  One of the things we like to do as storytellers is drop you in the middle of something. And the question that you're asking yourself is: Where am I in relation to the last time I left these guys? Could this be something that predated even, perhaps, some of the adventures that they had in the first movie? Does it happen five years later? Is it happening two seconds later? Who knows? So we're not going to tell you.

  

  And, as for the rumors of Khan appearing in Star Trek 2, even though Abrams said earlier this month that "nothing is off limits," he told Sci-Fi Wire:

  We're not even at that stage yet, but the fun of where we are on the sequel is we could use some of what was done before in a new way. But we haven't even figured out what we would use yet, so it's very early on.

  
  
  

  Star Trek - Trailer 2 HD

  J.J. Abrams Directs

  Posted 11/18/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Damon Lindelof | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Wednesday, November 11

• J.J. Abrams Too Busy for Dark Tower Adaptation?

  Only days ago, director J.J. Abrams said that he "will not be directing" Mission: Impossible IV, though he is still teaming with Tom Cruise in producing the movie. Now, Abrams has also pulled the plug on helming an adaptation of Stephen King's "magnum opus" novel series, The Dark Tower, about a gunslinging knight on a quest for the nexus of the universe.

  Abrams had planned to develop the picture with fellow Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof after the two purchased the rights from King for $19. Abrams told MTV News:

  The Dark Tower thing is tricky. It's such an important piece of writing. The truth is that Damon and I are not looking at that right now.

  Beyond hinting at The Dark Tower being a difficult property to adapt, which is an understatement, Abrams did not give a specific reason for the decision. It's likely that he will simply be too busy working on the sequel to his highly successful revamp of the Star Trek franchise — and the seven other movies he is said to have in development — to work on such a massive undertaking.

  
  

  Posted 11/11/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Tom Cruise | J.J. Abrams | Damon Lindelof | Mission: Impossible 4

Saturday, November 7

• William Shatner in Star Trek 2? Says It's Up to J.J. Abrams

  Star Trek director J.J. Abrams has made it no secret that he would like to have William Shatner appear in Star Trek 2, even planning a lunch to talk with him about it.

  At a recent unveiling of a wax figure of Shatner as Captain Kirk, Shatner said that his participation in the sequel is entirely up to Abrams.

  I have no plans, because I don't make those plans. JJ Abrams has my fate wrapped up in his two little hands. I would love to be in the next Star Trek, if he so thought that would be good for it.

  
  

  Posted 11/07/2009 by Ryan

  Related: William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek 2

Wednesday, November 4

• Star Trek Sequel To Feature Khan?

  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 11/04/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Ricardo Montalban | Roberto Orci | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | Star Trek 2 | Star Trek

Tuesday, October 27

• J.J. Abrams Won't Direct Mission: Impossible 4, But Maybe Superman?

  Looks like J.J. Abrams won't return to direct Mission: Impossible 4, which is currently being scripted. "I'm producing with Tom [Cruise]," Abrams told MTV. "My guess is, given other things, that I will not be directing the movie."

  Ironically, the entire M:I 4 project came together out of Cruise's desire to reunite with Abrams.

  Tom asked if I'd be interested in working with him again. I didn't have a sense of what the story would be, but very quickly this idea came to mind, and Tom reacted to it in a way that got me excited, and then we got [Alias writers] André [Nemec] and Josh [Appelbaum] to come onboard, and they began developing the idea with us.

  I don't want to give anything away yet, but I will say that it's a story that will feel consistent with the world that has been created. It's not a reboot kind of thing.

  So what are the "other things" that would make Abrams unavailable to direct M:I 4? Besides Star Trek 2, Abrams wouldn't mind working on a Superman movie. Abrams wrote an infamous Superman script back in 2002, when fanboy-hater Brett Ratner was set to direct, but his script was never used and the Superman Returns debacle was made instead. Abrams told MTV that returning to Superman would "be a blast."

  Writing that script was a long process. It was a very passionate character for me. As a kid growing up it meant a lot to me. It would be wonderful and fun to see that brought back. I don't know what Warners is thinking or what their plan is. It would be a blast.

  No one has talked to me about it. Obviously I'm sure Warner Brothers has a plan for what they want to do.

  So far, Warners' "plan" has been to have "no current plans" to make a Superman movie.

  
  

  Posted 10/27/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Tom Cruise | J.J. Abrams | Josh Appelbaum | Andre Nemec | Superman Returns | Mission: Impossible 4

Thursday, October 22

• William Shatner May Appear in Star Trek 2

  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

Tuesday, October 13

• No Leonard Nimoy for a 3-D Star Trek 2?

  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

• Star Trek 2 Not About Torture After All

  

  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 2 | Star Trek

Sunday, October 11

• Mission: Impossible IV May Feature Original TV Actors

  There hasn't been much news about the fourth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, but the production is inching along. It was announced in June that Mission: Impossible IV was moving forward, with both J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise attached. However, it was not made clear whether both men were only producing or if they would also be returning to direct and star, respectively. In August, it was announced that Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec were hired to write the screenplay, based on Abrams' idea.

  Now, Abrams has revealed that Mission: Impossible IV may feature characters and actors from the original TV series.

  How cool would that be? I just got a call that Peter Graves is in great shape, which would be a very bizarre bend in the space-time continuum, for obvious reasons. I almost feel like you could make him serious again and bring him back. Whether it's [Leonard] Nimoy, who I have an incredible affinity for, or Graves or anyone, we'll see. I actually tried to get Martin Landau in Mission 3, in a very small little moment just for fun, and was told that he had no interest in doing it.

  Of those mentioned, Nimoy is the most likely of the group to agree to appear in M:I IV because of his relationship with Abrams: He recently reprised the role of Spock in the Abrams-directed Star Trek relaunch, and he played the pivotal role of William Bell in Abrams' TV series, Fringe.

  Abrams admitted to having a lot of irons in the fire, but said he is "hard at work on Star Trek 2 and Mission: Impossible IV." In addition to Fringe and a new, unnamed TV show pilot, Abrams is producing Morning Glory, starring Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams, due out in 2010.

  
  
  

  Mission: Impossible III - Trailer

  Posted 10/11/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Martin Landau | Peter Graves | Mission: Impossible 4

Friday, October 9

• Leonard Nimoy Won't Direct a Star Trek Sequel

  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 10/09/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | Star Trek | Star Trek 2 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Wednesday, September 16

• Zoe Saldana to Kick Butt in Star Trek Sequel

  Zoe Saldana admits she enjoyed working on Star Trek, but feels she got left out on the action. She told Cinematical that the sequel will be a different experience for Uhura.

  In Star Trek, I had so much fun, but the boys got all the action! J.J. [Abrams] promised me that I'm going to — [that] in the sequel, she will have at least one little fight. I mean, just [let me] kick a guy in the groin or something!

  Few details are known about the sequel, but fighting will likely be involved. The LA Times spoke with Abrams and Trek screenwriter Roberto Orci, who says that while he and co-screenwriter Alex Kurtzman are still working out the final story, one clear theme will need to be addressed in the sequel:

  We haven't decided anything but we're starting to circle around some ideas. We got a lot of fan response from the first one and a considerable amount of critical response and one of the things we heard was, "Make sure the next one deals with modern-day issues." We're trying to keep it as up-to-date and as reflective of what's going on today as possible. So that's one thing, to make it reflect the things that we are all dealing with today.

  So that means ... a bad intergalactic economy? War? Terrorism? Not too far off, actually.

  Well yeah, those are the kind of issues we're talking about.

  Abrams doesn't think that the movie will be specifically about society's current issues, but will be contemporary.

  The ambition for a sequel to Star Trek is to make a movie that's worthy of the audience and not just another movie, you know, just a second movie that feels tacked on. The first movie was so concerned with just setting up the characters — their meeting each and galvanizing that family — that in many ways a sequel will have a very different mission. It needs to do what [the late Trek creator Gene] Roddenberry did so well, which is allegory. It needs to tell a story that has connection to what is familiar and what is relevant. It also needs to tell it in a spectacular way that hides the machinery and in a primarily entertaining and hopefully moving story. There needs to be relevance, yes, and that doesn't mean it should be pretentious. If there are simple truths — truths connected to what we live — that elevates any story — that's true with any story.

  As long as Saldana gets to kick someone where it hurts.

  
  

  Posted 09/16/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Zoe Saldana | Roberto Orci | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek 2 | Star Trek

Friday, September 11

• Ricky Gervais in Bromance with J.J. Abrams, but Still Turned Down Star Trek Role

  There's no denying it: British Office star Ricky Gervais and Star Trek director J.J. Abrams are locked in a bromance. Evidence of this bromance surfaced when Abrams praised Gervais' upcoming comedy The Invention of Lying.

  Ricky Gervais proves, once again, that he is the master. Not only of comedy, but social commentary. The Invention Of Lying is as funny as it is biting, wholly original, and surprisingly moving. Is there such thing as important comedy? Turns out there is, and this is it.

  

  Then Gervais turned around and praised Abrams.

  Star Trek was my favourite film of this year. He's a genius, he's like the new [Steven] Spielberg. And he said [Lying] was an important comedy. It's embarrassing talking about it but I put it on my website immediately!

  Turns out the bromance started years ago when Gervais was cast in Abrams's TV show Alias. And since then, Gervais admits Abrams has tried to cast him in other projects, including an unspecified role in Star Trek.

  [Abrams] offered me a couple of parts I couldn't do, one in Mission: Impossible and one in Star Trek itself but I couldn't do them because I was busy. I'll work with him again one day and I've thanked him, I've thanked him very much.

  Hug it out already, you two!

  
  

  Posted 09/11/2009 by Ryan

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Ricky Gervais | Star Trek | The Invention of Lying

Friday, September 4

• Star Trek To Open in IMAX Again

  Missed Star Trek in IMAX? Considering Star Trek's extremely limited IMAX run upon its initial release, you're not alone. Even so, Star Trek still managed to set IMAX sales records, meaning another limited run for J.J.Abrams's sci-fi mega-hit is opening today, playing in 85 theaters around the country until September 18.

  For those that forgot the omnipresent nature of the Star Trek marketing campaign, enjoy the IMAX trailer below:

  For a list of cities and IMAX theaters where Star Trek is playing, visit here.

  
  

  Posted 09/04/2009 by Ryan

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Monday, August 10

• Former Alias Writers To Script Mission: Impossible IV

  Plans for a fourth film in the Mission: Impossible franchise are picking up steam. It was only a few weeks ago that it was announced that J.J. Abrams will be joining Tom Cruise in making Mission: Impossible IV. Abrams directed Mission: Impossible III, but it's unclear at this point whether he will also be directing M:I IV or whether he's only producing.

  Now, there is news that M:I IV is one step closer to being actualized as Cruise and Abrams have hired Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec to write the screenplay for the film based on an Abrams idea. While they are relative unknowns in motion picture circles, Applebaum and Nemec were co-executive producers on the Abrams-created TV series Alias for four seasons. Abrams told Variety:

  I’ve been looking forward to working with Josh and Andre again for years. Their sense of balance between character and action is wonderful, which I know is hugely important to Tom (Cruise) as well. We’re off to an exciting start, so, as usual, fingers crossed.

  Cruise is actively involved in the production process of M:I IV, but there's no word whether he will star in the film as Ethan Hunt, his character from the first three films.

  
  
  Next Showing: Mission: Impossible IV is currently slated for a 2012 release

  Posted 08/10/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Tom Cruise | J.J. Abrams | Mission: Impossible 4

Monday, July 6

• Simon Pegg Talks Star Trek Sequel

  

  With Star Trek screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci already working on a sequel, Simon Pegg, who plays Trek's engineer Scotty, feels pretty confident that the sequel is not far away.

  I know the writers are busy thinking about it. I don't really know anything about the story, or if I'm in a bigger role, but I'd imagine we'll be back this time next year. That's not official, but I reckon it's probably about 18 months away from being in the cinema.

  Pegg's not the only one who's excited for the sequel. Director J.J. Abrams has said that the possibilities for the next Trek are limitless.

  
  

  Posted 07/06/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Simon Pegg | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Monday, June 29

• Sky's the Limit for Star Trek Sequel

  With Star Trek on track to become one of the most successful movies of 2009, if not the most successful, talk of a sequel has already begun.

  Director J.J. Abrams thinks that the next Trek movie has no limitations and told SciFiWire that the sequel could either be entirely new or a remake of past adventures:

  The great thing is we're all open to anything. I think the fun of where we are with Trek is that it can and should just be fully explored. So I think to limit ourselves to only new adventures would be a mistake. But I also think we want to take advantage of this moment and figure out what's the most exciting version for the new audience as well.

  Trek screenwriter Roberto Orci concurs:

  As you can imagine every kind of opinion has been expressed in relation to the movie, so there have been both red lights, green lights, yellow lights, the gamut. What they have done is very quickly identified the fork in the road, which is to do a completely original story or to harmonize with canon the way we did in the first movie, where some of the events overlapped with the original universe and were the same even if time travel hadn’t happened and some of the harmonies were reversed, like Spock with Uhura instead of Kirk.

  So if the sequel can cover previous material does that mean fans will get to see Khan in the Trek sequel?

  50/50? Is that a boring answer?

  Most Trekkies would say, "No." Especially if Javier Bardem plays the role.

  
  

  Posted 06/29/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Javier Bardem | Roberto Orci | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Thursday, June 11

• Mission: Impossible 4 On the Way

  Both Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible III director J. J. Abrams will return for the fourth entry in the series. At this point, though, Abrams is only signed to produce. He told TV Guide:

  I am incredibly honored that Tom has invited me back as a producer on Mission: Impossible 4. Tom and I have come up with a really cool idea we are pursuing.

  Abrams may still sign on to direct M:I 4 or he may choose to direct the sequel to his summer hit, Star Trek.

  
  

  Posted 06/11/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Tom Cruise | J.J. Abrams | Mission: Impossible 4 | Mission: Impossible III | Star Trek

Thursday, May 7

• Burger King's Star Trek Promotion Goes Where None Have Gone Before

  With Star Trek opening tonight, promotions have reached a fever pitch. Despite all the weird gimmicks deployed by others, Burger King really does stand out in its willingness to go where no one had really ever considered going before.

  The fast food giant has put out a tie-in ad in which a woman dressed as a "Kingon," does a "dance of seduction" for a hapless red-shirted imitation of a Star Fleet officer in order to snatch away his drink. Yikes. The justification for the ad, I kid you not, is that the female Kingons want to get the dilithium crystals imbedded in Burger King's promotional glasses. "First they take your dignity, then they take your glass." Dignity? Really?

  To top it all off, there are no Klingons, let alone "Kingons," in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek.

  
  

  Posted 05/07/2009 by Bill

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Thursday, April 30

• Hunting for Easter Eggs in Star Trek

  Easter Eggs, those fleeting allusions to the world outside a movie that are embedded with in it, have been found scattered throughout J.J. Abrams' Star Trek by people who got an early look at the movie. Sci-Fi Wire has started to pull together a list of the ones that have been discovered so far. Some are pointers to the wider Star Trek universe, while others reference the Abrams universe beyond.

  Among the nods to the wider world of Star Trek are brief glimpses of a cooing Tribble, a portentous flagon of Saurian brandy and the registration code for the Enterprise from Star Trek: the Next Generation. From Abrams earlier productions, there are a couple of allusions to Slusho, the imaginary drink launched in Alias which played a prominent role in the viral marketing for Cloverfield. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) orders a Slusho mix at the Shipyard Bar and the blurry logo of the nefarious Tagruato corporation, manufacturers of Slusho in Cloverfield, also makes a brief appearance.

  And the hunt goes on.

  
  

  Posted 04/30/2009 by Bill

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Tuesday, April 28

• Deleted Scenes and New Clips from Star Trek

  Trek Movie has a good rundown of scenes that have been deleted from the final cut of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. One scene, which actually made it onto a trailer but not the big screen version of the movie, shows Amanda (Winona Ryder) and Sarek (Ben Cross) holding baby Spock. Another involves Kirk's alcoholic, abusive uncle. The most interesting and longest cut, though, was a whole subplot showing how Nero managed to escape the Klingon prison planet Rura Penthe. Bits of this one made it onto one of the trailers as well. To see these scenes in full, we'll have to wait for the DVD.

  Meanwhile, another collection of clips that did make the final cut has been released, including some extended versions of scenes available earlier and some new footage of the Romulans.

  
  

  Posted 04/28/2009 by Bill

  Related: Winona Ryder | J.J. Abrams | Ben Cross | Star Trek

Monday, April 27

• Newsweek Plays Up the Spock-Obama Connection

  Is Obama a Vulcan? Newsweek isn't prepared to go quite that far. But it is willing to entertain the notion that there might be some real similarities between Mr. Spock and the new president. There are the prominent ears and the racially mixed background. And like his Vulcan counterpart, Obama seems at times almost inhumanly calm and logical. To top it off, Obama himself admitted during the campaign that he grew up on Star Trek and believes in the final frontier.

  All in all, the newsweekly suggests it's an uncanny match and may prove one factor in making the new Star Trek reboot surprisingly cool and timely -- timely enough to make the May 4th cover of Newsweek, in any case. And it doesn't stop there. In addition to pondering how well the Vulcan connection positions Trek in the zeitgeist, this week's issue also reviews the status of the franchise, and the promise of rejuvenation that J.J. Abrams' new vision offers.

  
  

  Posted 04/27/2009 by Bill

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

• Nimoy Needed Direction to Play Spock in Star Trek

  

  You would think that Leonard Nimory would know the intricacies of playing Spock like the back of his hand, considering he's been portraying the character for nearly forty years. But Nimoy wasn't afraid to go to director J.J. Abrams for advice. Nimoy told Entertainment Weekly:

  It was clear [Abrams] was nervous, and I'm glad he got over it. Look, I had been away from the character for a long time. His input was important to me.

  It's still a mystery just exactly how the elder Spock will fit into the Starfleet Academy-set reboot, but with Eric Bana portraying a time-travelling Romulan with a grudge against Chris Pine's James T. Kirk, it's possible Nimoy's Spock may actually meet young Spock, portrayed by Zachary Quinto.

  
  
  

  Star Trek - Teaser

  J.J. Abrams Directs - Releasing May 8, 2009

  Posted 04/27/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Chris Pine | Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Zachary Quinto | Star Trek

Sunday, April 26

• William Shatner Optimistic About Star Trek

  

  When you think of Star Trek, it's hard not to think of William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Shatner portrayed the character on television and in film for more than 30 years and even voiced the character in a short-lived animated series.

  However, with J.J. Abrams' relaunch of the franchise just around the corner, a whole new generation of fans are going to experience Star Trek with newcomer Chris Pine in the captain's chair.

  Though he won't be appearing in the film, Shatner has high hopes that the film will be successful, opening up the door for the original Kirk to live again. In a recent interview, Shatner said:

  When they were thinking about doing the movie, they talked to me a couple of times, I don't know what it really was all about, and then they stopped talking to me and went their way. But you just know it's going to be wonderful because J.J. Abrams is such a good moviemaker. I just regret that I'm not a part of it. But if it's successful, then maybe there will be a call.

  
  
  Next Showing: Star Trek opens May 8
  

  Star Trek - Teaser

  J.J. Abrams Directs - Releasing May 8, 2009

  Posted 04/26/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Chris Pine | William Shatner | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Monday, April 20

• Star Trek's Enterprise: From Starship to Hot Rod and Beyond

  The original directive J.J. Abrams gave to designers of the new U.S.S. Enterprise was to make it more of a "hot-rod type of vehicle." So the designers at Industrial Light & Magic explain to SCI FI Wire how they gave it an overall more sweeping line, added motion to some of the devices on the outer hull, and gave it a new paint job using a substance they call "interference paint." This has very tiny mica prisms in it, creating an iridescent effect that changes color depending on the angle it' viewed from. Sounds like a pretty cool rod.

  But just in case it still ended up looking a little too much like daddy's ride, the official movie website is displaying what a number of artists came up with when they weren't given any such limiting directives. The gallery includes some very imaginative organic designs, including what looks to be a flying roller skate, and even a Slusho variation.

  
  

  Posted 04/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Tuesday, April 7

• Leonard Nimoy Introduces Surprise Screening of Star Trek

  It was just supposed to be a 10-minute clip following a replay of The Wrath of Khan. Some apparent technical difficulties ensue, and then Leonard Nimoy takes the stage and calls for a vote on who wants to see a full version of J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek. All a total surprise to most of the audience at the Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas. The outcome of the vote was, of course, never in doubt and these lucky fans got to go where none have gone before. Even before the movie's official world premiere in Sydney.

  So what did they think?

  AICN, which helped organize the event, is overflowing with fan reviews. Regular AICN contributer Quint relates his own first-hand experience and gives the film a strong thumbs up: "I think Abrams pulled it off. Star Trek isn't just a successful reboot, but a genuinely fun and exciting science fiction action adventure."

  
  
  Next Showing: Other U.S. fans will have to wait until May 8 to see Star Trek

  Posted 04/07/2009 by Bill

  Related: Leonard Nimoy | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Thursday, March 19

• Brett Ratner May Never Get a Comic Book Franchise

  X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner wants to keep working with comic book adaptations, but may never get his chance. Ratner told MTV:

  I was so upset when I left Superman [Bryan] Singer has his X-Men, [Christopher] Nolan has Batman -- there's nothing left. Hulk has been exploited already. There's nothing left for me.

  Ratner originally left the Superman adaptation because he could not find a suitable actor to play the Man of Steel. Ratner's Superman script, written by J.J. Abrams, "took place on Krypton for about half of the movie," and was "darker, because there was a civil war on Krypton," according to Ratner. He then turned to the highly criticized X-Men: The Last Stand, which Singer had ironically left to direct Superman Returns.

  Is there a franchise Ratner wouldn't have touched? Yes, Iron Man. "I wouldn't have been interested in Iron Man. I have a lot of respect for [Jon Favreau] because, to me, it was a B-character.... But look what he did."

  Ratner still has a chance for a comic book franchise, just not a traditional, super hero one. The director, hard at work possibly killing off another franchise with Beverly Hills Cop 4, is close to officially signing on to direct a Conan reboot.

  
  

  Posted 03/19/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brett Ratner | Bryan Singer | Jon Favreau | Christopher Nolan | J.J. Abrams | Iron Man | Superman Returns | X-Men: The Last Stand | Beverly Hills Cop IV

Monday, March 2

• Trek Director Reassures Fans, Offers Sneak Preview

  "We are making this movie for you," Star Trek director J.J. Abrams assured the crowd of die-hard Star Trek fans at Wondercon. He had raised some eyebrows recently with statements to the press suggesting that the movie is "not for Trekkies." This is all just part of an attempt to broaden the audience, he explained, promising that the new movie will remain true to the spirit of the original. Better than words though was the sneak peak he offered of the new trailer that will be bundled with Friday's Watchmen debut. Among the highlights are Kirk taking the captain's chair for the first time; Spock assuring Starfleet cadets, "You will experience fear, fear of certain death"; and an imploding planet that might be Vulcan.

  
  
  Next Showing:  Star Trek beams into theaters May 8

  Posted 03/02/2009 by Bill

  Related: J.J. Abrams | Star Trek

Wednesday, February 25

• New Star Trek Featurette

  The latest featurette for Star Trek revealed by MTV shows a few behind-the-scenes shots and short interviews from the cast that really show the love to director J.J. Abrams. If the cast's fawning over Abrams doesn't get you excited, how about this from Abrams himself:

  When they asked me to be involved with 'Star Trek,' I realized it was an opportunity to do everything I love in one movie.

  So, Star Trek's filled with giant monsters, time traveling islands, and Tom Cruise? Check out the featurette below to find out:

  
  

  Posted 02/25/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Tom Cruise | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek