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Warped Factors: Inside the New 'Star Trek' Film

By Scott Huver, Hollywood.com Staff

J.J. Abrams

The new crew has beamed aboard and is ready to boldly go where, actually, a certain few have gone before.

With nearly a year before a finished film beams into theaters, the newest incarnation of the classic TV-series-turned-film-franchise known as Star Trek has already became the most anticipated reinvention of an iconic movie series since Batman Begins and Casino Royale. Hollywood.com has opened hailing frequencies with the command team behind the new project as well as some of the series’ original stars.

Ever since writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost) was tapped by Paramount Pictures to re-imagine Trek’s retro-60s origins for a brand-new take on the 40-year-old franchise--films featuring Captain Picard the Next Generation cast went into drydock after 2002’s less-than-stellar Star Trek: Nemesis--speculation on the fresh course has multiplied faster than a cargo bay full of Tribbles.

And yes, for the new incarnation it’s OKAY if you don’t know what a Tribble is, according to executive producer Damon Lindelof, who promises that the new film is being designed to appeal to a fanbase far beyond that of traditional Trek loyalists--we dare not enter in to Trekkie vs. Trekker debate here--while also reviving interest among die hard fans who found themselves more than a little burned out after no less than ten feature films in theaters between 1979 and 2002 and four TV spin-offs airing from 1987 to 2005.

"All I can say is I think it's going to be really, really cool," says Lindelof, who as executive producer of Lost is no stranger to holding spoilers close to his vest. "We're making the movie for the fans, but more importantly we're making it for a whole new generation of fans. We want our wives to come and understand what the hell's going on. We want our kids to understand what the hell's going on. It's not your daddy's Star Trek."

Karl Urban

Well, it isn’t, and it is. The new film will feature the famous characters comprising the original series’ crew as they come together for the first time, interpreted by an all-new cast of actors. Among the central "triumverate" at the core of the film are Chris Pine (Smokin' Aces), who assumes command as Capt. James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto (Heroes’ Sylar) raising an eyebrow as the Vulcan first officer Mr. Spock, and Karl Urban (The Bourne Supremacy) scrubbing in as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Rounding out the classic crew are John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana (Drumline) as communications officer Uhura, Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) as engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, and Anton Yelchin (Fierce People) as ship’s ensign Pavel Checkov.

Other actors appearing in the film include Eric Bana as the film’s antagonist Nero; Winona Ryder as Spock’s mother Amanda Grayson; Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire) as Spock’s Vulcan father Sarek; Bruce Greenwood (Capote) as Capt. Christopher Pike, the original commander of the Enterprise; Australian actor Chris Hemsworth (Home and Away) as Kirk’s father; and actresses Rachel Nichols (Alias) and Jennifer Morrison (House) in as-yet-unrevealed roles.

And the new creative team set their phasers on stun when it was unveiled last summer that Leonard Nimoy, the actor who originated the role of Spock in the 1966 series and directed two of the most popular Trek films, had signed on to don his pointed ears once more. In fact, Nimoy’s participation has the Internet is abuzz over the tack Abrams, Lindelof and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Transformers) would be taking as they integrated the once and future Spocks into the storyline.

Zoe Saldana

One of the more elaborate theories, reported most popularly by Ain’t It Cool News’ Drew "Moriarty" McWeeny, suggested that the series would feature time travel (most likely using the Guardian of Forever from the series most acclaimed episode, "City on the Edge of Forever" by the renowned Harlan Ellison) that would cause massive ramifications throughout the Trek timeline--and allow for radical departures from four decades of rigidly established continuity.

Such a science fiction conceit would allow Trek purists to preserve their long-standing vision of the epic storyline, while also unshackling the new films from the weight of the past and allowing for major revisions as the "prequel" series progresses. But Lindelof suggests that McWeeny’s theory, which purportedly came from his deep-seated studio connections, could be so much antimatter.

"If I were to tell you what I thought, it would shine too much light on whether or not he was hot or cold," said Lindelof, "and quite honestly I think that kind of stuff is exciting that the fans are sort of saying ‘If Nimoy's in the movie and Quinto is playing young Spock, what could that mean for the story? Let me try to devise a possible plot line.’"

Lindelof said he’s glad that he’s not charged, as a writer, with tackling any scenes addressing some of Trek’s most seminal ingredients. "It's very comforting for me to be a producer on this movie, just be involved in the story. I'd be very nervous to actually write that stuff." And then, with a twinkle in his eye, he can’t resist dropping a hint about at least one Trek staple that seems likely to be featured "But you know, no one writes a mind-meld like Kurtzman and Orci, That's all I'll say.

Zachary Quinto
A Tale of Two Spocks
The enormity of the shoes--and ears--he has to fill is not lost on Quinto, who started filming in early November. "It’s an incredible honor," he told Hollywood.com. "The energy is just palpable and exciting. I’m really thrilled." The actor has already had his first "pinch-me-I’m-dreaming" moment: "When I put the ears on. That was a definite, quiet, personal moment. It was me and the make-up designer…and my dog. You will be able to watch it on the DVD. They have a DVD crew checking everything out. It was really exciting."

Quinto said he screen-tested with his co-star Pine prior to his casting as Kirk to determine the extent of the duo’s important on-camera chemistry, and they had a leg up on establishing a quick rapport. "I knew Chris before," said Quinto. "It’s so weird, I’ve known at least three or four of the other cast members. Either I’ve worked with them or crossed paths with them, or I’ve known them socially in the past. That is really exciting. Chris is a phenomenal actor. I think he brings an echo of [William] Shatner’s energy, but completely himself. He’s really honoring the roll. I’m looking forward to working with him."

"I remember when Sylar first appeared on Heroes," recalled Lindelof. "I was like ‘That guy looks exactly like Leonard Nimoy!’ And then I didn't know if he was going to be just a one-off [character[ and then of course Sylar became that show's Ben, you know, a pivotal character. And fortunately [Heroes executive producer] Tim Kring and I are very close, so I was able to reach out to him and say ‘What's your plan for Season 2 with this guy, because we'd really love to cast him as Spock.’ To Tim and Zach and J.J.'s and everybody else's credit, we were able to make it happen. And just seeing him standing next to Leonard at Comic Con was a once in a lifetime experience."

Chris Pine

Meanwhile, Lindelof says the team behind the film is flying at warp speed whenever they interact with the original half-human, half-Vulcan. "It's unbelievable," he said. "Unlike James Bond, the only person who's ever played Mr. Spock is Leonard Nimoy, so it meant so much to us for him to literally be able to pass the baton to the next generation, as it were. And he and Zach get along great and Zach is just in awe of him as pop culture icon, but also as an actor. It's going to be pretty cool when you see those guys with their ears on."

Which begs the question: what about the other original star, the one without the pointed cartilage, who decked Klingons and canoodled with green Orion slave girls while bringing his dashing Kennedy-esque charm to Gene Roddenberry’s dynamic, utopian vision of the future. At last summer’s San Diego Comic-Con Abrams told a crowd of fans that he held high hopes that they new film would also feature William Shatner reprising his role as Captain Kirk (despite the fact Kirk was killed off in the seventh feature film, 1994’s Generations).

"There are still ongoing talks," reported Lindelof. "We're pretty much exactly where we were with Comic Con … Look, the reality is Trek was up and running and in existence and iconic before we came so we've been basically invited to the party that these guys have been throwing for the last 40 years, so obviously it would be HUGE if Mr. Shatner wanted to be any part of the franchise. It's a challenge for us, though, because they killed Kirk off … But hey, it's Trek, anything's possible, right?

Nichelle Nichols
No Final Frontier
Despite the fact that thus far only Nimoy is beaming aboard, the surviving stars of the original series (DeForest Kelley died in 1999; James Doohan in 2005) are enthusiastic about seeing the characters they created continuing on in new, young hands.

"I am so excited," Nichelle Nichols, the original Uhura, told Hollywood.com. "I feel like it’s very necessary that Gene's[Roddenberry] idea of where we are in this world, as human beings, continue. The universe is vast and there is room for all of us. So, to be ‘reincarnated’ so to speak, by this lovely actress, I think that Uhura and I are very proud to have her."

Nichols was intrigued to see more of Zoe Saldana’s work before her take on Trek is released. "I haven’t seen enough, I think I have saw one of the things she did, and I saw a picture, and I’m going ‘Oo la, la!’"

George Takei, the original Sulu who with Nichols also appears alongside Quinto on Heroes, is also enthused about his younger self. "I know the actor, John Cho--he’s a very fine actor. He’s a very funny comedian and I think that he’s going to bring a lot of the comedic element to Sulu as well."

"One interesting thing that I noted: when I started Star Trek I was 27 years old," recalled Takei "This is supposed to be a prequel and Sulu is supposed to be younger, but John Cho is now 35," he laughed. "But he looks very young."

"I think it’s great," agreed the original Chekov, Walter Koenig. "Just as long as it’s a good film, keep it going. It’s a legacy that keeps giving. I’m sure that J.J. Abrams has a good handle on what he wants to do and the fans will be satisfied--I’m sure of that."

"I am sure that he’ll do a terrific job," Koenig said of his counterpart Anton Yelchin, though he hesitate a bit before offering some advice to the young actor. "Just go with your heart, mind, and soul. Do it the way that you feel it should be done."

Eugene Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, said he feels confident Abrams, Lindelof and company will deliver a film that fulfills the specific vision his father conceived.

"They by all means have my blessing," Roddenberry told Hollywood.com. "J.J. Abrams is a fan of Star Trek, and as a fan of Star Trek I believe he will do right by it …There's a lot of politics involved so I just hope that he can find a medium that makes everyone happy. And if not, that at least makes the fans happy…I do have faith in that movie."

Roddenberry said his only concern was in "protecting the Roddenberry name and the philosophy, the idea of this united future. The minute a Star Trek comes out that shows a future where 300 years from now it's collapsed and we're not getting along, I would say that's not Star Trek."

"Star Trek's important because you go to other planets and you can mask our social issues with the issues on another planet and say ‘Look at what's happening to them--look at it from both points of view and let's figure out,’" said Roddenberry. "Isn't it great when they all come together to work together? That's what I want to protect. When they go out there and they just start blowing people away, it'll be great sci-fi, but it'll be Star Wars. It'll be fantastic sci-fi, but it won't be Roddenberry sci-fi."

Takei said he has no doubt that the new course will help ensure that Star Trek may never actually reach its own final frontier. "The Vulcans greet each other by saying ‘Live long and prosper,’" he explained. "One sure way to make sure our characters live long is to keep getting young again, getting young actors to play us, so yes. It’s in the tradition of Star Trek, living long and prospering."

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