STO: Deep Space Nine Trailer

Cryptic has released a new trailer, this time showcasing Deep Space Nine as war rages inside and outside as the Federation fight off the Dominion and Cardassians to maintain control of the station. I am not sure if this is meant to showcase the battle components of the game, an actual mission, flashback or a second war that takes place in the post Star Trek (2009) universe the game is set in. Whatever the case, it looks like fun.

Saldana Considers Sequel Story Points

Zoe Saldana is making the rounds to promote The Losers that is about to hit theatres. While speaking with MTV, she pondered some of the story points that might be worth exploring for the sequel with the relationship between Uhura and Spock.

"It would be interesting to see what they are going to do with it," agreed Saldana, who expects to begin work on the film toward the end of this year. "I really hope they keep [the relationship] and continue to explore it.

"But at the same time too — this is coming from my mother, who is a Trekkie — I could be wrong, but I thought that Vulcans only mate every seven years," Saldana said, referring to Pon farr, which causes both Vulcan men and women to go into heat and forces them to essentially reproduce with their lover or die. "So now that the planet [Vulcan] has been extinguished, it's kind of interesting. Can Spock mate with a non-Vulcan?"

"His mom wasn't a Vulcan," [Loser's co-star Columbus] Short reasoned, "But he can still mate [with a survivor and help the Vulcan population]."

"It's OK [to consider such issues]," Saldana said to her co-star, agreeing to disagree on such geekiness until "Trek 2" comes together. "I love it."

STO: Two Ships, Two Trailers

Star Trek Online has updated its website to introduce two news ships, the Akira Class and Vesper class of Federation ships. In addition, two new trailers are available that show off the upcoming Season 1.1 with Undine Terradome Mission and another that shows off Cloaking (click here for that).

The Akira Class incorporates elements of the Sovereign and Galaxy classes to create a "heavy gunship and carrier to protect space stations and ships devoted more to exploration than firepower." For details and video, click here. The Vesper class is called the "sister to the Constitution and Excalibur classes" that uses "modular construction, so it is ideal for exploration missions." For more details and video on Vesper, click here.

Leonard Nimoy On Verge of Retirement

After a more then 60 year career, Leonard Nimoy has told the Toronto Sun that he plans on hanging up his thespian skills. This is in line with statements over the last few months indicating his plan to stop acting and that 2010 would be his last on the Star Trek convention circuit. It seems a good time as the legendary Star Trek actor believes his time as Spock is over and his role as William Bell for Fringe has been completed.

“I want to get off the stage. Also, I don’t think it would be fair to Zachary Quinto,” he says, referring to the actor who portrayed a youthful Spock in last summer’s smash Star Trek relaunch. “He’s a terrific actor, he looks the part, and it’s time to give him some space. And I’m very flattered the character will continue.”

“I’ve been doing this professionally for 60 years,” he says with a laugh. “I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I’ve had a great, great time.”

“I was away from acting for 12 years, so I guess I was seducable,” Nimoy says. “But since J.J. Abrams revived the Star Trek franchise, I felt I owed him something. And I’m glad I did it because he promised me a good story, and it was.”

He describes each [convention] as “a love fest. I’m so grateful to the fans. I call these kind of experiences a victory lap ... It’s like having a family meeting — a family reunion.”

Leonard Nimoy's next convention will be at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo in Canada with a stop at Vulcan, Alberta which has become the more or less official capital of Star Trek. When asked about Nimoy's retirement, the new Spock, Zachary Quinto said "There’s not even a script and Leonard just announced his retirement — he’s not going to do another movie. Frankly, Leonard has got a mind of his own and he’s going to do what he wants regardless of what other people tell him. I’m just glad that he’s my friend."

IDW July Star Trek Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for July. The month will bring three Star Trek comic books and one trade. If you are interested in the books, just let your local comic book store know. For the full details of IDW's Star Trek and other books including GI Joe, Transformers, True Blood and more click here. (via TrekMovie)

Star Trek Movie Adaptation #5
Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, Mike Johnson, Tim Jones, (w) • David Messina (a & c)
J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman present the official comics adaptation of their blockbuster film STAR TREK! The creative team behind the best-selling STAR TREK: COUNTDOWN returns to continue the epic adventure as Kirk comes face to face with an older, wiser Spock... and meets a certain Scottish engineer for the first time. Includes scenes not in the original film!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Star Trek: Burden of Knowledge #2
Scott & David Tipton (w) • Federica Manfredi (a) Joe Corroney (c)
When the Enterprise crew embarks on a mission of planetary First Contact, Captain Kirk finds a peaceful, idyllic society, one happily linked together by a global thought network—or so it appeared. When he discovers a bitter rebellion simmering beneath the surface, will he be able to follow the Prime Directive, or find himself compelled to get involved?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Star Trek: Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor #4
John Byrne (w & a) • Byrne x 2 (c)
Our visit with the Doctor comes to an end with two titanic tales—first, Dr. McCoy must find a way to deal with a virus that just may be smarter than he is… and then a visit to an old friend finds Bones wrestling with a dilemma that cuts across the very heart of his Hippocratic Oath.
* 2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio. • FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Fool’s Gold
Scott and David Tipton (w) • Fabio Montovani, The Sharp Bros. (a) • Sharp Bros. (c)
Captain Sisko and the crew of Deep Space Nine make their triumphant return to comics! When the station begins to be overrun by thieves, treasure-seekers, bounty-hunters, and other assorted ne’er-do-wells, Major Kira and Constable Odo must find out why. Can they get to the bottom of it before the station’s new visitors bring things to a boiling point?!
TPB • FC • $17.99 • 104 Pages • ISBN: 978-1-60010-699-6

Cast Continue Sequel Talk

As summarized by TrekMovie, three cast members from Star Trek have recently commented about their expectations for the upcoming sequel.

Karl Urban
Q: What do you think of evolution of your character is going to be like in the next “Star Trek”?
Urban: I have no idea. I just know it’s going to be good. I’m really looking forward to getting on board that one and I feel now we’ve introduced all these great characters. It’s going to be really interesting to see where we can take it.

Q: Have you made any requests to the writers about where you want your character to go?
Urban: No, I think that they’re geniuses and you should just let them do what they do. I have officially thrown a genius label on them. I’ve got full faith that whatever they come up with is going to equal and surpass the first installment.

Zoe Saldana

Zoe is hoping to make these films before she does “Star Trek 2.” “Within a month, we’ll have specific filming dates for ‘Star Trek 2,’ ” she revealed. “So we have to do whatever we have to do before the Enterprise comes calling.”

John Cho

I don’t think they’ve written anything yet, some of our writers are on other projects right now, so I don’t think any decisions have been made.

Star Trek Live Show Details

TrekMovie.com has scored more details on the Star Trek Live stage show that will debut at the Kennedy Space Center on June 11, 2010. The show is being produced by Mad Science Productions as an all ages 30 minute program that attempts to teach science using the Star Trek Universe as a starting point. The show will also have a traveling version that will also kick off in June that will visit cities around the country. TrekMovie describes the story:

Star Trek Live takes place in present day, with the premise of it being the first class for a new ‘Starfleet Academy,’ with the audience being the cadets. The class is being briefed by a Commander. During the show a time-traveling Vulcan from the "Temporal Time Police" will be introduced, who has come back to stop a time-travelling Romulan from nabbing a member of this first Starfleet class, and changing the course of history. Apparently one member of your class is very important and by removing this person (called "The Core"), the Romulans will dominate the Federation in the future. The Starfleet Academy commander and the Vulcan time-traveler will appear on stage, while the Romulan (who is in orbit in a ship) and other characters appear in pre-taped segments. Members of the audience are also brought up on stage to get involved in the show.

To learn more, click here.

Collins Urging for Return in Star Trek Sequel

Clifton Collins Jr. has expressed a strong interest in returning to Star Trek for its 2012 sequel to Ace ShowBiz.

"Yes, absolutely 100%," he said when asked if it is possible that his character or his Romulan leader, Nero, will be seen in the follow-up to "Star Trek". Urging producer J.J. Abrams to use him again for the sequel, he told ASB, "Now please go and tell JJ!"

"He actually called me at home and pitched the character to me," he shared, recalling the moment when he was asked to join the cast of the Box Office flick, before adding "it was truly an incredible experience working with JJ and his entire team. So much love on set for working such long hours."

Only problem is his character, Ayel the loyal first officer to Nero, died in the movie when the Narida was destroyed by the Enterprise. I would say it is a very safe bet that the sequel will not have a return of his character and I suspect (without any evidence) that the Klingons will be the villains in the sequel rather than Romulans.

Star Trek Online Not Coming Consoles

Cryptic, makers of Star Trek Online, have told Videogamer.com that they have stopped perusing developing STO for the Playstation 3 or XBox 360. This is a similar move that was made for Champions Online, indicating the company wants to keep its resources focused on PCs.

"It's pretty much in the same boat as the Champions console version right now," he said. "It's something we can readily do in terms of technology. We've had it up and running on certain consoles, and had plans and designs in order to take advantage of those platforms. But as it stands right now it's a little difficult to make that final leap on the business side of things. So, currently, just like Champions, the console version of Star Trek Online is on the back burner."

Cryptic could change its mind in the future but at the very least this means that a console version of STO is years away. (via Joystiq)

Saldana Provides Sequel Update

Zoe Saldana (Uhura) was at WonderCon this weekend to promote The Losers and while there provided a brief update on the Star Trek sequel and her hope that the sequel will provide more depth to her relationship with Spock.

From MTV:

I think ‘Star Trek. Because that one’s already going into pre-production soon…From what I hear, unless J.J., who’s always full of surprises, is fooling us and just carrying us along. But I do think we are going into pre-production this Fall, to start shooting early next year. And I have a feeling that Avatar is going to happen right after. I am so happy that I am going to play Uhura again and that I am going to playing Neyteri is wonderful, because I have not been able to part with them.

From io9:

I can only hope that in this next film there’s more depth to the Spock-Uhura relationship. And maybe I’ll get to kick some ass!

Her time table pretty much aligns with my guess on how things will shake out for production for the sequel. As always though, everything is subject to change.

Star Trek Online Tips and Tricks Videos

Cryptic has released two new videos that show off the game while providing a few tips and tricks for players to help defeat enemies. (via Blue's News)

Star Trek Comics Coming to iPad

If you are one of the estimated 700,000 new iPad owners, you might want to hit the App Store for new app from IDW that take advantage of the new screen real estate of the device. IDW publishes the Star Trek comic books that have been coming out for the last few years and with the IDW Comics app can now read them on the iPad. The app itself is free while a quick search indicates that the price of the comics vary from free to $2 with the most common price being $1. According to the demo video below, the comics are "universal binary apps" so buying it once makes it available for iPhone, iTouch and iPad. IDW also publishes Transformers, GI Joe, Locke & Key and more. TrekMovie.com has the full press release.