Star Trek 2 Villain Is...?

Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy) may have accidently let slip to SFX who the main villain of Star Trek 2 is while doing marathon interviews to promote his movie Dredd. In the interview he said spoke of Trek and Benedict Cumberbatch saying "He’s awesome, he’s a great addition, and I think his Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary."

Gary Mitchell was a character in the original series 2nd pilot episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Mitchell was a long time friend of Kirk's who was also a crew member on the Enterprise. When the Enterprise attempts to cross the galactic barrier (border between our universe and space to next universe), Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner where given mental capabilities that grew in power with every moment. As if to prove the phrase "absolute power corrupts absolutely", the more power Mitchell had, the more corrupt he became until his humanity began to slip away. In a final struggle with Kirk and Dehner on a planet surface, both near gods were killed.

Major Star Trek Spoilers Confirmed

AICN is reporting that they have rumors of three major plot points for the Star Trek sequel that is currently filming. One was leaked yesterday, another was assumed but never officially verified and the last doesn't come as a surprise because of interviews with the writers over the last few years. TrekMovie later is saying these rumors have been confirmed through their sources. Consider this your SPOILER WARNING!

Leonard Nimoy Cameo in Star Trek 2?

An interview with Leonard Nimoy after the Enterprise final flight suggests that he might make an appearance in Star Trek 2. The idea isn't too far off since the original character is now stuck in the 2.0 Universe where the Vulcan population has been decimated by the previous movie's events. If you are Starfleet, you don't let that level of knowledge and experience just disappears into the sunset. In short, if Nimoy wants to do it, I doubt it would take much effort to write the needed scenes to explain why. Having said that, I doubt it will happen.

CNN: we were talking about the new Star Trek movie. It was great, you did a great job in it. And we were just about talking about that just before … will you be in another Star Trek movie?

Nimoy: Uhh, we’re talking. We’re talking.

CNN: Talking… [laughs] Hopefully.

Star Trek Sequel: Pike In, Khan Out, Orginial Cast Not Invited, and Post Converstion 3D

The last several months (really years) has been one long dry spell of useful news on the Star Trek sequel front. Suddenly today multiple pieces of information has come out that might be of interest to fans such as a new cast member, no TOS cast invited, Khan reportedly out (again), and Trek will not film in real 3D.

To start, it looks like Captain Pike will return. Sequel writer Bob Orci posted on TrekMovie.com "Spoiler alert! We wrote a part for Greenwood. Let us hope he says "Yes!". No additional details but Bruce Greenwood has indicated he is up for doing the sequel but would prefer not to be stuck in the wheelchair.

Edgar Ramirez Replacing Del Toro in Star Trek?

Variety is reporting that Edgar Ramirez (Vantage Point, left pic) is the current front runner to replace Benicio Del Toro in the Star Trek sequel with Jordi Molla (Colombiana, right pic) also in the running. It seems whatever the villain role is for, it requires a latin male. Ricardo Montalban, who orginiated the role of Khan and reprised it for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, was from Mexico so definitely a plus in the Khan column. At this point, based on what I am reading, entertainment blogs and fandom in general have settled on Khan being the big bad of the Star Trek sequel. If Khan isn't the big bad, JJ Abrams and Paramount needs to seriousily consider revealing what the role is for as anything other than Khan will be viewed as a disappointment the more this rumor is allowed to fester.

Benicio Del Toro Not Playing Khan

It seems that the Latino Review jumped the gun when it declared that Benicio Del Toro would be playing Khan Noonien Singh for the sequel to 2009's Star Trek. The site made the declaration only citing sources but apparently the sites' "El Mayimbe" hit ratio in the rumor department is high enough that the report was considered credible enough to need verification. As a result Hitflix was able to reach out to Star Trek 2 directory JJ Abrams' who responded with a simple "not true."

This isn't really a surprise as the writers of the script have been dropping hints for a while that they were going to "trek" out on their own and not use Khan for sequel. I believe they are going to use a completely new character as this will be the first chance for everyone to truly plant their own flag on Star Trek without having to use any characters or stories from before. At most I am betting there will be hints and nods to previous series things but there will be no direct lifts of previous stories or major characters (like Khan). (via TrekMovie)

Simon Pegg Wants Harry Mudd

There really has been no news on the Star Trek sequel front for quite a while. I am actually surprised considering that something as special effects heavy as a Star Trek film needs as much lead time as possible for pre-production and post production and yet it seems a first draft is not even ready. In the meantime that doesn't mean the speculation stops and once again Harry Mudd has come up in relation to the sequel. While promoting his latest movie Paul, Simon Pegg (Scotty) said he would like the character in the film with his Paul co-star Nick Frost playing the character.

From Screenjunkies:

Q: Obviously Scotty was the last one to join the crew in Star Trek. Obviously you don’t know what the next script will be yet but are you excited to be there from the beginning?
Simon Pegg: Absolutely. I can’t wait. It’s a great crew. We all got on very well and I can’t wait to get back into that thing of getting to know each other. I think they’ll pick up the story from where we left off and we’ve all only just met so there’s a lot of mileage I would imagine dramatically in us all sort of getting to know each other.

From StatePress

Q: Is there any possibility that Nick will appear in the next “Star Trek” movie with you, Simon?
Simon Pegg: Probably not. We like working together but we don’t come as a pair. We’ve done as much stuff apart as we have together. We’ll always work together if we can though.
Nick Frost: I’m happy that Simon goes off and does his little things on the side. I like “Star Trek.” I like watching him in “Star Trek.” I wouldn’t like watching me in “Star Trek.” But if somebody offered me a million dollars to do it, maybe I’d do it.
Simon Pegg: I think he’d make a terrific Harry Mudd from the original “Star Trek” series.

Keep in mind this is all pure speculation as the actors have not yet read the script considering a first draft has not yet been turned in. Personally I found the Harry Mudd episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series to be boring so hoping that the character either doesn't show up at all or has a very minor role in the story.

Vulcan Female with Major Role in Sequel?

An article from the New York Times talking about how Hollywood has embraced the iPad, a possible nugget of information was revealed about the sequel to Star Trek. In a meeting about Star Trek 2, Roberto Orci was described as using the iPad in a "meeting [last month in Hollywood] with the producers J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, and his fellow writer Alex Kurtzman, jump-started the discussion with an iPad slide show, showing stills from the first film, snapshots of potential locations and a photo of a suggested actress for one of the roles. On the woman's photo, he had used his iPad to paint on a Vulcan ear."

On the surface the news is really shrug worthy since the script is in the very early stages of development but it gives you an idea of what could be a major character in the film since it is unlikely that a meeting like that would waste time on minor characters. Current speculation has offered that maybe this Vulcan female will be the ST2.0 universe versions of T'Pau (a once leader of the Vulcans), T'Pol (character from Star Trek: Enterprise), Lt. Saavik (the woman from Star Trek 2 and 3) or even T'Pring (from Amok Time who was Spock's arranged marriage).

Personally, I still keep thinking that the writers and Abrams want to blaze their own trail and create original major characters. Any nods to the Prime universe will through minor characters and references to events as part of the overall story. Thanks to Brian for the link.

New Villain Sequel Rumors, No Khan

The scripting on Star Trek continues and even though the pages have probably only been seen by a few, it seems already the rumor machine is in full gear with a recent report saying that a previous Star Trek villain may be used as the big bad and it is not Khan. Khan not being used in the film is a pretty easy call to make as it is probably safest to stay away from that as the film would be unfairly compared to the Wrath of Khan and I don't care how good the script of Abrams is, they will lose in the comparison. A source to Bad Ass Digest says:

It’s definitely a character that will make fans of TOS excited. Think along the lines of Harry Mudd or Trelane or Gary Mitchell or the Talosians or the Horta. Actually it’s one of those that I named.

Harlan Ellison Writes Star Trek 2?

Harlan Ellison, famous Sci-Fi writer, has indicated on his website that he is more than willing to work on the sequel to Star Trek, according to TrekMovie. He claims the reason he is willing to return to Star Trek is the opportunity to work with Director JJ Abrams. The writer just recently settled his lawsuit against Paramount for issues dealing with his classic episode "City on the Edge of Forever" that introduced the Guardian of Forever.

From HarlanEllison.com:

I would jump at the chance to work with the inordinately-talented J.J. Abrams on a new STAR TREK film. Yes, I would likely try to steer him toward the original film idea I was asked to pitch, by the late Gene Roddenberry and a production exec whose name I have blissfully flensed from memory (but he had been, if I recall, a hairdresser or clothing designer or ex-boyfriend of someone or other, and he kept trying to press me to include the Mayan Calendar).

If the very smart Abrams didn’t want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go.

Paramount would, of course, have to pay me from the first meet git-go; but I have absolutely NO attitude that would prevent me from jumping in to work with such a clever fellah. One is NEVER too old to come up with fresh ideas, particularly if one has lived long enough, and cleverly enough, to know WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE to death, sixteen times over.

If anyone out there thinks this melding has legs, let Abrams or anyone else with the chops to get in touch with me DIRECTLY. I am without full-time film-agent representation, by choice, at the moment; so if the job presents itself, I will work for pay.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

He later followed this up in response to fans:

TNG Cast Not In Star Trek Movie

As a result of a comment during Wondercon, The Latino Review suggested that the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast will make an appearance. As TrekMovie.com points out, that idea is completely false.

From Latino Review:

…another writer (or artist) said that part of the movie will take place with the Next Generation cast and to look out for that. Another guy on the panel gave him a quick "uh oh" look.

After that, someone from the audience asked "So are members of the Next Generation cast in the new Trek movie?" to which the same guy replied, "I really cannot say anything about that."

From TrekMovie:

TrekMovie attended the same panel at Wondercon and certainly did not take away that Latino Review analysis. We have previously received no indication that there are any cameos of any Next Generation era actors or characters. Just to be sure, we double checked with reliable sources and can confirm that there are definitely no TNG cameos in the new Star Trek.

The source of the confusion seems to be from Star Trek: Countdown comic book series that bridges the gap from the end of the Star Trek: Nemesis movie to the beginning of JJ Abrams movie. Because of time travel things can get a bit confusing

The comic takes place about 30 years after the end of Nemesis. Picard is now Ambassador Picard (apparently ignoring Kirk's advice to never leave the chair), the revived Data is Captain of the Enterprise-D, and Spock is the Federation Ambassador to Romulus, the capital of the Romulan Empire which is more open then ever to Unification. In the comic, an accident takes place that causes a nearby star to go nova, destroying Romulus. The nova could have been prevented by Vulcan technology but the Vulcan council refused to provide it to Spock and Nero (the movie's villain). Nero's family was killed in the planet's destruction and seeking revenge he goes back in time (with Spock following) to destroy the Enterprise lineage starting with Kirk (thus the movie's opening with the destruction of the USS Kelvin with the Kirk's parents on board).

I think the involvement of the TNG cast in the back-story of the movie is what caused the initial confusion. I also believe that the time travel plot point creates the Star Trek 2.0 parallel universe. This way the William Shatner Kirk and the Chris Pine Kirk and all that follow can exist in tandem providing Paramount with opportunity to mind both possibilities from fans in books, comics and merchandise depending on what your tastes favor.

Star Trek Spoiler Roundup

Ugo.com has compiled all the known rumors about Star Trek. Oddly, while the list seems long it really isn't as JJ Abrams and company have done an excellent job of keeping the lid tight on the production. Really most of the information is just what came out last week between the EW article and the interviews related to the recently released movie stills.

Confirmed
- The studio also needed more time to rehab Trek’s image. ‘’We felt we really need to get out there and educate people that this is a whole new franchise,’’ says Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore.
- The film’s budget is a reported $150 Million. Has a bigger budget and more special effects than any previous Trek film.
- The shoot lasted five months mostly on the Paramount Lot.
- Abrams says he was drawn to the project because he believed in — and wanted to evangelize — Trek’s unabashed idealism. ‘’I think a movie that shows people of various races working together and surviving hundreds of years from now is not a bad message to put out right now,’’ says Abrams, whose infectiously upbeat energy and disdain for cynicism are among his most marked attributes. ‘’In a world where a movie as incredibly produced as The Dark Knight is raking in gazillions of dollars, Star Trek stands in stark contrast,’’ Abrams says. ‘’It was important to me that optimism be cool again.’’
- Cover your ears, Trek purists: writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman said they wanted to “bring more Star Wars into Star Trek,” and director J.J. Abrams is more of a Wars fan than a Trek fan. They hasten to add it’s the “original Star Wars,” not the prequels. So what do they mean? It sounds like they mean the crazy space battles and high-speed action, as opposed to Trek, which “becomes very stately.” At the same time, they respect that old-school Trek is like “sub battles,” and they want to keep that as well. They also describe the movie as “an epic space adventure.”
- Abrams made his perspective clear: ‘’We weren’t making a movie for fans of Star Trek,’’ he said. ‘’We were making a movie for fans of movies.’’
- The storyline is about a Romulan named Nero (Eric Bana) who travels back in the past to either severely cripple or eliminate the Federation by killing its greatest starship captain, James T. Kirk, before he could take command of the Enterprise. Kirk’s best friend, Spock, tries to undo the damage caused by Nero by following him through time.
- The movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both.
- Kirk spends much of Star Trek dressed in respectable black — space-cadet colors in Abrams’ Trekverse.
- Zachary Quinto, 31, campaigned for the part by repeatedly expressing interest in it while doing press for his show. ‘’I saw it as a career opportunity, but I also saw it as a creative opportunity, too,’’ he says. ‘’I have a real interest in where this character lives. I really relate to the duality of a logical mind and an emotional sensibility.’’
- Quinto prepped intensely for his tryout, even binding his fingers with rubber bands to train his hand for the live-long-and-prosper salute. He secured the role soon after Nimoy viewed his audition tape. ‘’I could see Zach had an internal life as an actor, which is important to the Spock character, because there’s so little to show physically,’’ Nimoy says. ‘’I called J.J. and immediately told him he was going to work.’’
- For his part, Quinto shaved his eyebrows and grew and dyed his hair, and found that the makeover helped him connect with Spock’s angst. ‘’I never anticipated how alienated I would feel because of the physical alteration,’’ he says. ‘’That’s appropriate, because Spock is really alienated from himself when we meet him. He’s constantly questioning his place in the world.’’
- ‘’I think Zach had the toughest job, but he gave a performance that totally captured the character without resorting to impersonation,’’ says Simon Pegg (Scotty).
- Anton Yelchin was the first to admit there is Klingon involvment in the movie.
- Randy Pausch, the now-late author of The Last Lecture and avowed Trekker, has a cameo in the film.
- The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ‘’I have been, and always shall be, your friend.’’
- History may be mutable in the new Star Trek, but the old characterizations remain the same: Spock is still logical and Scotty is still bitterly complaining about the ship’s overworked engines.
- The Enterprise still has a saucer front section and pronged rear engines, but now comes tricked out with credibility-enhancing details. During turbulence, the crew can now grab handrails to keep from falling. And Abrams has given the blah cardboard bridge a makeover. It still has the oval shape, the captain’s chair, the giant view screen — but it’s now blazingly white and glistening with light and glass. “People would joke, ‘Where’s the Genius Bar?’’’ says Abrams, somewhat defensively. ‘’To me, the bridge is so cool, it makes the Apple Store look uncool.
- The opening sequence is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ‘’Heresy!’’ But revisionism anxiety is the point. ‘’The movie,’’ Lindelof says, ‘’is about the act of changing what you know.’'
- Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes.
- From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise.
- No longer are their signature Trek weapons boxy plastic toys, but sleek silver gizmos with spring-triggered barrels that revolve and glow in the transition from ‘’stun’’ to ‘’kill.’’
- Two different actors will play Spock: Leonard Nimoy returns to play the character he originated at approximately 150 years of age while Zachary Quinto (Heroes) plays a much younger Spock aged ~ 30 years.
- Cast as the younger versions of the iconic television characters are Chris Pine (Kirk), Simon Pegg (Scotty), John Cho (Sulu), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Anton Yelchin (Chekov) and Karl Urban (McCoy).
- There are at least five different time stops where the movie’s story will take place: the late 24th century around 2380; the start of Kirk taking command of the U.S.S. Enterprise (approximately 115 years prior to the events seen in Star Trek: Nemesis); Kirk at approximately ages 10, 20 and immediately prior to his birth.
- The commander of the original U.S.S. Enterprise prior to Kirk, Christopher Pike (played by Bruce Greenwood), is in the film.
- Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice) and Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire) play the younger Spock’s parents.
- Chris Hemsworth is playing George Kirk, James T. Kirk’s father, at approximately 20-25 years of age.
- Clifton Collins, Jr. is playing Ayel, an accomplice of Nero.
- Playwright/director Tyler Perry will play the Head of Starfleet Academy in a scene where Kirk is in hot water for cheating on the Kobayashi Maru test and is about to be expelled from the Academy.
- People confirmed as having small roles or cameos in the film include Chris Doohan (original TOS series star James Doohan’s son) and Stargate Atlantis cast member Paul McGillion.
- Actress Marlene Forte is playing the role of an unnamed Transporter Chief on the Enterprise.
- The look of the Starfleet uniforms and the interior corridors, rooms and bridge of the Enterprise will be similar but also different to the ones remember from the 1960s TV series.
- A variety of alien species will be seen in the movie but the only confirmed races known so far are human, Vulcan and Romulan.
- At heart, Abrams is still more of a Star Wars guy. ‘’All my smart friends liked Star Trek,’’ he says. ‘’I preferred a more visceral experience.’’ Which is exactly why he accepted Paramount’s offer in 2005 to develop a new Trek flick; creatively, he was engaged by the possibility of a Star Trek movie ‘’that grabbed me the way Star Wars did.’’
- The film’s major cast members have signed on for two sequels.
- Paramount is negotiating for director J. J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, and producers Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, to return for a sequel.
- Moviegoers will get a sneak peek when the first full trailer is released with the new James Bond flick on Nov. 14! (EW)

Rumored
- Nero may make multiple attacks throughout the time stream, possibly trying to assassinate Kirk or discredit/discourage him from entering Starfleet service.
- Jennifer Morrison (House) may be playing Winona Kirk, Jim’s mom—and she’ll be very pregnant with little Kirkie.
- Spock MAY witness the birth of James Kirk.
- Jimmy Bennett has reportedly been cast as an 11-year-old James Kirk while Spencer Daniels is reported to be playing George Samuel Kirk, his 15-year-old brother.
- Younger Spock meets older Spock and may even mind-meld with each other.
- An incidental character with the surname “Picard” may be mentioned.
- Scenes showing the construction of the Enterprise (as witnessed in the January ‘08 teaser trailer) MAY also be seen in the final cut of the film.
- Alex Kurtzman, one of the Star Trek writers, let it slip to us earlier this year that “Nero isn’t necessarily a Romulan.”
- There are battles with the Klingons, and we will get to see the maiden voyage of the original Enterprise: NCC-1701. Finally, none of the film takes place at all at Starfleet Academy.
- Simon Pegg’s Scotty gets a lot of scenes with Leonard Nimoy’s Spock.
- As expected, the primary location of the film is the Enterprise NCC-1701 with the bridge being the key location on the ship. About three to four out of the twenty weeks of shooting took place on the bridge set. We will see the ship under the command of both Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) and James Kirk (Chris Pine).
- In addition to the bridge, other locations for the ship seen in the film will be: sickbay, crew quarters, engineering, a transporter room plus corridors and turbolifts. All sets were built at Paramount with the exception of engineering which was done on a redressed industrial location.
- The Kelvin is a Federation starship from a generation before the Enterprise and smaller than the Enterprise. It is of a new ship class never seen before. The ship is commanded by Captain Robau (Faran Tahir) with George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) as first officer. Locations seen on the ship include the bridge (which reflects an earlier design than the Enterprise and is a lot ‘busier’), corridors, sickbay and engineering.
- TrekMovie.com previously reported that the primary villains of JJ Abrams Star Trek are the Romulans, who come from the 24th century. They travel through time in a ship, but the ship is not necessarily built for time travel. The ship is commanded by Nero (Eric Bana). The design of the interior of the ship is apparently different than traditional TNG era Romulan design and said to be ’surreal.’
- As reported before, the Star Trek film involves time travel and elder Spock (Leonard Nimoy) traveling through time. However (contrary to previous rumors about the Guardian of Forever) Spock uses a Vulcan ship specifically built for time travel. The ship is small and has a crew of one (Spock). The film will feature the bridge and also the ship’s ‘time core.’
- In addition to the above four ships there are some other ship locations that will be seen (and had sets built). These are: Medical shuttle (from the USS Kelvin era), Transport shuttle (from Kirk’s time at Academy), Federation Ship Bridge Simulator for Kobayashi Maru Test (redress of USS Kelvin bridge).
- A source tells TrekMovie that more ship interiors were created for this film than any other Trek film before. And unlike previous Trek films there is a minimal amount of ‘redressing’ being used. The USS Kelvin and the USS Enterprise are totally unique. All this means that Star Trek will truly be (as co-writer Bob Orci said in one interview) ‘a starship adventure.’
- Keep a lookout for a quick appearance from a Tribble.

Debunked
- William Shatner does not appear in the new Star Trek film.
- The Guardian of Forever is NOT the method that Nero and older Spock use to time travel.
- Apart from Leonard Nimoy, there are no other appearances from cast members of the original Star Trek. No George Takei, no Nichelle Nichols, no Walter Koenig.

George Takei In Star Trek XI?

According to AICN, George Takei apparently had lunch recently with Star Trek Director JJ Abrams. When asked if he would be in the movie, he said "no comment" rather then a denial. This in turn has led to speculation that maybe the original cast will secretly take a final bow in the movie.

I am going to call this rumor false mainly because I find it hard to believe something this huge could be kept a secret for very long. More then likely it was simply a sit down lunch to discuss the movie and the character of Sulu and nothing more. Besides, honestly to me, a reunion would be incomplete without DeForest Kelly (Dr. McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty).

Three Spocks For Star Trek

Leornard Nimoy, in an interview with CBS 2 in LA, threw out a tidbit of information regarding Star Trek XI and Spock, "I am Spock, and there is another Spock and there is another Spock. There are a total of three Spocks in the movie and that is all I will say about it." Obviously the first two Spocks is Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto. The third one, more then likely is a much younger Spock, probably as a boy.

I am wondering if the movie might show a moment of semi-canon Spock history from the animated series. That moment is when a 10 year old Spock, angry at his father, pre-maturely undergoes the "Kahs-wan", a Vulcan coming of age ritual in the worse Vulcan desert called The Forge. Spock almost dies but is saved by the sacrfice of his pet sehlat I-Chaya and an older time-traveling Spock. This theory is semi-supported by Leonard Nimoy's apperance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (see video below but not working so well) where he mentions a Vulcan Sehlat. He also commented on the whole William Shatner thing by pointing out that “[Spock] was resurrected immediately, [Kirk] has been moldering for quite a while.”

Orci Responds to AICN Script Review

Roberto Orci, one of the writers of Star Trek XI, commented on the recent AICN script review. Suffice it to say he wasn't pleased with the harsh review that it received.

In regards to the overall review:

Yeah. AICN for some reason has never liked us. The best example was one of their review for Transformers. I forgot which one of those wannabes wrote it, but it basically said how much they loved the humor, the characters, the sequences, and the structure of the movie, but they hated the script. Classic.

If this movie works, these same folks will say that JJ “saved” a crappy script with his directing, just like Shia “saved’ our dialogue by “making” it funny.

Whoever wrote that piece HAS NOT read the script, and I would trust Nimoy to tell us if we know anything about the Trek universe over just about anybody else.

The Area 51 reference:

Let’s see. Area 51 is a place where we supposedly keep aliens and spacecraft A SECRET. In Star Trek, earth KNOWS there are spaceships and aliens. You might’ve even heard of one of them. His name is Mr. SPOCK. You do the math.

"In Nimoy We Trust" may not be the best policy if trying to verify Star Trek canon. If want to know about Spock, sure. If want to know about all other things Star Trek, not so much. Hopefully Orci and Kurtzman knew about Memory-Alpha and used it to fact check portions of their script.

As for "do the math", I have no idea what he means. All I know is that in Star Trek canon, usually the starships are built and\or repaired either in spacedock or the Utopia Plantia Shipyards. The Enterprise, at the time this movie is set, would have been in service at least 10 years, where the first five of those years would have been under the command of Captain Robert April then Captain Christopher Pike (with Spock as Science Officer). So no idea what the Area 51 stuff is about but apparently its in the movie in some form or fashion (maybe as just a passing joke). Time will tell. And yeah, I through the info off the top of my head then verified with Memory Alpha just as a measure of my level of Trek geekiness.

Star Trek Script Review and Other Rumors

AICN apparently has hit the motherload of Star Trek sources as the site has a mini review of the Star Trek XI (not good) and other information. Below is the cut and paste of it all. Beware as SPOILERS are contained within.

The script review:

I saw your STAR TREK story and wasn't going to say anything, but since you know me... yeah, I can confirm the rumor you posted about the script. I wasn't going to say anything because I got slipped the shooting script and really didn't love it, but I respect J.J. Abrams so much that I'm withholding judgment on the final product (but wish this writer's strike weren't happening because reports are he's been itching to make some "on the set" changes and can't do it).

The problem with the script is all its blatant inconsistency with things in the TREK canon, not to be innovative... but because Kurtzman and Orci are lousy writers and have zero feel for Roddenberry's universe, even when attempting to reboot it. The dialogue is about on par with their past works and some of the liberties they've taken are insanely sloppy. (Forgive me, wasn't the Enterprise built in space and not Area 51?) It's remarkably unintelligent writing. (FYI: I also read their upcoming Fox pilot called FRINGE which may be the most blatant X-FILES rip off ever.)

The character of young Kirk is a travesty. He's the bad boy of the Academy, which is consistent in many ways, but the whole "Kobayashi" matter is overtly ridiculous. It turns Kirk into the worst scourge of all of Starfleet! At his graduation there are actual protestors outside the ceremony carrying signs stating: KIRK CHEATED! Talk about on the nose. They probably look like striking writers.

So, Kirk is put in command of a starship under great controversy and has to prove himself to not only Starfleet, but also his new crew who are wary of him and his bad rep. While this may sound okay, the way it's written is so ham fisted that it makes the TRANSFORMERS script read like Shakespeare.

Actually, the character of both young and old Spock works well and is consistent with the TREK canon, but I'm pretty sure that's because of Nimoy's involvement. Young and old Spock do meet and there's a clever, as well as TREK consistent, reason why young Spock's foreknowledge of events won't create problems in the future.

There's a lot of action in this piece, which is welcome, but the Romulan villains are perfunctory. My problem with time travel bad guys is what's to prevent them from looping back and trying their plan again and again whenever they fail? I'm sure Bana got a lot of money to do this inconsequential character.

I think curiosity and Abrams' rep will ensure this movie makes major bucks, but as far as re-launching STAR TREK with a whole new younger crew, no way. This is a novelty item that would probably not please Roddenberry purists, but would any of the recent Treks?

One thing's for sure, as lackluster as this script is... it's better than any Berman produced STAR TREK just due to the fact that it's big and has some scope. I just wish the character of Kirk weren't written as if in a dumb after school special. Shatner will have a field day ripping into the rather sleazy portrayal of his classic character. While he may have always been a skirt chaser, making him a lousy student seems like they're trying too hard to appeal to a real young audience who has the menu to Taco Bell memorized.

I could say more, but will withhold judgment due to a talented director, big budget and strong cast.

Look and feel compared to the Orginial Series:

I've seen some footage of the new Star Trek flick and I must say I am impressed. I am not a Trekkie and I am not working for the movie industry. It was due to other reasons I got to visit the production faclities and people showed me some scenes that showed what I would call "the Star Trek world". Let me explain. If you watch the TV series and many of the movies than - if you are a Star Wars fan like me - you always have the feeling that there is a discrepancy between the size of the alien worlds / the space ship(s) of the Federation and the locations where most of the scenes have been shot. In other words, the Bridge is more like a living room and does not match the size nor style of gigantic size of the Enterprise at all. It is certainly unbelievable because it's mostly the only place we get to see (and of course three or four other places, but all in all just 1 percent of the ship, I presume).

We'll, this movie is gonna end all that for sure. The "stage play" and Disney like nature of the TV episodes is gone, the "we'll only show you three locations but trust me, this really is a gigantic spaceship we're flying around in"-feeling will also be gone. I would argue that this movie is making use of the Star Wars like decors (as implemented later in the sequels and used immediately in the prequels) therefore expanding our universe more directly (leaves less room for imagination) and making the story a lot more believable, at least to me.

I thought it was very cool. Not sure if the Trekkies will like this move though.

By the way when I saw the new look of the Enterprise, I just wanted to go out and buy a model kit of that or something. I'm quite sure it will get as much positive response as the Milennium Falcon did. Yes, the stuff is that detailed.

Character hand-off:

i wouldn't take it that far. but it reminded me of the visual "handoff" they shot two weeks ago where nimoy's hand (vulcan greeting) is replaced in the frame by quinto's hand. j.j. actually spent a lot of time on it. finally, got it by setting up an extra monitor to help quinto hit his mark. it will only be a brief moment in the film, but apparently this sort of visual "handoff" from nimoy to quinto was important enough to warrant dozens of takes.

I don't know if the above is true or not but it seems to pass the sniff test and remains consistent with other leaked information. The leaked script, and its problems, sounds real as having read a few Hollywood scripts, its amazing how much cutesy points enter a script as the writers kind of pat themselves on the back for their own creativity. Normally those kind of things get leveled out (or magnified) through the film-making process and the many chefs involved. In this case, thanks to the Writers' Strike, all that stuff has to remain as is from the script (unless later Paramount wants to pony up for re-shoots after the strike ends) as any re-write is a violation of the strike for the writer involved.

As for the look and feel, I hope its better then the Original Series or some studio execs are going to wonder where their $100 million was spent. The hand-off, one assumes for symbolic and future sequels, seems like a real possibility and why not since its this movie represents the future of the franchise whether Trekkies want it or not.

Another Story Point Rumor

AICN is reporting another story rumor involving Kirk and the rumored Kobayashi Maru story point in the upcoming film. As reported yesterday, it appears that alot of the leaked information of late surrounds involves a trial of sorts for Kirk when he is accused of cheating at the Kobayashi Maru Starfleet Academy test.

A little back story reminder. The "no-win" scenario Maru test was first introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as a way to re-introduce the audience to fav characters and a few news ones. Also since Spock's death in that film had been leaked to newspapers, it made for a nifty way to "kill" him in the beginning of the movie as part of the test to throw the audience off. The test itself is no-win because the cadet or "Captain" in the virtual sim is forced to make a realistic captain choice - save his ship or save a civilian transport, the "Kobayashi Maru", but not able to do both. The test has the damaged transport sending an SOS on the other side of the Klingon Neutral Zone. If the cadet responds, crossing the zone, he risks destruction at the hands of the Klingons. Ignore it, and the civilians will surely die by the Klingons. Its actually a pretty ingenious testing concept to see where a potential future captain's priorities and responses may lie.

Anyway, Kirk beats the no-win scenario by simply re-programming it so the Klingons are more cooperative. Kirk gets let off for creative thinking and it helps him climb the executive ladder to Captain (of the Enterprise) much faster.

So back to the leaked story point is how did he re-program the scenario? The leak suggests he simply uses his charm to get one of his girlfriends to do it for him. (I wonder if that's Jennifer Morrison's character).

This could be all false but it smells right to me. The idea fits the character. For one, he has no computer prowess so hard to see him hacking away at a computer program. Its a more compelling story idea (always important for a movie). Getting woman to do things for him was a bit of a hallmark for the series. Besides, he was a macro kind of guy, he would come up with the idea, "I need more power!!" or "we need to get humpbacks!" and let others (Spock, Scotty, etc) work out the details on how to do it. So I could see him going "this no-win needs to be programmed with a win!"...and then asking a girlfriend to do it.

Tyler Perry in Star Trek?

A rumor is spreading across various blogs that Tyler Perry, director and writer, will make an appearance in Star Trek XI. He directed "Madea's Family Reunion, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and many others. According to the Movieblog, the role is apparently the human head of Starfleet Academy. Spoiler here.

The scene was apparently the same scenes from a few weeks before where pics of Jennifer Morrison, Chris Pine, Spock and multiple others came from involving a courtroom scene where Kirk might be expelled from Starfleet probably for cheating (so winning) the Kobayashi Maru cadet no-win scenario test). Spock is the witness against him. Some Kirk speak later and what not and Kirk is left off and commended for creative thinking (the event basically fast tracked him up the command ladder).

Seems credible especially since the leak doesn't contradict previously released information but mostly its an odd choice in actor to spread a false rumor about.

Tribbles Cameo?

Trekmovie.com is claiming that Tribbles will make a cameo in Star Trek XI. The when, how and so forth hasn't been revealed but I would guess adding a stuff fluff ball to any given seen wouldn't be particularly hard. The Tribble's first appearance was the original series "The Trouble with Tribbles", made an encore appearance via Deep Space Nine with "Trials and Tribbulations" and are basically the rabbits of the Star Trek universe where they multiply very fast ("they're born pregnant"). Klingons can't stand them (wonder if that means a Klingon appearance and if so which version (movie, TNG head ridges or TOS smooth skull version).

Star Trek Storyline Confirmed

IESB.net is reporting they have confirmation from studio sources on details of the storyline for Star Trek XI. The leak pretty much confirms the Romulans travel in the past to kill Kirk with the older Spock following close behind. The how they get in the past is a different story though.

SPOILER WARNING - stop reading if don't want to know more.

Ok, the how the Romulans get into the past if based upon what most consider the greatest episode in Star Trek history "The City on the Edge of Forever" which first aired on April 6, 1967. In this episode, the crew discovers the Guardian of Forever which, if you ask the right questions, will allow you to view and travel to any point in time. Dr. McCoy, delusional from a drug overdose, jumps into the portal and changes history for the worse. Kirk and Spock go back into time and attempt to McCoy from altering history. They succeed but at the cost of Kirk's only true love.

For the movie, the Guardian of Forever makes another appearance. The Romulans, led by Nero (Eric Bana) use the Guardian to travel in the past to kill James T. Kirk. Considering his "history" is safe to say his death would probably leave Earth destroyed (due to V'ger in STI and the Probe (in STIV among other things). Spock (Leonard Nimoy) learns of the plan and travels through the Guardian also and recruits his younger self (Zackary Quinto) to stop Nero.

One scene mentioned is a heart to heart between the older more experienced Spock with the younger emotionally rigid Spock explaining the friendship that developed over the years. Cool way to explain the change in behavior from Pike's Spock to Kirk's perhaps other then network orders at the time.

The first time that Kirk is seen on screen is while taking the Kobayahsi Maru no-win scenario. This scenario is "famous" for Star Trek fans as Kirk is the only cadet to win the scenario.

The Maru is the name of a civilian ship in virtual reality test for Starfleet cadets to determine their character and command abilities when facing a no-win scenario. The Maru crosses the Klingon Neutral Zone (think of it as a border crossing between countries) and disabled by a mine. The civilians need to be rescued but Klingon starships could attack and crossing the zone violates treaties that could lead to war. The scenario is set up so victory is not possible as you can't rescue the civilians and get out of the zone with the starship intact. So the choices are do nothing saving the ship or attempt a rescue that may save the civilians but will destroy the ship and its crew. Kirk achieves a win by cheating. He reprograms the scenario to achieve his victory earning him a commendation for "original thinking" that helped his ascension to captain of the Enterprise. This also fits the character whose career is cheating death at every opportunity.

Lots of explanations for Star Trek newbies, but to sum up, Spock goes in the past to stop Romulans from killing cadet Kirk who is taking the Maru test.

Now a new wrinkle has been added to this whole idea in the name of Harlen Ellison the writer of "The City on the Edge of Forever" and who somehow owns the concepts and creations used in that script that are not pre-established Star Trek characters. He wants his cut of course to use those creations for the movie and more then a bit angry about not being informed of their use.

"Would someone go to that site, and suggest to those people there, that "City" and all its elements EXCEPT specific Star Trek characters, belong to Harlan Ellison--author of that much-lauded episode--by terms of the Separation of Rights clause of the Writers Guild's Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA), and if Mr. Abrams--with whom I'm currently on strike--or anyone else, at Paramount or elsewhere, thinks they're going to use MY creations--whether the City, the Guardians, Sister Edith Keeler, or any other elements CREATED BY HARLAN ELLISON...they had damned well better lose the unilateral arrogance, get in touch with me, or my agent, Marty Shapiro, and be prepared to pay for the privilege of mining the lode I own."

I don't know how much is true or not as I always assumed that while writers get royalties for the money gained by their scripts, the contents within are owned by the studios. I guess that either wasn't the case in the 60s or maybe never was.

My understanding of Ellison's history with Star Trek is very contentious to say the least so more then likely he will try to use the opportunity to deal with past grievances. As much as I would love to see a reprisal of the Guardian of Forever on the silver screen I am thinking for the studios it would simply be easier and cheaper to do a rewrite as there is an endless supply of way to perform time travel. Yes there is a writer's strike but that means that WGA members can't write, anyone else can. So Abrams, a member of the guild couldn't retool the script but someone else can such as a producer could. Probably the simplest rewrite would be to invoke the slingshot around a sun effect from Star Trek IV. If Romulans know about the Guardian then it stands to reason they would know about how Kirk rescued Earth with time travel.

Hopefully things will be worked out with Ellison (but not holding my breath) as I really like the idea of the Guardian being used once again. Should note though that Ellison would have been better off not saying anything as he has given Paramount a chance to remedy the situation without necessarily paying him. If he waited until the movie came out, it would have been too late and he would have had a much stronger case to get a piece of the film and DVD revenue.