Chris Pine May Be New Kirk October 9, 2007
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: ST09 Cast , trackback
This is the big one folks — 27 year-old actor Chris Pine is in talks to play James T. Kirk in the new Star Trek movie. TrekMovie.com was tipped off on the Pine talks earlier, but before it could be confirmed the story showed up at the Hollywood Reporter (which is pretty good confirmation). Pine is a relative unknown, but right now a bit of a hot commodity in Hollywood. In fact the actor is mulling over two roles (playing Kirk and a part in a new Joe Carnahan / George Clooney film) with negotiations focusing on the overlapping shooting schedules. Pine may have to choose one over the other and if he picks Clooney over Kirk, Paramount and Abrams are reported to have a number of backup options (this seems to back up our earlier report that Mike Vogel was not the leading candidate for Kirk, but was being looked at).
Pine first appeared in 2003 with some TV guest spots on shows like ER and CSI: Miami. His film debut was in the 2004 chick flick Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and he has appeared in four other films since. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it was his ’scene stealing’ role as a neo-nazi assassin in the 2007 action film Smokin Aces that has caught the attention of producers and casting agents. Pine comes from an acting family with two grandparents, both parents and a sister in the business. His father Robert Pine appeared Star Trek Voyager (Liria in "The Chute") and Star Trek Enterprise (Tavin in "Fusion"). If Pine ends up taking Trek over the Joe Carnahan film, it will be the second time that director J.J. Abrams has nabbed something away from Carnahan. In 2005 Abrams was brought in to replace Carnahan on Mission: Impossible: III…something that Carnahan did not take well.
More:
Chris Pine at IMDB | Wikipedia | Fansite
Interview/clips with Pine and Lindsay Lohan for Just My Luck
Interview with Pine for Smokin’ Aces (launches new window)
Pine as Kirk (envisioned by TrekMovie.com community member Justin Olson)
Comments»
Pretty darn good match….
He’s got family connections to Trek. His father, Robert Pine, was on both VOY and ENT.
He kinda looks like the Shat. I’d want to see a screen test first though.
Off by one Letter, the letter K. Wasn’t there a Shatner/Nimoy joke about being off by one letter somewhere in Trek lore?
I’d agree he’s a relative unknown. I’d go as far as an almost complete unknown? I’m liking all the casting so far - so this time I think I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt - but he doesn’t *look* much like Kirk, I - can’t- see - him- de-livering - the sentences - with quite! - enough - ham :-)
Do we know what else he’s been in?
Oh, and gratz on the scoop again Anthony.
uhh I don’t see it. i saw him in Princess Diaries 2. I don’t see him as Kirk…not really at all.
Hmm, take the Carnahan/Clooney project and maybe get to be on Leno once, be tops at the box office for one week, if you’re lucky springboard it to another semi-high profile project or two. OR, take the Kirk role and be adored by the most devoted fanbase on Earth for the rest of your life. Tough call…
Some footage here of Pine in an interview and in some super-cheesy romantic comedy clips with Lindsay Lohan:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vIguhUnBmcM
Have to say I like what I see…he has a solid, low voice that I can easily imagine being modified into Kirk’s. Improvement over Vogel’s skater-dude sound, I’d say.
Maybe its just the pic they chose to use, but he looks a lot like Kirk to me. Grow out the hair, and he may not be a dead ringer, but he would be a ringer.
What are the chances of getting pine, since he is also up for a cloony film?…..I think not. Would you as an actor rather have Star Trek atached with your name or have Cloony attached to your name…..If I was an actor, sorry Star Trek…I luva….but gotta go with the Cloony. Maybe they will intice him with the ST role being a bigger part, or more money. Those are two things that I could see brining Pine over to our side
Give him darker eyes and the right do, and I’d be convinced looks-wise.
Still, there’s the whole intelligence, charisma and charm aspect that is oh so key
Face it, who is really ever gonna match expectations?
That is a long shadow to fill!
I’ll just wait, then watch.
Finally some concrete news on the new Kirk!
I’m not really seeing it myself… don’t know what to think.
Only Screech can play Kirk.
Ah-ha!!! Who called it? Who called it???
(see comment #104 here: http://trekmovie.com/2007/07/27/tabloid-rumor-robbie-williams-as-kirk/)
Great choice, I think. He was outstanding in Smokin’ Aces.
I like it. He would resemble Kirk with the Kirk hair and He has the same color hair. This guy seems to be more favorable than Mike Vogal. He is just a tad to young but who cares. If he can pull it off, so be it. Also I wish Karl Urban would be cast as Pike. Yep, I can see plenty of Trek movies or television down the road with this guy as Kirk.
Again….like the villain I’d say he looks too young. Now….only IF Abrams would start with a NEW Starship and totally new characters then I’d be all for it. How hard is it to do that?
You can’t put a square peg in a round hole. Sure…you can force it but is it believable?
Eyebrows need some definite plucking!
Not as good a choice as Jesse Lee Soffer. Do an IMDB search on Soffer! It’s the logical thing to do. Roberto Orci where are you??
Ohhh, he IS very young isn’t he? And quite, dunno, gangly in that clip… but seems to have the charisma and obviously Kirk is going to have to spend at leat 1.3 of the film flirting with yeomans…
Different thread, but I like Bana though, he’s almost A-list albeit not Russell Crowe, but still big enough to draw crowds to the film on his name alone. Which can only be a good thing.
@Robo-Cop…. wasn’t that called “Enterprise”? I seem to recall it wasn’t terribly good… ;-)
Once more, thanks for all the info Anthony.
Well, he’s better than the other guy (Mike Vogel) But I’m not sure….He needs some dark contact lenses and maybe the standard Starfleet hair style….but I dunno. He still seems kinda young and a “WB teen model type”…..Gotta see gim in action before I can judge further.
P.S. He’d be a fool NOT to take the part, if the article is correct about him having a choice between Trek and the Clooney/Carnahan project.
Okay, upon further inspection, I’m gonna have to say it. To me Kirk is suposed to be handsome and in great shape. It’s really about the age I expected, somewhere around 27 to 30, but this guy… well, he’s not in Kirk physical condition (yeah, I know he expanded quite a bit by the third season) from the pictures I’ve seen… and well… I can’t seem to get over how big his head is. Like an orange on a toothpick. I’m sorry, but that’s a big noggin. That’s a virtual planetiod.
I think I could see him as Kirk! More so than Vogel anyway.
In that youtube clip with Lohan he has Star Trek sideburns. I think with some weight lifting this is our guy. I hope he does not turn the Trek role down for Clooneys movie because he would be taking a page out of George Lazenbys actions that he regretted when he didn’t play OO7 for a second time and wound up in cheap movies. Clooneys movie will be seen by a fraction campared to Trek XI with millions of fans all around the world with good marketing. This Guy will be instantly famous.
Pine looks like a kid.
This image illustrates to me how hard this aspect of the film will be to pull off. Getting the casting right for the Kirk character is going to be a tough one. If Shatner were to come onto a panel and really endosre him, then I’d give the creative team the benefit of the doubt.
This also reminds me of the early character sketches done by Filmation of the Star Trek cast as teens for TAS.
How much weight lifting is he gonna be able to do in month (less once everything’s finalized)? He might be able to put on eight pounds or so, if he starts taking every suppliment on the market and gets in the gym for several hours a day with a trainer.
@23 - there is always the worry of typecasting. That Leonard bloke spent over a decade complaining about it, wrote and book and everything. For a young actor it might seem like the end of their career before it properly starts, especially if they haven’t got any other major bodies of work on their CV.
The main difference (apart from sheer acting ability, charisma and looks) between Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford was that Ford had done a lot of work before Star Wars (hey, can I mention Star Wars on this site?) and so Hamill blamed typecasting on his career nosediving for a few years before he got to do Jay and Silent Bob.
If he’s good and steals the movie, then it shouldn’t matter, but it’s still something that he’ll have to ponder.
Of course, since most of us that read this site would happily gnaw off their own right arm to be an extra in this film, I’m sure turning down the role of Kirk would appear to be the single worst idea anyone could make.
He’s too young, he’s too much of a bland, cookie-cutter Hollywierd pretty boy.
…and he’s not Nathan Fillion.
what?
He even looks a bit like young Shat in from a few angles. He’s definately got the looks … now the acting ability?? Can he stammer his lines!?
Of course Pine looks young, but I also think he is a much better choice than Mike Vogel. Unlike Vogel I haven’t seen him in any movie so I can’t say anything about his talent as an actor, but when I look at his facial expression he could definitely be a young starfleet captain.
Well, after Bana, I’m not doubting Abrams. He’s kicking total ass in the casting
Better than Vogel but not as good as Jesse Lee Soffer. Mr. Orci, have you checked out Soffer?
correction: I’ve already seen Pine in “Just my luck”. Not outstanding, but solid. It’s not easy to compare the parts ;-). But Pine has my vote.
It would be illogical to gnaw off one’s own arm. They are evidently struggling a little with the Kirk casting, it could really make or break both this film and Trek’s future. Not sure - but then again none of us have seen Pike’s, sorry Pine’s, audition which is where it’s really at.
#27
Nathan Fillion would have been incredible as kirk.
regarding those who get concerned over matching Shatner
they are hiring actors not look-alikes and impersonators
I certainly dont see anything that disqualifies this guy and I think he was good in Smokin Aces, but for the most part I have always thought we will have to take Kirk on faith. This guy is less of an unknown than I thought they would go for, but we really havent seen this guy do anything Kirk like. That is something that JJ and his people are seeing you just have to trust him here.
By the way…I am bummed that THR beat me to this story…We reported that Vogel wasn’t the front runner last week, but i had been tipped that Pine was but needed to confirm….oh well you snooze you lose. But I am still tied with the THR for casting scoops (2-2)…and now Variety has got a point on the board.
Um… why are people saying the guy’s too young? A.) We already know they were looking for someone between the ages of 23 and 29 (Pine is 27); and B.) We’ll be seeing Kirk from at least his early twenties and maybe into his early thirties. He’s not too young, he’s just the right age.
I soooo cant wait tosee this movie,,
=)
He was good in Smoking Aces.
Hell, what do I know.
I can’t wait to see him act like Shatner, even if he’s been told not to impersonate Shatner, I’m sure he’ll slip up a couple of times…
It’s official Startrek.com sucks balls when compared to this site for news on Trek 2008
He has the presence. he has the delivery. I can see him ask Kirk quite easily except - someone please pluck the man’s eyebrows!
BTW, that’s not a girly thing if he’s reading this. Sean Connery plucked for YEARS.
Much better than Vogel.
Good - use - of - hands - to - engender - - - MEANING - in the interview clip above.
They need to announce this with news of who is playing the OLDER Kirk…
SORRY!!!!!!!!!!! HAD TO!!!
Could not - resist - temp — tation!
I kinda like the look of this guy, he bares a strong resemblence to Kirk. While they’re not going for the exact match/impersonators as AP put it, they’re still trying to get actors who match the original cast and I like the look of this guy! And for a 27 year old (eek, same age as me!) he doesn’t look ‘too young’ by any means!
And I LOVE the photoshop, nice work Justin! I’m sold!
“Not one hundred percent efficient, of course … but nothing ever is.”
he looks like Matt Damon in the pic at the top…
not a bad choice…
sounds like he will be cast from that report…
This is a good choice. I think this guy can really “become” Kirk.
Having said that…those of you who think this is an easy decision for Pine are out of your minds. Last time I checked, most Clooney films get a lot of attention and do well at the box office…and frequently end up in contention for Oscars. As much as I love Trek, I’m sure nobody thinks this will contend for Best Picture.
Also happy to hear about the Bana casting, as he’s one of my faves. No, not quite “A” list, but still a cut above the typical Trek villain for sure.
imdb has his height at
6′ 0½” (1.84 m)
Quinto is 6ft 2
The Shat was about 5 10 …(but they were always trying to make him look taller with lifts) and Nimoy about 6ft 1
so the height difference between Kirk and Spock should be fine (good cause Spock should always be taller than Kirk)
Good choice! Will look even better WHEN Shatner is cast.
I still say that Ryan Reynold would be a great Kirk… HE was amazing in Smokin’ Aces… great actor and he CAN take that role…
Well, I didn’t see it until I saw the fkaed pic above int eh uniform… he really does have a resemblance.
Based on the clips… he’ll have to be reigned in a little, but we’ll see! He seems a little goofy, without the cool reserve of the Shat, but without much to look at it’s very difficult to judge. Put a pic of him with Quinto, and they look pretty good! Facially, the more I look at him the more I see it!
Oh, and Nathan Fillion? No way… I want to see Kirk’s charm, not his nostrils. Fillian was Cap’n Tightpants… but he’s no Jim Kirk.
Although… in that top picture? he resembles Jeffrey Hunter more than The Shat :)
#26 “…career nosediving for a few years before he got to do Jay and Silent Bob.”
I don’t know why that made me laugh so hard this morning, but it did. Nicely delivered :)
Interesting choice, Like I have said before once a photo like this appears they usually get the part.
he seems like a little boy…the new Kirk will need to be mature beyond his years, strong, with a certain military bearing…it looks like Abrams is trying to pull off Trek and a chick flick, all these new actors are dweebs, where are the men, ie Crowe, Hackman type…we know what happens when you try to make everyone happy……….
I’ll reserve judgement until :
a) He takes the role (looks like he’s juggling) and might not
b) See him portray Kirk
Picard is my daddy, but having this guy as Kirk… move over baldy, this guy is luscious! And look at those eyes… This has made my day.
I guess, Mr. Pine is a Shatner-Fan. He acts and talks just like him.
I don’t know anything about this guy as an actor, but from these pictures he looks awfully young. Granted, Kirk was supposed to be the youngest starship commander, but come on: would YOU put a 27-year-old in charge of your most expensive, complex ship-of-the-line? I think not. Most 27-year-olds I know I wouldn’t trust with the keys to my car. He’ll have to look older to be even remotely believable as a starship commander.
This whole thing gets nuttier by the minute.
Have a look at these pics from http://www.firstshowing.net:
http://www.firstshowing.net/img/star-trek-casting-kirk.jpg
I think it fits :-), good cast!
he was completely uncharismatic and unmemorable in Princess Diaries 2, if he gets the role I hope his acting has improved in the last few years.
I’ve been trying to keep an open mind but I have to agree with you, Stanky. Did you see the bit about Eric Bana? Time-traveling Romulans? And why is Chekov even in the picture?
Vogel and Pine should be made to do the kal-if-fee for the Kirk role
In the movie clip I can hear some similarity to Shatner’s enthusiastic and unpredictable line delivery, but as has been said I don’t know if he’s cool enough. I just don’t know if he pops off the screen enough. It should be someone who would be as memorable as Shatner even if it means being a little more different than people expect.
As an actor he’s a bit blerrh! Know what I mean? The Kirk actor needs to have a bit dynamism, like Shatner or even Jeffrey Hunter. Both had that quality and I’m just not seeing it in this kid. Seems too timid a personality. We can’t can’t have a weak Kirk.
Any actor that gets this role needs more experience and a much wider range. The only thing he has going for him is his young age but that equally works against him. This guy seems to be too black and white and whats needed is someone with a full color spectrum.
Looks like a fine choice. Hope they sign him.
@35 - Anthony
well, I know *I* read it here first, and I’m trusting this site for my news over some so called “Hollywood” website.
As for not hiring imitators, we’re all with you, but consider this:
Ewan Macgregor did a very fine impression of Alec Guiness for the 3rd Star Wars film, by use of his acting abilities which made him all the more convincing as a young Obi Wan. It helped the realism no end, and made it feel more like Star Wars, which is the same feel I hope they want to get with the new Trek film.
If you compare it to the the young Hayden’s complete non-impression of Darth Vader which went ‘CLUNK’ at the point of transition, it would be better if the new James T Kirk reminds us of a very (well, maybe not too ‘very’) young Shatner. That way we don’t suspend so much disbelief and JJ et al get a huge amount of ‘history’ for free.
Having said that, if he can’t act for toffee then we’re stuffed… but I’ll go rent Smokin Aces for myself now and try and find out.
Justin Olson’s photomanipulation is the best one yet. I’m sold :)
Don’t see it. Next please……
Well, to me he looks a bit too cute - know what I mean? You may introduce him as mother-in-law’s darling, but not necessarily as Starfleet’s youngest, coolest mother f——er captain…
At least they have a more reasonable choice here than the whole Vogul think the other week. I just wish they could find someone with that hint of danger too them as well though. Not many of these young hollywood actors seem to have that extra knick like many of the older stars like Shatner had.
But can he act…..? Everything I’ve seen him in to date says not so much. He can stand there, look pretty and deliver lines that’s for sure. Who knows, with a good script and good director this kid could pull it off nicely.
again, the faith has to be in the auditon process. IF he is in negotiations, then he delivered SOMETHING in the audition process that clicked with Abrahms. At this point, all I can do is put my faith in these producers who are fans, and hope they know how to extract the traits of Trek’s iconic stars from the actors at hand.
Wow - to be in his position, and to have to make a choice like that. How cool is that!
Given the circumstances.. what about the backups should Mr. Pine not choose the part? Anthony, if you know the answer to this.. all hail Anthony!! ;-)
He doesn’t quite have Shatner’s girlish little nose, but aside from that the resemblance is close enough.
I think I like Matt Vogel better. Maybe I convinced myself though. I’ll have to think on it a little more but God #### it just get it over with already!!!!!!!!!!!!
good choice!
:)
I’d rather have Gilbert Gotfried play Kirk than Nathn Fillion. I hate anything and everything to do with Joss Whedon.
Just read that Pine’s grandmother was also an actress, and starred in some of the old Universal monster movies, as well as “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe”!
I dunno. My first impression of him is that he looks better than Vogel, more rugged at least. Hopefully he can act.
Fillion is great, but he comes across as much bigger and more rugged than Shatner - perfect for his part in the excellent “Firefly” series, but he’d be a very different Kirk.
I like Chris In the movie Smokin Aces
u guys should check it out.
Looks like a good cap’n, albeit young.
But, can he sing ‘Rocket Man?’
#40 “It’s official Startrek.com sucks balls when compared to this site for news on Trek 2008″
It’s should be called “Star Trek: Website”. Like an episode of Star Trek, in website form. Reminds me of the movie Spaceballs.
I had an immediately positive reaction to Quinto’s casting. It seemed perfect. I haven’t had the same reaction to this guy. He may end up being perfect as reboot-Kirk but seeing him did not give me that “oh, of course” reaction.
K.
Type “Smokin Aces Tremor Brothers” on youtube
he’s one of the brothers.
This guy will be great as Charlie X. As Kirk? Come on.
[…] :October 8: Looks Like They May Finally Have Captain Kirk TrekMovie.com is reporting that the role of Captain Kirk may just go to actor Chris Pine. However, Pine is also in the running to star in a George Clooney movie at the same time. If he goes with Clooney over Trek, he’s a moron. Look at the Photoshopped image of Pine as Kirk. Not bad. […]
Looks pretty good to me. He’s certainly closer in appearance to Shatner than Quinto is to Nimoy.
I agree with others though that having the commanding presence and sense of authority Shatner had is more important than looks.
89.
True.
I have seen some of his movies and he is a good choise thou i have to rewatch his movies again to picture him as Kirk. A least he is taller then Vogel.
I like the actor, but I just can’t envision him as Captain James T Kirk…
This looks like a Kirk!! 10000% BETTER then Vogel, who had me worried as a pretty boy Kirk isnt what we are looking for.
Pine looks like a mans man, someone we can root for…
I’m not sure on this guy but who knows.
not bad is similar to shatner,,,
Lindsay Lohan as the Salt Vampire! Just substitute another grainy white substance for salt, and I could see it…
Haven’t seen Pine act, so I can’t make a judgement, but he does look like Shatner. What does his voice sound like? The voice and mannerisms is what everyone thinks about Kirk, because that’s what Shatner was known for, the over dramatic. If anything, they have got to have Kirk fly off the handle.
Pine looks amazingly like my late dad(if he had put on a trek oufit in 66-67)who was a BIG fan and of course got me hooked on the show.
He doesn’t bear a strong resemblance to the Shat, however.
PLEASE MAKE THE MOVIE ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#58 - Actually, it fits with James Kirk as a character.
Remember, this is the only cadet to ever beat the no-win scenario.
Caught a commendation for original thinking, and he doesn’t like to loose ;-)
This is a pretty good choice so far.
With all cast members, there will be make-up, acting technique and costuming to make the shifts necessary for these characters.
The thing is, we will NEVER get another William Shatner, only THe Shat can REALLY do The Shat !!!
But this is pretty close to the character, and from what I gather, the character can’t be as campy as he was for much of the original series.
Star Trek needs to be made more convincing that the original series, so a slight shift may be inevitable.
Look at this guy’s facial movements when he’s talking to Lindsey - very similar to Kirk’s when talking to women in the series.
Chris Pine interview:
video
http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blsmokincp011807.htm
Is it just me or does Pine look a little crossed eyed in the Kirk composition.
Never heard of this guy.
AND THATS JUST EXCELLENT!
JJ is so smart to cast unknowns.
Being a great actor & being famous in this age
do not really walk hand in hand.
Most famous people are piss poor actors anyway!
As long as Shatner is in it, I will be happy!
And don’t forget PAUL FOR SCOTTY!
GOOD LUCK JJ & TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#102 Thanks, nice interview. I’ll say this for him, he comes across as intelligent and thoughtful in his approach to his work. I dug the part where he ignored the interviewer midway through to say hi to those kids.
I agree DJT, his mannerisms are very close to Kirk’s. I would have preferred Matt Damon, but I guess with him being in his late 30’s he was too old. Damon would have to do the Academy scenes and that would not have been believeable. I welcome Pine and Bana to the Star Trek family!
Having watched the interview I think this is a potentially great choice. Reminded me of Kirk/Shat and that’s without acting it.
Hmmmmmmmm. I might burst before too much longer.
JJ, can we all come watch the filming and just, you know, hang out? We’ll all be really quiet, right?
Look at this picture:
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0454084/Table.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Pine%2C%20Chris%20(I)&seq=27
And imagine a young Kirk on a date with Carol Marcus stating: “I’m from Iowa, I only work in space.”
I think they’ve found young Kirk. A director can instruct Chris to try to “think like his dad”, as Robert Pine’s portrayal of Sgt. Getraer on CHiPs always had a Kirk-like element to it…
A little eyebrow tweezing to match young Shatner though….
#102
Hmmm
He reminds me of Shatner.
I think it’s his mannerism or something.
Hmmm
#103
Considerably cross eyed. If he is cross eyed, he can’t be kirk!
and I mean it!
So many of you are looking for an exact clone of Shatner, saying he must look exactly like him and say his lines exactly like him. The character of Kirk is about so much more than that.
The little I’ve seen of this guy, I can see that same energy in his acting that Shatner has…the self assuredness, the confidence. Shatner has an energy, a life within, and I can totally see that in this guy. He’s rugged, yet has a softer quality like Shatner.
I hope to hell he gets it.
I’ve had a realization, seems that so many recent big film projects are doing new versions of existing franchises and recasting the established characters with younger versions early in their character’s careers.
We saw a young Obi Wan, we saw a young James Bond and now we’ll see a young James Kirk. What bothers me is seeing James Bond not quite yet acting himself and making dumb decisions.
I don’t think I want to see a young Kirk whose not quite formed yet. Perhaps the writers of this film will not go down that route, or they will to show how he becomes what he is. But that’s the part that is so tedious, we know what he’s like, I don’t need to see him forming. Maybe there’s a compelling story behind it, and I can see a small part of the film showing that, but I want to see him brash and being what he is.
The new actor does not have to act like Shatner, he just has to be that architype hero that Kirk was originally written as. The only hard part is bringing the humanity and other qualities and nuances that Shatner brought to it. But that’s like trying to get Daniel Craig to bring out those qualities that Sean Connery did. So they must see a voice in Chris Pine that speaks to the Kirk character.
Now…The BIG Question…When is THE Press Conference with Shatner and New Guy?!?!?!?
Well looking at that interview, he certainly seems like a very expressive guy. So that’s good.
He has a strange ilttle scar by his mouth, but that’s not really a big deal.
# 113
Believe me, I AM waiting for this one, too!!
“JJ, can we all come watch the filming and just, you know, hang out? We’ll all be really quiet, right?”
lol. I second that motion.
besides, imagine a cut away to a verizon-like “network” of trekmoviegoers somewhere behind the camera, huddled quietly after a take.
it’s the network!
I think they should have an overview explaining some of this stuff so that the new audience will understand. I for one grew up with my Dad and Aunts and Uncles all adoring Captain Kirk and Star Trek. They know all this stuff but I do not and would like to know more. Again, for the new audience there should be a brief explanation I think.
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Romulus and Remus are the twin Romulan homeworlds.
Romulus apparently had no sentient species until a proto-Vulcan splinter group colonized it around 400 CE. These proto-Vulcans over time became the Romulans. A sapient species called the Remans developed on Remus and was conquered by the Romulans later becoming a lower class in Romulan society (although it is unknown whether Remans are truly native to their world, or are simply mutated Vulcanoids).
The original colonization group of Vulcans came to this system after they fled their homeworld in rebellion against the philosophy of peace and logic proposed by Surak. As Mr. Spock would later point out, if the Romulans retained the passions and expansionist outlook that the pre-Surak Vulcans once had, it would make them an extremely dangerous race.
Chris Pine… hmm… fascinating.
I think he’s definitely got the voice, not sure on the looks though but doesn’t have to be perfect. I personally liked that guy from Band of Brothers, he’s got the look, but not really the voice… darn it!
does he Shat have any sons? :P
the main thing though is the charisma between Kirk, McCoy and Spock, needs to be there!! - I want Gary Sinese as McCoy !!
Hmmmmm…………bulk this guy up, slap a dead rat on his head, stick him in a starfleet uniform and let’s see what kind of “acting chops” he’s got…………
#118 ” I want Gary Sinese as McCoy !!”
I agree…He’s got thAT Grizzeled/World Weary thing going..in spades…Hire him….NOW!!
#116 hahahahahahahaha Everyone will be quiet for like 10 seconds (without the use of gags and straight jackets) before someone is taken over with an irresistable urge to just ‘offer’ a suggestion…and the flood gates will open…
I can just see a bunch fans chewing their fists hiding behind cameras desperately trying to be quiet…hahahahahaha priceless!
#120
Sinese has the “world weary” thing for sure, but he DOESN’T have the humor or southern charm that McCoy had.
He’s just way too grim and dour (even in his lighter roles).
Too bad they are casting for the Backstreet Boys, and not Captain Kirk!
#123 OUCH!
Please, guys. If Pine gets the role, he’s 27. Quinto is 30. Sinise is over 50. Never happen.
yeah, I could see that guy doing it.
#122 Well Maybe Sinese can ‘Act’ like Kelley….ya Think?
123.
Backstreet boy Chris Pine > MTV surferdude Mike Vogel
I didn’t realize he was that old…Maybe they could Dig Up John Hoyt…
or better yet Paul Fix
Sure
he doesn’t really look like Shatner but he must have some kind of amazing chemistry with Quinto.
I bet thats the reason the producers choose him.
What is more important chemistry with other co-stars or looks?
I third the Gary Sinese vote!
Who could decline trek? For ever you will be able to do conventions at the very least. Its gravy!
# 21. Kevin “….. I can’t seem to get over how big his head is. Like an orange on a toothpick. I’m sorry, but that’s a big noggin. That’s a virtual planetiod.”
You gave me my biggest laugh of the morning.
I don’t know about anybody playing Kirk, just going to have to trust JJ’s professional opinion and keep my fingers crossed.
Don’t know the guy, although I thought Robert Pine was good on Chips. What concerns me is that they seem to be “recasting” the role of Kirk as “young upstart”, not seasoned captain — the best commander in Starflleet. And that’s no dig on the actor, who seems capable and engaging. When they start throttling back the iconic characters into mere mortals, they’re going for “realism”– and the panache of TOS may go out the door. Kirk had to be larger than life to balance the fantastic stuff going on.
To Charles (#15): “No kidding. His head’s like Sputnik. Spherical, but pointy in parts.”
I’ve looked at all his pictures on the IMPD and sorry, I’m just not seeing it. Thats obviously not a judgement on his acting ability- I don’t think i’ve seen him in anything.
Let the Pine/Quinto slash begin!
Kidding.
MMmmm, nope this guys not Kirk. Sorry J.J., Orci, this guy is not savy enough. The build is wrong, the eyes, the smile, all wrong. You guys were much closer with Mike Vogel. I can not see Chris Pine having Kirks commanding personality. Next.
I know one thing for sure. His penis rock will never be as big or as hard as Shatner’s.
anyone else read that at 1st and think ‘Chris Pike May Be New Kirk’
plus this guy dosnt look a million miles unlike Jeff Hunter
Had me confused for 0.0089 of a second…
Ewan McGregor ironically woude make a perfect Kirk!
http://www.yaketyyak.co.uk/Faces%20jpg/Ewan%20McGregor.jpg
I finally worked it out - this guy looks like Jeff Hunters, Brad Pitt, X Mens Cyclops and Matt Damons love child!
sorry guys but I just aint seeing any shatner in there,..
someone please tell me they nabbed a hair folicle of Shatners whilst he snoozed at TMP premiere back in 1979 and are about to announce 28 year old Shat-clone as Kirk in the next week or so,….
If you cast someone who looks like Shatner, it would be a disservice to the role and the original actor not to “act” like the original. This doesn’t mean you have to impersonate Shatner as Kirk. Chris PIne looks good in this photo shopped photo. Like to see Jesse Lee Soffer get a shot, though.
Hmmm The new Star trek cast …
are all very pretty . : /
reminds me of the party scene in Mission Impossible 3.
Barbie and Kens everywhere! Except for Greg Grunberg. ;)
Not believable at all!!
Oh well. not my movie.
They better cast Paul McGillion as Scotty!!!
LOL, after seeing some of the nutty casting choices the fans here want, I think I’ll rely on Abrams judgement for casting these roles, thank you very much.
@#102
HE IS KIRK!!!
#144 trouble is we don’t know just how much of that pic is Pine and how much is Shatner. Anybody know?
#145: “Hmmm The new Star trek cast …
are all very pretty . : /”
Can’t get no prettier than Hunter or Shatner - those guys didn’t have a chiseled angle between them. :)
#143, yep, he’s got a fairly strong resemblance to James Marsden.
is this a WB tv show or a feature film?
agree with #20…not knocking this guy but he fits the WB teen model turned actor profile and it’s lame
I did an image search (thought about doing a photoshop myself) and while this pic isn’t really clear enough (kirk) they did kinda have a similar look. I think its the squining look (also that it covers his very blue eyes).
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0454084/22Dating.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Pine%2C%20Chris%20(I)&seq=10
http://home.att.net/~CJMCG-JDD/kirk1.gif
#143 - 28 may be too old. >;>}
#81 Dennis Bailey
Thanks for contributing, not just flaming. You’re of course right that Fillion would change Kirk. I just remember seeing an interview with him where he came across as very charming, and talked about how it was a challenge for him to portray the tortured captain in firefly, making me think he had the range to be more Kirkish. But I digress.
I like him as a Kirk because I think he has screen presence, like Olmos on BSG, Stewart on TNG, or Shatner in TOS. Presence is (I think) a quality that’s a little harder to define and actors sort of have it or they don’t. It owes perhaps more to the actors personality than their acting ability, but it’s that gravitas that makes you take the character seriously. I am… having a hard time seeing that here, but the other casting choices (particularly Quinto) seem great.
I’m a big fan of Fillion myself, and also of Whedon.
#155
Me too. Whedon is a very talented guy. I thought Firefly was great, it deserved a longer run. I liked the movie as well, though I would have preferred it to be a little less about the action at times.
There have been three really remarkable “spaceship shows” since TOS: “Firefly,” the new “Battlestar Galactica” and “Farscape.”
Is his dad Ponch and John’s boss from CHIPS?????? That Robert Pine????
Dirty Dennis is Farscape worth purchasing the season sets??? I have never seen it but have always heard terrific things about it. I have a peculiar deal about only watching something from the very beginning otherwise it ruins it for me.
#143 - I was about to say he kinda looks a little bit like James ‘Cyclops’ Marsden!!!
#145 - JCOOL! Rock On! I happen to think Paul McGillion is ‘pretty’ in a boyishly charming and ruggedly handsomely WOAH kinda way! It’s the dimples and baby blues! CAST HIM AS SCOTTY ALREADY!!!!
“Battlestar Galactica” is a cultural landmark, dark as hell as it is. I also enjoyed “Firefly” on the whole, even though I couldn’t really buy into its premise.
OTOH I just haven’t been able to warm up to “Farscape,” much as I’ve tried.
(And not to open a can of worms or anything, Dennis, but it just occurred to me there’s a pretty conspicuous absence in your list: what, no love for “Babylon 5″?
160- Agree B5 season 1-4 best SCI since TOS
Not sure about this guy but I loved his dad in CHIPS!!!!!
That’s as close as they’re gonna get.
The guy’s GOTTA evoke Shat, and HE does.
SIGN HIM UP!!!!
#160 I too thought of B5 missing from his list but I assume he meant single “spaceship shows”.
From the photos, I think Chris Pine is a good choice for a young Kirk. I would opt, however, for dark contacts to cover those blue eyes of his. If he can nail the acting (and if he’s the frontrunner, then Abrams and his crew obviously think that he can), then find a way to sign him up. It’s a tough choice, a Clooney project or Star Trek, but Carnahan being involved with a Clooney film baffles me. Until he manages to do a substantial film, I’ve put Carnahan in the “flash-in-the-pan” list of directors, much like McG before him; all style and no substance.
The new Trek project, however, is becoming more high-profile all the time. Just signing could boost the spotlight on PIne a considerable amount. I hope he and his people take that into consideration.
And come on, his dad was “Sarge” on CHiPs! That’s a hefty pedigree in and of itself ;-) Seriously, he seems a fine choice. Get him in the center seat and let’s get this movie started already!
Let’s face it, a Clooney film may have more prestige to it, but the ONLY actor anyone is ever going to notice in it is, well, Clooney.
With Trek, Pine gets to be the Captain of the freakin Enterprise and portray an American icon. It should be a no brainer.
First thoughts:
This is the same guy from Smokin’ Aces? He looked completely different in that movie than he does in the photo at the very top.
Second thought:
He, in my opinion, at least looks older that Mike Vogal–even though I think he’s younger.
Third thought:
There are too many Trek fans that not everyone is gonna be happy.
That all said, looking at him in that photoshoped image of him as Kirk, I have to admit it is not all that terrible. I could be worse. I think I found the actual photo of Pine that was used for the Kirk image and if I have it right, most of the face is Pine’s not Shatner. The hair is Shatner’s, the ears may be too. If Pine’s botton lip were thinner, than he may look more like Kirk.
Is it just me, or am I crazy in saying that if I were an actor I would mention being in Smokin’ Aces way before The Princess Diaries 2?
#157
I agree, although I haven’t seen a lot of farscape. The stories were very ambitious and I need to watch more of the series. I love the new BSG, even if I didn’t agree with all the choices they made as the series progressed, it’s still fantastic body of work and I think the most compelling sci fi universe created in some time. I love the realistic physics and the flawed characters, the overall production design has always been superb. It’s political overtones are very brave, and I really appreciate their contemporary relevance.
If this dude is offered the role , he’ll take it.
Why would he want to be in a movie with the worst Batman ever?
When he could be in a movie that will actually make money & not one that is part of the Hollywood Welfare System.
i give mr pine a 2 thumbs up its pretty close to what shatner looked when star trek started. lets face you cant get a 100 percent match but not bad. its gonna take unknowns to make it work,!! this outta be interesting!!!!!
When he was talking to the reporter, there were some Shat mannerisms that just jumped right out at me.
Abrams is on to something with this guy.
@168 -
Clooney was a bad choice for Batman…but he’s a fantastic actor. Have you seen Solaris?
Justin Olson, A dam nice piece of photoshop. My compliments.
I can see a young Kirk there…..
#170
Yup.
The interview clip that #102 posted
I was like….. Hmmm..Interesting.
Chris mannerism is very similar Shatner.
#143 Snake “someone please tell me they nabbed a hair follicle of Shatners whilst he snoozed at the TMP premiere back in 1979 and are about to announce a 28 year old Shat-clone as Kirk”
Yeah, the trouble is….they sent an incompetent Paramount suit to do just that, but he snipped a hair from Shatner’s toupee by mistake……so now they’re tutoring some 28 year old Korean kid/clone to do his best Shatner impression!! Yikes!!
I say he’s good to go. Some one at the top of this thread said it was a huge shadow to fill. Let’s face facts…. that is true. Everyone has 40 years of a 35 year old William Shatner stuck in there minds as Kirk. No one will ever change that. Shatner is the man that IS Kirk. With that being said… Pine looks like he has the right stuff…. I would just say that it isn’t a shadow to fill but a huge girdle to fill. boo-ya… hair-piece… ahem. OK….
Also… if the guy has an agent worth his salt this is the gig of the century. You can buy the home you’ve always wanted with this role for the rest of your life… If he were to never do another significant role in his carrer he’ll always have JJ Abram’s Trek movie (s) and his portrayal as Kirk to hang his hat and the phone bill on till he’s Shatner’s age and beyond… the CON circuit anyone. It’s like winning the lottery in Hollywood to get this role…. you’re KIRK for F-’s sake. your the “Man”.
Let’s give Pine a chance, folks.
And Chuck–I did check out your post #104 in the other thread and you did indeed nail it–along with a dozen others you mentioned. Some psychic!
As for George Clooney–I’m with the man-who-killed-Batman crowd. Clooney is part of the pretty boy pack who can’t act worth a dime. Not a dime. You want an actor, call Tom Hanks. You want a robot, call Clooney.
When I saw the photo at the top of this page, I wasn’t too keen. But then saw the two images in #152, then watched his interview, and am slightly warming towards the idea of Chris being Kirk. He does have the mannerism of shatner, and good voice too. I’d give my 2 thumbs up if his eyes were darker coloured….. I don’t mean to be picky but his pupils are too small. The eyes the eyes the eyes……
#176
I wouldn’t lump Clooney in with the others. He may not have the greatest range, but he has a lot more substance and gravitas now than he used to back in his Batman and ER days. And the critics say he’s great in his newest movie.
Indeed. Clooney is quite a talent. I rate him highly as producer, director, and actor.
Pine? He’ll do.
Chris Pine is a great choice. He’s hot beyond words. Damn. This is turning into Star Trek: Hotties with Bana AND Pine. As a gay guy, I’m all for it. What, no love scenes between them just because they are good-guy/bad-guy? That will be my only dissapointment I’m hoping.
The issue of impersonation vs. actor-going-his-own-way is a no-brainer for me. This film should not be about “different takes” on these classic roles. We should be seeing the Kirk and Spock we’ve known for 40 years (OK, I’m not that old) but adjusted for the place they are in for their age in the new film… which means they will be different. Ewan McGreggor’s Obi-Wan is the best example. His diction and stature we’re all old-school Obi-Wan and made it beleiveable. Helen Murian didn’t “do her own thing” when playing the Queen, she carefully studdied this public figure’s speech patterns and manerisims so she would be in line with what people knew and expected. Kirk and Spock are just as real in people’s minds and the same care needs to go into keeping it real.
On a random note… I’m really hoping that they embrace the look of the original series and find a way to give us a 60’s inspired production design that looks real and relevant today. That is a bigger challenge, and one if pulled off could give the film a real visual look all its own.
One more note… Robert Orci, if you are reading this, I am in love with you.
180.
I was just thinking about something when you mentioned Orci: is it just me, or does anyone else think Orci looks very much like a young Desi Arnaz?
Orci looks like Orci. Period. The man. The legend.
Nah, I agree man, he does look a little bit Desi. I just have a big crush on the dude because of his cute mug AND geeky street cred. Why can’t I find a guy who looks like that and can talk about trek and transformers in uber-dork detail? This is my cross, my burden.
#35.
– regarding those who get concerned over matching Shatner…they are hiring actors not look-alikes and impersonators –
I second this point made by Anthony. James T. Kirk is A CHARACTER.
Bill Shatner is the guy who first played THAT CHARACTER.
Sadly, Bill Shatner is not of the right age to play that character in the new film, so, we’re all going to have to come to grips with the fact that some other actor, who is not an identical twin of Bill Shatner, is going to have to play the role of James T. Kirk.
If you nit-pick about such details as eye color, your main achievement will be to weed out good actors and diminish the quality of the film.
Here’s a clip of Chris Pine’s lauded performance in Smokin’ Aces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzPw2R_vM-8
Pine first appears on screen at 2:27.
I agree with those who say that he’s better than Vogel, but they’d need to see more in order to have an opinion regarding how Pine would be as Kirk.
Pine is definitely a more compelling actor than Vogel, but neither of the roles that I’ve seen him in even remotely resembles a character of authority and leadership such as James T. Kirk.
I can’t actively campaign for the guy, but at least the possibility of his getting the role doesn’t disturb me as it did with Vogel.
Pine does get points for his father being a Trek alumnus.
#183, Its not all that hard for someone to wear color contacts.
For a few extra bucks & 5 minutes you can make the performance seem much more Kirky.
William Shatner for Old Resurrected Kirk!!!!!!
Paul McGillion for Engineer Scotty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, that About.com interview has me sold.
Look at the way he holds his shoulders, the way he tilts his head, the way he squints… it’s total Shatner.
J.J., sign him up!
And you can drop the Shatner-not-being-in-the-movie bit, as fun as it’s been for Bill and Leonard to do. I know Shatner’s in the movie.
He looks pretty decent in the doctored photo. Nice work!
I watched a few clips of his interviews and stuff, and I think this guy could POSSIBLY work.
Of course, I’d feel a lot better about the whole thing if Shatner was in the movie too, passing the torch to this guy….
BTW, whats with all this talk of Shatner and Hunter being “pretty boys”??? I see them both as classic “manly-man tough guys”! lol
I’m curious about the uniforms now, will they be regualar TOS, where no man has gone before, or the cage, or something totally new??? And what about the poor doctor from WNMHGB or the first officer???
I think he’ll make a fine Kirk!
I realized why he looks so familiar. He’s a flesh and blood version of the hero from Team America: World Police
#184.
Fair enough, though color contacts do detract from the expressiveness of an actor. They work alright for Geordi and Data because those characters have uniquely non-human (mecha vs. orga, if you will) eye attributes.
But, in a close-up, on the big screen, you can definitely notice the difference. With color contacts, the pupils don’t dilate in accordance with emotion, and the contacts just don’t look quite like real eyes.
But, I was more referring to criticisms of subtle, but unalterable physical attributes, like height, for example.
Who cares if the actor who plays young Kirk is three inches taller than Bill Shatner? It’s too trifling a criticism upon which to weed out a given actor.
….and, somebody made a criticism of Pines’ eyebrows….
I mean, come on.
Who are you, Joan and Mellisa Rivers? The Metrosexual Police?
How about a little less conformism, and a little more perspective on what’s really important here?
I agree that its impossible and maybe a little anal to want the new actors to look and act EXACTLY like the originals. But I think small things like the right eye color/hair style and stuff are important.
And I’d love to see at least a FEW Shatner-type mannerisms thrown in there….I’m talking subtle stuff that helps die-hard geeks like myself actually accept others in these roles. I wanna be able to say “Yeah, thats a younger Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy, ect…”
I just gave one a try, will probably try a better one later but I have to go back to work now.
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/7318/pinekirkag4.jpg
176. admiraldeem -
You’re on crack. Clooney has long since shed his Batman and Robin baggage. Just watch “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou”, “Solaris”, “The Good German”, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”….all fantastic films, and all spectacular performances. Solaris and OH Brother sold me on Clooney as a fantastic actor back in the day.
Clooney was only responsible for Batman and Robin so far as following the crappy direction of Joel Schumacker, who wanted to make it more like the T.V. show.
What a team with Quinto and Pine. Oh, great! Put the two names together and it sounds like a new species of animal…………a quintopine!
How does a quintopine have sex?
Answer: Very carefully!
(best Elmer Fudd voice) Shhh…..be vewy, vewy quiet…….I’m hunting quintopines…heh…heh…heh…..
#158:”Dirty Dennis is Farscape worth purchasing the season sets???”
Well, the season sets are way expensive, still - you’ll wind up paying 500 bucks for the series. Having seen the entire series, I’m trying to hunt the things down on eBay for less - but if, over the long haul, paying full price is the only way for me to own them in high quality I’d say that the answer (for me) is “yes, it’s worth it.”
#160:”(And not to open a can of worms or anything, Dennis, but it just occurred to me there’s a pretty conspicuous absence in your list: what, no love for “Babylon 5″?”
No can of worms but - no, no love for B5 here.
We’ve had a lot of Trek news lately
BUT I WANT MORE!!!
I’ve been going through withdrawls since 2005!
^I’ve been going through withdrawals since Kirk’s death in GENERATIONS.
Pine has seen his publicity profile shoot way up in 24 hours - his name and picture are on MSNBC, on the L.A. Times online website (presumably the dead tree edition as well), Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.
All because of the possibility he’ll play James Kirk, he’s - well, perhaps not “famous,” let’s say “notable for the moment” - overnight.
Passing up the part for a role in the Clooney movie would be kind of awkward at this point, wouldn’t it? :lol:
# 160 Michael Hall
# 161 Lord Garth
# Dennis B
Guy’s with all due respect I don’t think (just my opinion) that “Firefly or “Farscape” are in the same league as BSG.
I can honestly say that I think Ron Moore’s BSG is one of the greatest programs (sci/fi or not) ever made. That is not just fanboy talk. I think BSG is a classic + easily the best program currently on tv.
As far as genre programs go it at least ranks with “TOS” “The Twilight Zone” “The X-Files” + “TNG” as classics of the genre. It may be better than all of them.
I wish it could find the large audience it deserves, but since it is stuck on the sci-fi network that seems unlikely.
There was some talk NBC was going to start playing it on their parent network, but that never happened except the one time showing of the mini series.
I hope in time in finds a mass audience it deserves.
As far as Chris Pine goes. Only time will tell. I don’t know much about him one way or the other.
My gut feeling tells me he would be a pretty good choice for young Kirk.
Pine seems to be a far better fit than Mike Vogel. Vogel looks like he should be in the “Back Street boys”
I’ve got a newsflash for all the people who think that the Kirk prospects all look like models:
Just about every single actor in Hollywood in his 20’s could be or is a model. Seeing as this the place to find young actors, this is what one can expect. Leading men are supposed to be handsome. What, you want Kirk to be an ugly guy?
I had not heard of this guy til this very moment, but he does have a certain something. Decent actor. I know I was rooting for Eion Bailey as a choice, but I could give this guy a chance.
I’m good with him as the choice, and wouldn’t mind seeing an all out Pine as Shatner as Kirk moment. Writers - Just watch for those “Cringe inducing” lines or situations and avoid, please.
Is it just me or does this guy have some heavy ass eyebrows. I mean, Leonardo DeCaprio could not grow a mustache like this guys eye brows.
#60 - That picture showing each of the new actors with the originals makes me realize that none of the new actors look like the originals.
“Guy’s with all due respect I don’t think (just my opinion) that “Firefly or “Farscape” are in the same league as BSG.”
No worries, Voodoo–I entirely agree. And suspect, in fact, that “Firefly” creator Joss Whedon may agree himself, given how he’s posted online extensively of his admiration for BG, as well as his envy over what an awesome accomplishment he thinks it is. While it has its flaws, and flawed episodes, taken as a whole indeed it is one of the best dramatic series in television history, not to mention one of the most honest about who we are as a society right now. But while BG brilliantly adresses the fears and travails of our time, what made TOS so special is how it expressed the hopes of its era–and watching some of these remastered shows has reminded me that while it may have since been superceded in dramatic quality, or visual effects, for its depiction of a better future Star Trek will always have a special place in my life.
To the discussion above on Farscape, Battlestar Galactica
In my opinion, not that it counts, it’s kind of like comparing apples and oranges to compare Farscape and Firefly to Battlestar Galactica.
First off, I love the new Battlestar Galactica. It’s one of the best shows on T.V. It takes risks that many other shows do not. And the writers, in my opinion are smart in that they decided that this will be the last season because their story has a beginning, middle and end. Rather than just carrying on the story for a few extra seasons–and taking a risk at watering down the story, they said nope, this is it. It’s bittersweet in that I hate to see it go; but I love that they are not overstaying their welcome, only to ruin the story. It is dark as hell as someone earlier said. And it fall’s into a sci-fi that is more like a utopian/dystopian science fiction. Brave New World, 1984, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep or movies like Blade Runner, THX 1138 fall in the same class as the new Battlestar Galactica. They all take place in the future–or in Galactica’s case–different world, but the time period is more a backdrop. There aren’t any real alien lifeforms.
Farscape is another show I love, but it’s a different type of sci-fi. It’s like a cross between Buck Rogers, the old Flash Gordon, and Star Wars. It’s more sci-fi /fantasy/mythology/adventure. Farscape has a legend in the making in the character of John Crichton. It has aliens of all kinds, which seperates this sci-fi from the above. And there are characters almost bounty hunter /gunslinger types from a Eastwood western. And for those who want to know, in my opinion again, it was good in the first two seasons, but season three was it’s best as was season four. The last two seasons you had to almost watch back to back to keep up with what was going on. The movie was good too. I would buy the whole season, if I had the cash.
Firefly is almost a cross of the two above. It’s not overly serious–or a better word may be it’s not so bleak as the utopian/dystopian sci-fi; but it doesn’t have alien life. It kind of has a legend in the making in River. And Joss Whedon said he was inspired by Han Solo when he came up with Mal Reynolds. Though, I really like Firefly and the movie Serenity it bugged me when people in the 25th century were shown using AK-47s and M-60 machine guns along with old Henry rifles.
#204 -
Unbelievable.
Maybe you should write Chris Pine and recommend your beautician to him.
#192.
Fair enough.
It would be nicer to have the new actor who plays Kirk be reminiscent of the inimitable Shat. It’d be one thing if the actors being considered looked nothing like Shatner, like if they were Black or Asian, for example.
But, Chris Pine is certainly the ballpark of Shatner’s general appearance - slender, fair-skinned male with dirty blonde hair.
That’s good enough for me.
And, it’s obvious that the makers of the film, in their casting choices, are discriminating based on physical attributes. I mean look at who they’ve cast so far: Quinto, Saldana and Yelchin all generally resemble their TOS originals.
And, so do the potential Kirks thus far….for those of us who can get past eyebrows and exact height, anyway.
Bottom line: do you want a good actor or a Shatner look-alike to play Kirk?
….I mean, look at that pic that Justin Olson photoshopped up there.
That looks pretty damned close to Shatner’s Kirk, as far as I’m concerned.
And, another thing to consider….
When the roles for TOS were being cast, the actors didn’t have to resemble anyone in particular. If the producers of TOS been as fussy about the physical attributes of Kirk as some of the people here are being, they might well have discriminated against Shatner for some reason - maybe he was too short, or they wanted someone with blue eyes, for example.
208. Cygnus-X1 - October 10, 2007
#204 -
Unbelievable.
“Maybe you should write Chris Pine and recommend your beautician to him.”
LOL. If I had a beautician, I would. And she would be hot. My beautician, that is. Look, it’s nothing personal against him. All I’m saying is from his forehead up he looks like his name is Earl.
# 140
You certainly know how to prioritize…
another thing that sorta bugs me…
pre Trek Shats was in Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and Judgment at Nuremberg chewing scenery with Burt Lancaster and Spency Tracey…
Pines appeared in Pricness Diaries 2, some god awful Lindsey Lohan pic?
Man…
Need I say more…..? ;)
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/11/30/theater/Atheist650.jpg
he’ll have to wear brown lenses…like Routh wore blue for superman…
Shatner even though he was incredibly handsome, never seemed like a pretty boy like this Pine does. Not convinced
214-
Again, this narrow view that the original actors must be cloned.
There is no written rule that Kirk must have brown eyes. Superman is a different case, as he was defined in the comics to be that way by the majority of the artists. Shatner is an actor, who happened to have brown eyes. He was cast for other attributes, not just his eyes.
If Shatner and Pine were both to appear in the movie as Kirk, it would make sense for them to have the same colored eyes…absolutely…but…
IF Shatner were to appear in the movie for whatever reason, it would make much more sense for him to wear blue lenses, considering they’re hard on the eyes and he isn’t likely to have to wear them for the next decade if the movie is a hit.
You people are ridiculous….and grasping for any excuse not to simply clone Shatner. For goodness sake.
If this isn’t a pretty boy, I don’t know what it…
http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/Shatner4.JPG
Remember, Kirk is likely going to be a bit younger than the Kirk we know from the series…more akin to the kirk of Where No Man has Gone before. Shatner was a bit softer looking in that episode too.
He’d be crazy to pick the clooney pic over Captain Kirk!
as someone here said the emphasis would be on Clooney not his sidekick..just look at the Ocean movies and Syriana - even Brad Pitt and Damon are pretty much in his shadow let alone an unknown!
and if they are offering it to him 1st over the likes of Vogel etc then this is pretty much a done deal imo…
Chris Pine is Capt Kirk.
Just Bones , Sulu and Scotty to go (although the Stargate guy is a dead cert for Scotty)
plus Pike, Garrovick, maybe Rand, chapel etc
btw - off topic but it just occured to me….
I was reading about Spielberg saying he’s getting the same guy as before to do the movie poster for Indy 4
I wonder if they’ll do the same for ST? get the guy that did the posters for the original movie posters (I-VI)?
I’d like to see a really great movie poster in the painted style of the originals..
http://images.play.com/covers/1022688x.jpg
#218 Depends if a) Clooney is actually in it or just producing it etc. and b) Films like Oceans 11/12/13 weren’t focused on just Clooney, otherwise names like Brad Pitt and Matt Damon wouldn’t have agreed to be in it.
Personally, as much as I love Trek, I think he’s better off going with the Clooney movie. I highly doubt that Trek will be tipped for an Oscar even if its worthy of it, how many Scifi’s have? Clooney is a damn good actor, reported a great bloke and I’m sure would be an absolute pleasure for a young actor to work with and beneficial for his career to see a pro like Clooney at work. And then theres always that worry of being labelled with the Kirk monica for the rest of his life. Not a prospect a young and up’n'coming actor would dismiss lightly.
I’m sure he and his agent are busy consideirng all the pros & cons. And hey, he might end up doing BOTH movies because the schedules are only overlapping (sound like they only shoot simultaneous for part of each), they may be able to work out a schedule. Productions dont necessarily shoot in sequence and I’m sure ‘young Kirk’ isn’t in EVERY scene of the movie!
He’s Robert Pine’s son? He looks nothing like Tom Selleck (obscure?)
Seems fine to me, but in that photoshop above he looks like he caught a serious whiff of Vulcan gas.
Question is - in 40 years time will people be obsessing over The Pine? will he release a concept album and be worshiped the world over like a deity?
I think the Rescue 911 Shatner said it best in the back seat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMLivHTXac
“Listen Hooker…What I’ve done will be puzzeled over and followed and studied forever….’
Sanke, no one not even the shat himself would have perdicted the success or iconicness of the character he played over 40yrs ago.
I don’t remember what Robert Pine looks like.nor do I care. The fact is that the powesr behind the movie think Chris Pine will make a good Kirk and we wont know till we see the movie.
I think Dr Beckett will make an awsome Scottie. as for Bones and Sulu, I can’t think of anyone that jumps of the page. Although Jet Li might do for Sulu ( we know he can fight and act), and he looks younger than he is, seriously though have you heard any name s that are in contention or orthers that auditioned for Kirk?
In the category of “all-time best sci-fi tv shows,” the original “Twilight Zone” beats TOS.
As far as “space shows” go, of the three I mentioned I’d rank “Farscape” as the best by quite a ways - followed by “Firefly” and then BSG. What BSG does well has little to do with genre per se.
If I were going to add a fourth in there, I guess it would be TNG.
Of all skiffy shows currently in production, my favorite by far is Russell Davies’ version of “Doctor Who.” I was never a hard-core fan of the earlier versions of the series.
I’m not getting the Kirk vibe from Chris Pine!!
So Kirk is to have beady little cross-eyes and a womanly mouth? OMG how the male gender expectations have changed! LOL
I would agree with the TZ, but disagree with Farscape and Fir eFly rank on the list. I would put TOS and BSG head of both Farscape and Firefly, and probably in that order
as for Doctor Who I like the Tom Baker incarnation the best until the current series ( here in ths states we really didn’t see much of the last few Doctors from the classic serries)
Kirky,
the question is didd you get a kirk Vibe from Shatner when he was origannly cast back in the mid 1960’s - apparently the powers for this movie did. Who gives you the best Kirk Vibe?
#212
Yep - not to mention the Shakespeare training…
#216
lol
224. Dennis Bailey how do you rate The Invaders?
Man i used to LOVE that show…gotta pick up Season 1 on dvd asap!
btw (again totally unrelated to Pine) This may be of interest to all you Twilight Zoners out there;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b8HbaS-SN0&mode=related&search=
It works suprising well!
Snake, I liked “The Invaders” but it wouldn’t make my “Top 10″ best skiffy shows ever. It was very formulaic “Quinn Martin.” Great guest stars - Michael Rennie and Gene Hackman among them.
The original “Outer Limits” is in the Top 10, though.
Outer Limits was awesome (recently watched seasons 1/2) but i really expected more of the Shatner Vulcan episode…not one of the better ones….
I like that he naturally pauses and speeds up when he speaks.
I had really hoped that the eventual casting of a ‘young Kirk’ would be someone who the MAJORITY here would be quite happy with, but if this fellah Chris Pine is it, then it seems that quite a few have a negative feeling about his look…and I’m afraid I’m one of them… I didn’t really have any pre-conceptions about this, but Chris Pine is NOT what I envisaged. ..
I think there have been several far better options suggested in the past by some contributers here, and sure hope he likes the idea of hanging out with George Clooney for a while…
Between this, the underwhelming casting of ‘likeable’ Aussie Eric Bana as ‘the villain’, talk of just familiar, ‘human-looking’ Romulan foes rather than something unknown and awe-inspiring, and the likelyhood of a massive ‘redesign’ overall due to a ‘time-travel / ‘alternative time-line’ get-out…I’m feeling uncertain about this project now…
Not only does he look a little too young (high school senior). But I can’t believe no has said what I’m about to say…..Chris Pine is more of a dead ringer for Captain Christopher Pike.
*please delete my original post*
Not only does he look a little too young (high school senior). But I can’t believe no one has said what I’m about to say…..Chris Pine is more of a dead ringer for Captain Christopher Pike. They may be looking for actors as oppose to look-a-likes and impersonators, but they should at least go for an actor that has a passing resemblance for William Shatner, since he isn’t going to be in the movie. Someone like Kevin Connelly. Personally, I’d also rather they went with an unknown on the same level of Christopher Reeve or Brandon Routh.
#222. That’s a great clip. Kirk should have been wearing a starfleet uniform while he was driving the car. That would have made it so much funnier. But great clip nonetheless.
He seems like he could be ok, I guess.
Looks crossed-eyed in that Photoshopped Kirk pic, though.
236 - was from 1996s MTV movie awards - Thus making it the Shats last appearence as Kirk (unless u count the Trek VI Direct TV commericial)
re: 219- Snake
That would be Bob Peak, an excellent illustrator. and did the movie poster for Star Trek the Motion Picture and several other Trek posters. He unfortunately passed away in 1992. Not sure if he did Indy, but the posters do look like his work. I agree that he’d be great for the next Trek film.
Regarding the pretty boy aspect, I never saw The Shat as a pretty boy. But I do recall Grace Lee Whitney at conventions decribing The Shat as gorgeous and hunky. I guess every generation will have a new view of what that is.
239 - regarding The Shats pretty boy image
On one of the interviews on the Trek IV SE dvd one of his lady costars (from The Apple) compared him with Elvis in his prime (as she worked with him on some film too) saying shats was pretty much in the same league
u cant get better than that - being compared to the ultimate pretty boy
Pine reminds me a bit of Neil McDonough - First Contact’s Lt. Hawk - who stated in interviews that his dream role in Trek would be to play Kirk’s son.
As for Shatner’s latter day portrayals of Kirk, he played the part in the video footage of the 1997 Starfleet Academy video game.
Drew Struzan did the Indy poster art.
Snake that was friggin’ priceless! Loved it!
How about Link Baker for Kirk
http://www.gateworld.net/omnipedia/characters/index.shtml
and Mars Anderson as Bones
http://www.gateworld.net/omnipedia/characters/index.shtml
how are they for unknowns but would add more stargate vetrans to the cast
He seems just fine, though I’d prefer someone with theatre experience. I think he has a terrific charisma though.
No love for B5 here either. Frankly, it’s crap. At least SG-1 is honest about being a cheesy kids show (and has likable actors), and Doctor Who has had some spectacular shows lately.
If this movie manages to have the same fire, terrific writing and character as TOS, Firefly, nuBSG, and hey, I liked Farscape too, this movie is a lock.
I wonder, can’t we have a complete list of all actors who have been rumored to be up for this role, and do a poll? Or is that a bad idea?
I really think shatner was (in my eyes anyway and I am sure my fellow female readers of this site would agree) *gorgeous* when he was young.
My first encounter with ST was ST:II, I immediately loved it, and subsequently I started watching TOS episodes. When I saw Bill shatner for the first time in his yellow shirt, it was love at first sight! (OK, I was a bit younger than I am now…) I just went “Wow!” and my eyes were glued to him. Ideally, I’d like someone who would have the same effect on me to take over the role of Kirk. He is supposed to be a womaniser afterall, isn’t he? So, eyes, hair, eyebrows, they are all very important aspects of this character, in my opinion. Not because the new actor should be an immitation of Shatner, but because he is supposed to be drop dead gorgeous! But most importantly he, of course, should be able to act. Yes, definitely….
The reason I am opposed to having someone with blue eyes is because everytime I see this guy with blue eyes, I would be reminded (unnecessarily) that this is not the original Kirk and that is a distraction when you want to be concentrating on the story. I dunno. I’ve never seen a blue eyed Kirk, maybe I’ll get used to it…we’ll have to see.
Vogel’s build seems closer to Shatner’s & Pine is a bit skinny, albeit the latter is probably the better actor. I’m not convinced, though. I still like Jenson Ackles for Kirk. How about it, Anthony. Let’s have a vote.
Mike Vogel
Chris Pine
Jenson Ackles
Ryan Renolds
Eion Bailey
Jesse Lee Soffer
Who else?
I thought Pine was great in ‘Smokin’ Aces’. He was altered beyond resemblance by some interesting makeup choices, and worked it like a pro. The actor playing Kirk (whether Pine or not) needs to be malleable to a certain degree, so as to resemble Kirk somewhat (though not impersonate him), and needs to have the acting chops to tackle some of Shatner’s distinct mannerisms (but again not to the point of impersonation). I think that Pine can deliver on both fronts, Vogel not so much.
Then again it all depends on the kind of script the actor is given, and the kind of Kirk that needs to be portrayed. For all we know, the film calls for a completely different Kirk who is slowly molded by life experience into Shatner Kirk. So maybe it’s safe to assume that Pine will bring something completely different to the table. Perhaps this would be the best way to go, as trying to impersonate Shatner would end up looking pretty comical on camera.
Guys….
The producers found their Kirk and there is nothing we can do about it…..
Lets see what he can do on screen before we judge him. K?
#213 - LOL! Perfect!
I would probaly vote for Ackeles, simply because iam more familiar with him than the others. but I think they should look at Link Baker (if the have not already)
better site for link baker
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm1022732/
#251 Link Baker?! I don’t think so!
Dennis Bailey:
“In the category of “all-time best sci-fi tv shows,” the original “Twilight Zone” beats TOS.”
In terms of the overall quality of the writing I’d have to agree, though I’d also argue that the best of TOS is just as worthy and classic as the best of TZ. Some of the second and most of the thrd season episodes obviously drag Trek’s average down considerably. But Rod Serling actually had very kind things to say about TOS before his untimely death.
As to B5, I’m a little curious as to what you find so lacking in it. While I’m not a huge fan, I did admire much of what it tried (and, IMO, sometimes succeeded) to accomplish during its run. Still, I had some substantial beefs–I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. :-)
#249 JCool No way! They should be doing some other project if it’s that damn good before going a mucking about with such endeared personas for THOSE actors THEN who made them great!
# 246
OH YEAH - this fellow female reader most certainly agrees!
And, yes, it’s Jim Hazel Kirk and not Jim Blue-Eyed Kirk…
he was an unkown but given that quinto has endorsed pine . its academic anyway.
Two (off topic) things:
1. re: The Twilight Zone. I absolutely agree with Bailey — it beats TOS hands down. Mind you, I have an abiding love for TOS, but Twilight Zone is in its own league. (And the entire-series DVD box set is down to under $170 at Amazon right now! If I had the money, I’d snap it up in a second….)
2. re: Babylon 5. I have a deep love/hate relationship with B5. Any single episode can have enough cheese and clunkily stiff line readings (and often horribly overwritten dialogue) to make me just want to run screaming. But the show is much better than the sum of its parts — it takes me about 3 or 4 episodes to get my brain used to “B5-speak” enough to let go and just watch the story. Which, on the whole, is pretty darn cool. It just takes some time to inoculate the brain against the cheese factor more than most other shows. I think it’s a great achievement as a single-creator’s-vision whole, but I’ll never love it like TZ or TOS (or Firefly).
As I put it when I mention B5 to friends: “Cheesy dialogue, wooden acting, great show.”
#79- Shinzon’s Cousin-
No. Gilbert Gottfried is playing the new Spock in New Voyages.
Hey, wonder if he’s in any way related to Phil Pine? (Col. Green- The Savage Curtain?)
I just realized who Robert Pine is, one of the cops in Chips.
112 - Nelson, one of the reasons for possibly pre-quelling TOS is that they say they are going to keep continuity. One of the time periods where there is more or