Last week TrekMovie.com revealed that Spock’s parents will be appearing in the new Star Trek movie. And now Variety is reporting that Winona Ryder has landed the part of Spock’s human mother Amanda Grayson, a role originally played by the late Jane Wyatt. The Oscar-nominated veteran of dozens of films may be the best known member of the Star Trek cast so far. At 36, Ryder is only six years older than Zachary Quinto who plays Spock. It is possible that Ryder (and perhaps the actor playing Spock’s father Sarek) will be seen in some sort of flashback to Spock’s childhood or adolescence.
Ryder made her film debut in the 1986 comedy Lucas. Although she gained recognition for her role in Tim Burton’s Beetle Juice, her breakthrough came with her starring role in the 1988 black comedy Heathers, opposite Christian Slater (who appeared as a comm officer in Star Trek VI). She went on to receive Academy Award nominations for her roles in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence and the 1994 adaptation of Little Women. She has also starred in such movies as Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, Francis Ford Coppola’s rendition of Dracula, Ben Stiller’s Reality Bites, and many other major motion pictures. Star Trek will not be Ryder’s first foray into science fiction. Besides the aforementioned Tim Burton films (which have a bit of sci-fi in them), Ryder also starred in Alien: Resurrection,along with Ron Perlman (ST:NEM: Reman Viceroy). More recently, Ryder starred with Keanu Reeves in Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly.
The character of Spock’s mother Amanda first appeared in the Original Series episode “Journey to Babel.” Amanda later appeared (voiced by Majel Barrett) in the Animated Series episode “Yesteryear” which is the only TAS episode to be considered canon. That episode deals with an adult Spock going back in time to assist his childhood self. Wyatt reprised the role in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, where she helped the newly resurrected Spock get in touch with his human side. The last appearance was a brief flashback showing the birth of Spock in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (played by Cynthia Blaise). More on Amanda Grayson at Memory Alpha.
Wyatt and Ryder…the original and new Amanda Graysons
Like I said, we now have someone on the inside who can sneek us some behind the scenes goodies.
In terms of looks, I can see it. However, in terms of acting ability I can’t. But, they’ve been spot-on so far. Lets see
Oh God give me a break. They may as well have hired a wooden plank to play her.
sorry for short article…submitted via iPhone. Will update in a couple of hours
I like Winona Ryder, but she’s only 36!! How old is the young Spock supposed to be in this movie anyway??
Hey, with Ryder on the set, they better make sure none of the props go missing and end up for sale on ebay!!
milf!
WOW. Now THAT’S cool. Hopefully they’ll use her ONLY in flashbacks to when Spock was just a wee lad (a la “Yesteryear”), since aging her to look more like Jane Wyatt in “Journey to Babel” is asking for trouble.
I’ve always liked Winona Ryder, even when she tosses a wonky accent at us from time-to-time (see BRAM STROKER’S DRACULA).
Knowing Abrams’ penchant for using flashbacks, I’m really hoping we get some GREAT insight into the (much) younger days of Kirk and Spock, even if they’re only tantalizing glimpses spread throughout the new film.
The news is coming fast and furious, and is it too early to state that this is shaping up to be the GREATEST CAST OF ACTORS EVER ASSEMBLED FOR A “STAR TREK” FILM??? Only time will tell… CAN’T WAIT FOR ’08!!!
Info rolling in now!
That’s what I was getting at, Harry. You said it better.
WEDNESDAY ADDAMS???!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
She’s, what, 17?
WEDNESDAY ADDAMS???!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
She’s, what, 17?
Wait, Wednesday was Christina Ricci. Winona was BeetleJuice’s Friend.
Nevermind.
(Still think she’s only 17 or 18, though. )
Sorry about the double post. Last half was accidentally cut off somehow and I didn’t catch it until it appeared..
#10
17?
Try 36.
Hey, I just read that Jennifer Morrison (from House) is in the Trek movie! Maybe that’s why she died her hair blonde for this season of House……she’s playing Rand!!!
Not a bad choice……I like her as an actress!
Ms Lydia Deets is is a Vulcan! Didn’t see this one coming!
Name your source, Harry. You scoopster, you.
Links!!!
Name your source, Harry. You scoopster, you.
Links!!
A bunch of you were asking for “names” in the cast. Be careful what you wish for. :)
This is the death of Star Trek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m boycotting this film!!!
Just kidding.
I’m not sure about her being Amanda Grayson, if the report is true, but if she’s shown in a flashback, there’s a decent chance Winona will do a good job.
now this choice I can agree with:)
I read about Morrison on Aintitcool.com, which I know is about as reliable a source as asking Britney Spears for fashion tips, but hey….it’s an interesting rumour!!
I’m sure with Winona Ryder’s acting ability, she’ll “steal” every scene she’s in!!
Okay I wasn’t going to say anything until someone else mentioned it but in one of those pics I totally think it’s Jennifer Morrison from House…it totally looks like her hold on, I’ll link:
http://www.jfxonline.com/jfxonline/2007/11/08/on-set-im-an-extra-jim-not-a-cult-member/jj-abrams-star-trek-begins-production-5/
#22 – It could be worse: JJ could replace her with Sofia Coppola at the last minute. I swear, Sofia’s performance in [i]The Godfather Part III[/i] made Lois Chiles’ Dr. Goodhead in [i]Moonraker[/i] seem perky and animated by comparison. :)
Actually, I do agree with others that Ms. Rider could very well pull it off in flashback scenes (I do think she’s underrated as an actress), but I’m not convinced that making her up to be closer to Jane Wyatt’s “Amok Time” age will work. But, like everything else, We Shall See(tm).
(Oops, got the formatting wrong. My bad!)
Wow, that one came outta left field
#21 – The webiste that has all the spy photos has one of a girl that looks alot like Jennifer Morrison.
23 – nevermind, I need to read other post before I post. stupid me
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hide the valuables!
So, have they signed Joaquin yet as Sarek??
Yeah, I’m with the other poster: MILF! :)
Didn’t see this one coming…
Not impressed with this casting decision on first impressions, but will reserve judgement for what may just be a minor role overall.
Wow, this is one interesting cast Abrams has come up with!
You can DEFINITELY sense him trying to appeal to a younger crowd with this movie. I think he realized most people weren’t getting drawn in by stuffy older dudes like Warner, McDowell, and Abraham. If you want to revitilize Trek and bring in a larger audience, you need some cooler and hipper actors like Bana, Cho, and Pegg.
It’s not about them being “big” names– just cool, familiar faces that people enjoy seeing on screen, and wouldn’t expect to see in a Star Trek movie.
Frankly I think it’s a BRILLIANT idea. People are really going to take notice of this movie next year.
For some reason I find this casting very exciting, I don’t why but I do. I really excited to see who they cast has Sarek. To be that is a role almost has hard to cast has the main cast. I know for me I will always think of Mark Lenard has Sarek. His voice was a major reason for it. When he spoke you listened to what he was saying. I would love to see Hugo Weaving play him.
It is Jennifer Morrison. Possibly Rand??? But, it is her.
Morrison as Rand would be grand
There’s no better choice in the land
With her you get class
And a nice piece of ___
With her you can strike up the band!
Nice one Harry!:)
Wow this is totally cool!
Dang!
I was so hoping that there wouldn’t be any stick figures with balloon boobs in this movie. Great. Now we’ve got to deal with Wynona Rider at conventions for the next 40 years. She looks like a moth.
And is that that anorexic bobble head from House? All those anorexic bobble heads look alike to me. Say it aint so.
J.J., please. Remember “Lost” and “Alias”? Find us another Evangeline Lilly or Jen Garner. You’re really good at that.
38
lol, I think you need your eyes checked. Morrison is thin and fit, yeah, but she’s not one of those bony freaks you’re thinking of.
And Lilly is probably the exact same size as her!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I love Winona and never would have thought of her in this role though, but I am very happy about this.
She’s pretty young to play Amanda. Seemingly way too young.
She’s too young to play adult Spock’s mom, so I’m guessing there will be a flashback to Spock’s childhood, “Yesteryear” era.
42
Chances are, because this is “Spock’s story,” Abrams needed a younger actress for flashback scenes of Spock as a boy or teenager. Then he can simply age her for the later flashbacks.
Winona is 36 now, so with the right makeup she could probably be made to look much older.
Oops, looks like Max beat me to it. :)
This is the first casting decision that has made me say “What The Frell?”
While I am a fan of Ms. Ryder, I can not imagine what would attract Sarek to her. Was he stuck in room with her during Pon Far, with no other options?
She’ll have to have more range as an actor than I have ever seen her display before to pull this one off.
Wow, wait ’til it’s announced that Bronson Pinchot is playing Sarek.
Whoops…
#46 SolFlyer — remember what Sarek said about marrying her: “At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do.” ;)
His Mother could be 108 years old and still look 36 (Vulcans live about 200 years right?)
Sorry if someone else already mentioned this – dont have time to read through all the posts. Work and all
#49 , his mother is human , ( but humans in the future do live longer , and look younger )
@49: correct!
i think that’s even more a mistake in the old movies, Spock’s parents look almost to old in there, I think.