UGO is reporting that actor/writer/director Tyler Perry will appear in JJ Abrams new Star Trek film and TrekMovie.com can confirm this report. According to the UGO report Perry will be portraying the head of Starfleet Academy and he has already shot his scenes. Perry is probably best known for his series of ‘Madea’ films starting with the 2005 hit Diary of a Mad Black Woman.
Monday 12/31 UPDATE: AICN have posted a new related rumor + small update from UGO
More below…includes big spoilers.
According to the UGO report Perry’s big scene is overseeing an assembly at Starfleet Academy where Kirk (Chris Pine) is facing expulsion for cheating on the Kobayashi Maru. Apparently Pine delivers a stirring Kirk-esque speech and then discovers that the person who ratted him out was none other than Spock himself (Zachary Quinto). More at UGO
TrekMovie.com can confirm + more details
Back in September TrekMovie.com first reported that Kirk’s famed solution to the Kobayashi Maru ‘no win-scenario simulation’ would be seen in the new Star Trek. Just this week TrekMovie was tipped off about a role for Perry as well as the post-Kobayashi Academy scene. But UGO beat us to the punch while we awaited confirmation and more details (which is now moot). The only things to add are that this scene was probably shot in the Long Beach City Council chamber and that there is also some kind of student protest over Kirk not being expelled and actually being ‘promoted.’ The protest might be part of the same scene described at UGO or a different scene shot in the LB Council Chamber (standing in for a hall at Starfleet Academy). In Star Trek II Kirk noted that after being caught for cheating he got a commendation for original thinking. It is possible the source was talking about a commendation instead of a promotion, or maybe Kirk was also promoted.
UGO UPDATE:
UGO have run another story noting this TrekMovie.com story and our adding the Long Beach City Council to the mix. They now note:
Based on what my source told me (and for reasons that will become obvious in my next Star Trek scoop which I’ll post later today) I think that this scene happens further ahead in the screen story than the moments I spoke about yesterday. In any case, it looks like this location will be seen at least twice in the movie.
Unfortunately in a subsequent report UGO stated they have decided to not post the new ‘scoop’ in order to protect their source.
UPDATE: How Kirk Cheats?
Aint it Cool has a new rumor regarding how Kirk beats the Kobayashi Maru. Their ‘untested source’ claims Kirk “persuades a chick he is banging to alter the simulator so that it is winnable.” AICN also note that it could be total BS so take with a big grain of salt.
Kirk talks about Kobayashi Maru in Star Trek II
About Perry
This will be the first time Perry will appear in a film project that he did not write or direct. TrekMovie.com has also learned that Perry is a bit of a Trek fan and that this may have been how he got involved. It is also worth noting that, although it may not be the reason Perry was cast, having such a high profile African-American celebrity may help the film have broader appeal (let’s face it…Star Trek doesn’t exactly have the most diverse cast).
Tyler Perry is a popular, highly-successful playwright, actor and director known for his comic morality plays. His most memorable character is that of Mabel “Madea” Simmons. Ticket and DVD sales for his plays have grossed over $75 million. Film adaptations have also turned out to be hits grossing over $200 million combined in domestic box office. In addition the 38-year old native of New Orleans stars in his own hit television series called House of Payne, currently airing on TBS (it is worth noting that Perry has written and directed every episode).
Perry has won two BET Comedy Awards, a Black Movie Award and has been nominated for two MTV Movie Awards and two Image Awards. He also wrote a best-selling novel called Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life, which was voted the Book of the Year and Best Humor Book at the 2006 Quill Awards.
Tyler Perry as Mable “Madea” Simmons in “Madea’s Family Reunion”
Tyler Perry at the 2006 Black Movie Awards
(note: this YouTube clip has been viewed over 1.3 million times)
More on Perry: IMDB | Wikipedia | Official Site
First?
Awesome plot details
Interesting!
Happy HOLIDAYS!!
Finally some details of the plot. Only a tiny bit, but hey, with all the secrecy I’m surprised they even let that much out.
“stirring Kirk-like speech”
fasinating…
like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iyWUQ9yhrQ
Fascinating.
oops forgot my question mark…
Oh man, that is out of left field. But I am a fan of Tyler Perry’s movies and I swear Madea is pretty much a clone of one of closest friend’s mom.
I think it’s a good thing. Great way to bring in some new and unexpected talent, even if it is for a small scene. Trek fans are everywhere.
Now I’m hoping that when the DVD is released that there’s blooper of TP going into full Madea mode while filming!
Madea & Spock. Oh My!
Interesting news indeed.
No “commendation for original thinking?”
It’s always good when someone with a pre-existing fan base joins the cast.
according to some of the star trek novels …Kirk was awarded for original thinking.
but the books r non-canon…
He said it in Star Trek II.
#11
Oh yea!! dang memory…
Hahaa! Thats what I get when I stay awake 24 hours straight.
Thnks!
Too bad original series actors Percy Rodriguez (Court Martial) and William Marshall (The Ultimate Computer) aren’t around to reprise their roles from original series Trek. They represented the African community well in TOSand could have taught at the Academy when Kirk (and Spock?) was there. The multitronic units might not have been entirely successful because Kirk cheated on the Kobayoshi Maru test and drove Dr. Daystrom bonkers. Now there’s a nice plot thread.
^
Although I like the idea your propose for nostalgic reasons, I think this casting is quite clever. I wonder how much of his fan base would be willing to take a peek over at the new Star Trek because of his involvement.
But, touching on Anthony’s mention of lack of diversity on this movie, where are the Latinos?
Although I’m guessing Zoe Saldana has some latina in her, I wanna see some representation! ;-)
UGO.com’s full story mentions that there’s more to the scene that they will reveal tomorrow. I’m guessing, by the end, Kirk will get his commendation.
I think it’s great that Kirk is “on trial” and has to talk his way out of this situation. That’s always been his greatest strength as a character, to out-reason his opponent, be it Nomad, Landru, Trelane, etc.
Tyler Perry is pretty good, but I am not a huge fan of his “House of Payne” project.
This is completely out of left field!
Thanks!
#14
True. The only latin characters that didn’t die half an hour after being introduced in the whole saga where Chakotay and Belana, but they where only latin actors. None of them played a latin person.
Yet, although you are true, I would eventually like to see an actual European Spanish character at least once.
You southamerican latins are so introduced in Northamerican subconscious that it is as if we European Spanish people didn’t exist.
Saldana parents were from the Dominican Republic so she is kind of both African American and Latina…she speaks fluent Spanish.
Didn’t he audition for the Uhura part?
I just hope that it is really a commendation and not a promotion during his academy time as stupidly proposed by the chronology.
Oh man. Too much information.
#21 yes, I’m with you. I wish I had more selk control.
…. must…. avoid…. all….. spoiler flagged….. stories!
*self control! I lost my selk control years ago.
UGO says Spock is the one who catches him cheating and tells all.
so, is the guy that becomes head of starfleet command in star trek 3?
if so, he’d be good as that character.
ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!
Kirk and Spock weren’t at the ACADEMY at the same time!!!!
This is simple stuff folks! Roberto…Alex…go back and watch The Menagerie!
Damn. This kind of blatant screwing around with the timeline is the kind of stuff that really wrankles my feathers!!!! I loathe it when writers try to say Kirk, Spock and McCoy were all pals at the Academy.
That’s one of the things I could not stand about Harve Bennett’s Starfleet Academy proposal…
Spock would have been serving with Captain Pike while Kirk was in the Academy. Roberto, Alex…this isn’t some trivial little obscure detail that can be changed at creative whim.
#26, 27 — Kirk attended the Academy from 2250 through 2254. Spock attended from 2249 through 2253. They were at the Academy at the same time for three years.
Spock was first seen serving under Pike in 2254 (“The Cage”). Kirk graduated that same year.
I think Eddie Murphy is funny (or was funny) but I didn’t want to see him in Trek 4. Although Eddie, who also is a huge TOS fan, was supposedly to be put in the movie for laughs and name recgnition, it looks like Perry will be playing it straight. As long as he delivers the goods and isn’t wearing a fat suit, I’m good.
To add on to previous post, Spock joined Starfleet 18 years prior to “The Enterprise Incident,” which takes place in 2268. So, Spock actually joined in 2250, same time as Kirk. That means Spock would have graduated in time for the events of “The Cage”. Since Spock served with Pike for eleven years, that would have to mean that Spock first served aboard Enterprise when he was still at the Academy.
If someone ratted me out ..I would be furious!!
I wonder how Kirk felt…
and if they hated eahother during their academy years after that
incident
??
Saying Spock was in the Academy at the same time he served *might* make this work. However, when it’s said Spock served with Pike 11 years — and knowing what we know about the Vulcan life-span — it certainly makes it seem unlikely Kirk and Spock were in the Academy together.
Just sayin…
Off topic: Are we gonna see any goodies from Day of the Dove remastered this week? :-)
#32 — Eh? What does the Vulcan life span have to do with it? I’m confuzzled… o_O
Older…would have started earlier…
Ack…nevermind…it’s early here. I’m not making sense to myself now…lol
#36 — lol! I was about to say, it’s already been specified when he entered Starfleet. I feel you, though… it’s almost 9am here and I haven’t gone to bed yet. ;)
Thanks for the news. Could you also include the link of the youtube videos that you post? Alot of mobile phones can’t see them, so having the link in addition would make you site alot more mobile user friendly. I usually access this site with a windows mobile phone & I’m posting this with an iPhone. Neither show videos on any page. Thanks for listening
Tyler Perry is very respectable. Glad he’s in the movie.
beautiful… and kirk does the same on the farragut, if i remember correctly. he reported a friend because of a mistake this guy made (he left something open or so)…
How do you know Spock wasn’t AT the academy?
“Chris Pine delivers a stirring Kirk-like speech”
Ah-HAAAA!
“Kirk-like” because he’s NOT Kirk….fake.
Fake, fake, fake.
:)
Cool! I’d love to see Tyler Perry in the movie!
He is now.
#27:”Spock would have been serving with Captain Pike while Kirk was in the Academy. Roberto, Alex…this isn’t some trivial little obscure detail that can be changed at creative whim.”
Another of these “fanon” claims that isn’t actually in the onscreen continuity. The years work out, based on internal evidence from TOS, for Kirk and Spock to have had overlapping terms at the Academy. It’s not even a challenge to do the figuring.
Why do they have to put Kirk on trial? If Tyler Perry’s in the movie, all they’ve got to do is send in Madea to put the boy back in line :)
Just kidding. Great news! We love Tyler Perry here.
God, that Kirk clip makes me want to watch STAR TREK II again RIGHT NOW.
Spock easily could be at the Academy at the same time as Kirk, and then go on to Enterprise to serve for 11 years. Also, we are simply assuming one must graduate before taking an assignment… this could be part of the whole graduation process for some advanced students. I don’t recall it ever being mentioned that Spock ever served on board another ship. Also, Spock could be an upper classman. And, for the matter, according to the dates given in the show, Kirk would have served on board the Farragut before graduating, too.
However, McCoy should NOT be at the Academy!!! it wasn’t that he was there at a different time… he was NEVER there!! He got his degree elsewhere!
Sigh… it’s amazing how this film has me on edge… I’m terrified of what’s to come, and yet I desperately must know! They are going to change whatever they want, and there’s not a thing we can do about it other than fanboy whining. Well, the Batman franchise has me used to doing that. Sigh again…
Hey, Mr. Snuffleupacus –
If you’re going to quote “The Menagerie” to validate your misgivings about Kirk and Spock being in the Academy together, then surely you noticed that they originally “goofed” themselves when they had Commodore Mendez state that Kirk and Pike were roughly the same age?
There are a bunch of little instances like this throughout TREK… none of it was set in stone to begin with.
I don’t know about you all but I personally think we could do with far less antagonism over minute details, to say nothing of the constant whining about the whole recasting thing itself. Far as I can tell, this site, and its owner, are enthusiastic proponents of Star Trek 2008. If your purpose for being here is to continually deride and slam the effort, then I suggest you need shore leave on a planet with giant rabbits.
JJ is hoping to tell a great story and I for one think this whole KM scenario sounds cool. If they have to fudge a bit to make it work, the sun will still make its appearance tomorrow. Debating opposing points of view is fine but can we lose some of the venom please?
Anyone ever consider that Socok might not have been a student at this time, but an instructor? Maybe the officer in charge of Kirk when he cheated at the KMS?
I meant SPOCK!