Yelchin, Cho & Bana Video Interviews [UPDATED: 2 new videos]

A couple new video interviews with Star Trek actors have popped up. Yelchin spoke to Leonard Maltin on Reelz Channel about getting the role, views on Chekov, meeting Walter Koenig and more. As part of the press junket for the upcoming Harold and Kumar sequel John Cho talked about meeting Takei and the differences between the Harold/Kumar and Trek franchises.

None of the below interviews have anything Earth shattering about Trek, but offer a chance to get to know the new Trek stars a little better.

Yelchin talks to Malkin

Cho on IESB


(click to open new window)

UPDATE: Cho at Wondercon last weekend

Note: the bit about an Australian accent was a joke

Bana on Leno
Yesterday we reported about Eric Bana showing up on the Leno show, now here is the video in 2 parts. He only mentions Trek briefly.

UPDATE: Eric Bana appeared Wednesday on the CBS Late Late Show. However the new Trek baddie didn’t say anything beyond that he shaved his head for the new role. But here it is anyway.

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I really like Yelchin; he seems like he’s going to be a great Chekov.

Perhaps, but I’m All about the Zoe!! Woo Hoo!!

The fact that I don’t have any sound on my computer at work really irks me right now.

Bana is a lot funnier than I anticipated. Excellent interviews.

Glad to see Leonard Maltin is still in good health.

Yelchin is so CUTE!

Thanks for compiling these interviews! It’s good to hear from actors other than Quinto. *LOL*

Wow, I didn’t realize how young Chekov is gonna be. But Anton looks very promising.

#4

Eric Bana’s funny as he started his career in Australia as a stand-up comedian.

If you want to see how amazing an actor he is check him out in the brilliant movie “Chopper”.

I guarantee it will be one of the best performances you’ll have ever seen (and that was his first starring role).

I can’t wait for Harold & Kumar 2.

re: Yelchin

Check out Hearts in Atlantis

Once more I say I will like to hear from other TREK stars. Pine, Zoe, Quinto and especially NImoy. Greenwood has received a lot of praise, I would like to hear his input on a role that did not receive too much airtime. He is playing a healthy Pike. What is he thinking about the role since we last saw him 40 years ago?? His take on Jeffrey Hunter, etc.

Does anyone know whether #1 (Pike’s 1st officer) was cast yet?? I am not sure.

I just hope the guy who plays Kumar gets a cameo. Perhaps sticking his head out of a smoke-filled Jefferies Tube in the background hiding from Kirk and looking for the nearest replicator.

With all these characters and time jumps, 3 Kirks (baby Kirk, boy Kirk, and adult Kirk), 3 Spocks (same), add Pike and whomever, and then the academy days, etc, etc, etc. You all better be prepared for limited character development for the bridge crew. After all, it’s only a two hour movie. If you all thought they were just window dressing in STTMP, well look out! I can already hear J.J. a week after the film’s release, “now that we have the Star Trek franchise reestablished, I promise you they will all have a more involved role in the sequel.”

because there alot of actors playing the same character doesnt mean they all get the same screentime. there where 4/5 spocks in STIII they didnt get more then 10 minutes.

arrrr… once again I hark back to The Muppet Movie… maybe cuz I slandered Leonard maltin in a prior post regarding the film…
(sorry… all in fun… please sir give a bonny review to me upcoming film “British Naval Dude Gets Sick at White Castle”)

arrr… the archetype of the Muppet movie- a ropad trip to introduce and meet characters… sort of like Trek XI where the road trip is a time trip…

most importantly… just how popular can a franchise be with pint-sized patties? No Wimpy’s fer sure… that comment be directed at both the burger joint and STXI…

… no… I am no kiddie basher… maybe I’m gettin’ old and mistrustful of the young… epsecially baby Kirk and baby Spock… any infant that can kneckpinch ya to sleep while his little Cap’n pal flykicks your downed body…. well…

arrrr

#8

I saw the interview with Aaron Yelchin on Reelz Channel and I think he will make a great Chekov. Yes, he looks very young but since this is a “prequel”, Chekov is probably fresh out of Starfleet Academy.

#4 and #9

I saw Eric Bana on the Craig Feugerson show last night. He looks good bald. I think he will make an interesting villian. He is also very funny. I am planning to see him in the movie “The Other Boylen Girl” this weekend.

#12

Both interview were great . I would really like to see interviews with the other stars too. I would like see interviews with Simon Pegg, John Cho, and Zoe Saldana. I would like to know their takes on doing these iconic characters.

re: 18

Craig Ferguson would make a good villian? Wow. That is some casting news I had not heard!

By the way, did someone say this movie has been delayed?

#13—I’m not so sure she needs to be. We may only see Chris Pike at the change of command ceremony, perhaps having a conversation with his successor at the after party!

Yelchin was amazing as Charlie Bartlett. Very funny and talented young guy.

And I’ll say again – see Chopper for a great Bana performance (agreeing with #9).

#19
Scottish villains?… Shamus McNero… gunna kilt cap’n Kirk…

Bana is an Aussie, correct?… I think he really will be bonny to take on the “ab”original characters… throw another ship on the barbie…

arrrr

Eric Bana was also on Craig Ferguson last night. When the shaved head came up, he just stated that “It’s a uhhhh for a role” and that was it. Why is he being soooo secretive about it, we know he’s in the movie and we know he’s a Romulan and the villian?

#20 that is also a possibility! just how much of Pike we see in retrospect is still up in the air. This story is not about his missions up until we meet him at Talos IV. So who knows?? JJ does. My personal opinion on the uniforms. I would like to see “The Cage” uniforms. In addition, Fleet Capt. Pike passing the torch to New Capt. Kirk with a bit of advice would be a pleasure to see.

Part of me, still thinks we are going to be introduce to Pine’s Kirk while he is climbing a mountain or failing the Kobayashi Maru, then doing his reprogramming magic!! Or suppose we see him and Carol Marcus, part ways weith Kirk being so career minded. Food for thouight.

excuse the typos!! at #25.

I think I like Bana better with hair. He has a wierd-shaped head and jug handled ears. IMO.

“2. The Last Maquis – February 28, 2008
Perhaps, but I’m All about the Zoe!! Woo Hoo!!”

Oh, for sure! I can’t wait until they start interviewing her. She’s fly.

Hey… I’m confused… Where does Bana talk about Star Trek in those interviews? I’m not finding it…

When Bana’s bald, he really does look like he can pull off a Romulan bad guy. Anton is begining to look more and more like Checkov, and Cho as always looks like sulu. Great stuff.

#25—“My personal opinion on the uniforms. I would like to see “The Cage” uniforms. In addition, Fleet Capt. Pike passing the torch to New Capt. Kirk with a bit of advice would be a pleasure to see.”

With regard to the uniforms, it all depends on what era is depicted. I actually feel that they have some room to play with on this. In TOS, “The Menagerie”, Spock describes the events on the viewing screen as having taken place, what? 11 years ago (haven’t seen that episode in a while)? At what point do the uniforms go from what we saw then, to what we saw in WNMHGB? Seems to me, that JJ can do whatever he wants in between, as long as it is not a complete departure from what looks like a Starfleet uniform, and whatever he decides will be legitimately within his discretion.
As for a bit of advice from Pike to a young Captain James T. Kirk, that sounds good to me.

Yelchin continues to be a delight. Casting as a whole continues to be the island of happy certainty untouched by the temptest of the other question-marks, or mangled metaphors to that effect :)

I’m Back lol!
Bana is certainly not giving anything away! Dunno how much longer I can wait for this!!!

One of these interview tidbits is not correct. care ta guess which one be that? Maybe all?

Yelchin on still using fake accent: “because in Soviet Russia, role play you.”

Cho with fuzzy glove on: “because he’s my only friend and I think he’s a plant.”

Bana bald: “because the RAZR-style communicators we use really are just that.”

Avery Brooks in a Vader-type suit: “becuase Sisko fell in the damn lava.”

Toddler Spock sick on set: “because I ate my ears.”

arrrrr….

#33—I’ll take Sisko’s wardrobe for one hundred, please…No Jeopardy?

Well, then may I use a lifeline? This isn’t Who Wants To Be A Millionaire either? May I buy a vowel?

I’m confused….No, wait. ALL OF THE ABOVE!

Checov always been a character forgotten on Star Trek.

#35
YES!!!! At least he got all the good lines in The Undiscovered Country!!

Yelchin is adorable. Walter Koenig for me is forever the only real Chekov though.

Eric Bana looks weird with his hair gone.

#19 Craig Ferguson plays a villain in A Series Of Unfortunate Events, as the henchperson of indeterminate gender. On the DVD extras he has a lot of great throwaway scenes with Jim Carrey.

Bald Eric Bana=Tom Hardy? ; )

I guess many bad Romulan’s are bald.

Heck yeah Craig Ferguson would be great. Mr. Wick in space!

#39, Shinzon wasn’t a Romulan. He was a human clone of Picard.

re post 41. You are correct regarding Shinzon as human. I was making a very little joke, sir.

But how I see it, seems they might be making a little reference to past Treks and since Shinzon was siding with the Remans in his plot against the Romulans and then Earth.