JJ Abrams (with Super 8) isn’t the only Star Trek honcho who has teamed up with Steven Spielberg for sci-fi adventure this summer. Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof are the scribes behind the sci-fi western Cowboys & Aliens, coming at the end of July. Watch a new behind the scenes featurette (including Bob and Alex) below. [UPDATE: New trailer added]
UPDATE: New trailer
Universal has just released their third theatrical trailer for Cowboys & Aliens.
Original Article
"Look Inside" Cowboys and Aliens
Cowboys and Aliens is comic book adaptation of a classic western mashup up with an alien invasion movie, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. The film is directed by Jon Favreau. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are producers on the film along with Ron Howard and others. Steven Spielberg is one of the executive producers. Bob and Alex also wrote the script with their Star Trek cohort Damon Lindelof and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby. Universal has just released this "look inside" Cowboys and Aliens, which features the creative team (including Bob and Alex).
Synopsis
Blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau directs Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in an event film for summer 2011 that crosses the classic Western with the alien-invasion movie in a blazingly original way: Cowboys & Aliens. Joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers—Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci—he brings an all-new action thriller that will take audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world.
1875. New Mexico Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.
But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.
Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.
The screenplay for Cowboys & Aliens is by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, from a screen story by Fergus & Ostby and Steve Oedekerk. It is based on Platinum Studios’ “Cowboys & Aliens” by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Grazer, Howard, Kurtzman, Orci and Rosenberg produce. Spielberg, Favreau, Denis L. Stewart, Bobby Cohen, Randy Greenberg and Ryan Kavanaugh executive produce.
They also released a new poster today.
Cowboys and Aliens comes out July 29th. More info at the official site: www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com.
Looking Forward!
very nice!
EPIC!
poster looks like New Vegas :P looks like a really good film, even though I swore never to see anything with spielberg’s name attached again haha will have to make an exeption
They had me at Olivia Wilde.
Cute – but it has nothing to do with ST.
Why is this site constantly marketing other projects?
I am really jazzed that Hybrid Soundsystem is doing some of the sound design and music for this movie.
#6
It’s quite clearly Trek-related. Not too hard to figure out why they’d cover it.
This should be fun. Looking forward to it!
Ok… I’m ready for the “sharp tooth alien might” … looks great!
:-) :-)
#6, you missed the part where the writers from Star Trek were involved with it. This site doesn’t just cover Trek but projects that those involved with Trek are involved with.
This movie looks like it could be a classic, just like “Super 8” is! And……oh boy!………am I ever being driven “Wilde” by Olivia!
11. Browncoat1984 – June 21, 2011
#6, you missed the part where the writers from Star Trek were involved with it.
Duh, I see that, but the projects they are working on are neither Star Trek nor Trek related.
They have no place on a ST news site.
13.
….
“Duh, I see that, but the projects they are working on are neither Star Trek nor Trek related.
They have no place on a ST news site.”
On the other hand, you Iva, have ABSOLUTELY nada to do with Trek or this site. In fact, since you aren’t even a fan of “Star Trek”, there is no place for you here.
Wow. So the movie is about different groups of people coming together to fight the monsters? Sounds like a Ron Paul campaign.
Iva
I am curious. Are you opposed to all of our celebrity coverage? Including what Shatner, Nimoy, etc, are up to these days? Or just coverage of what people behind the 2009 Star Trek movie are up to?
Oh btw, there is this amazing new feature of the website you may want to try. It’s called the ScrollMaster 2000(TM). The way it works is when you see an article you aren’t interested in you scroll past it to the next one.
The flick looks interesting, though anything with five or six writers attached has me thinking “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Hopefully, Favreau was able to REIN in all of them! [rimshot]
Love westerns. Love sci-fi. Love the previews.
This is right up my alley, can’t wait!
@ 16. Anthony Pascale – June 21, 2011 I am curious. Are you opposed to all of our celebrity coverage? Including what Shatner, Nimoy, etc, us up to these days?”
I am opposed to any coverage that has nothing to do with Trek,
if it is on a Trek site.
And yes – that includes random Shatner songs, Nimoy sighting, Quinto half-naked on a cover of something etc. Not just people behind 2009.
Any news related to anybody behind any of Trek is welcome as long as it actually says something about Trek.
well Iva, that’s how we have always done it and we will continue to cover celeb news. You can choose to stay or go but it will not change. sorry
:) way to go Anthony, and Iva there is not enough Trek News, to fill the pages every day, so this is a good way of showing our support of those who are writing the Star Trek Squeal.
21.
….
“…..so this is a good way of showing our support of those who are writing the Star Trek Squeal.”
I had no idea that pigs were brought in to help write the script! :-D
McCoy vs. Keenser. Dueling banjo scene.
BAM!
@19. Iva, do you like anything at all about Trek these days? Not trying to be critical, but I can’t recall ever seeing your write anything about anything you liked or were in favor of?
@17. Vultan, I have similar worries. I have yet to see a trailer for this that really grabs me, but I will be there to see it opening day. I am worried about Harrsion Ford being able to do a good antihero as well.
#25
Oh, I think Harrison Ford can do an antihero. Han Solo in the cantina—say no more!
I hope it’s better than it looks in the trailers. I’m not saying that to be a dick. It’s (the one out now) one of those trailers where it seems like I’ve watched the entire movie. Again, hope I’m wrong.
Wait, when was Quinto half naked on a magazine cover?
Kuzman and Orci are part of the new Producers of new Trek :)
they are writing the scrip to Star Trek 2012
Btw, I like the variety on here — I don’t click on every story (although it feels like I comment, repeatedly, on every story) but most of them. You’ve done a good job of producing a great mostly-Trek-themed entertainment website. My only beef is banning well-mannered political debate when a politically-charged subject appears (a lot of George Takei’s stuff)… but it’s your site, so your call…
Are the rules (what will be deleted, what merits banning) posted somewhere?
@27. Plus the alien spacecraft and the wrist device look cheesy — like late 80’s/early 90’s kids sf movie special effects (ref: The Last Starfighter).
@30 “Btw, I like the variety on here — I don’t click on every story (although it feels like I comment, repeatedly, on every story) but most of them. You’ve done a good job of producing a great mostly-Trek-themed entertainment website. My only beef is banning well-mannered political debate when a politically-charged subject appears (a lot of George Takei’s stuff)… but it’s your site, so your call…”
Agreed — Anthony and company do a great job and I love the variety as well. My only pet peeves — like you, I could do without the Takei and other political issue “infomercials,” and the “birthday greetings” are really cheesy. But those are minor — this is the greatest Trek site of all time!!!
I am so looking forward to this Movie. Can’t wait to see it.
Oh and IVA. As a Big Time hard Core Star Trek Fan I love that Anthony post all of these threads about other moves as well. Cowboys and Aliens and harry potter and Green lantren and the rest are movies I and so many others look forward to seeing and to see stories about our very own Bob Orci and what he is up to is simply great. As Anthony said. See an Article you are not interested in then simply pass it by. On a rare ocassion i do that to. But Rare for this site.
@29 “they are writing the scrip to Star Trek 2012”
Ah, that is why the movie is taking so long. Once JJ money launders the counterfeit “scrip” he had been working on into real currency, then Orci can get paid, and then he can write the screenplay.
:-)
I’m gonna drag my dad to see it I think. He got me into both westerns and scifi as a kid. It looks to be pretty darn entertaining so far.
Also I’d like to add that I like the random articles like this that showcase projects and stories of trek related people.
Very much looking forward to this movie!
@Anthony Pascale: I think you do a great job and I’ve been reading this site for a long time. Trek is Sci-Fi and for me any other occasional Sci-Fi related news is welcome – especially in your Sci-Fi round ups.
Keep it up!
Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford … say no more.
Now if they do one with Spader as well, I’ll buy the bluray!
Can’t wait for this one.
This will be cool.
Antony might i add that i love coming here to read all the trek news and other related topics. I really do like the segmants where sci-fi movies and tv show news is done. Maybe the naysayer should go read memory alpha or startrek.com. Keep up the good work
#16 LOL
#19 – “Quinto half-naked on a cover of something etc.”
#27 – “Wait, when was Quinto half naked on a magazine cover?”
Yes, Jack. I also want to know this. I mean – how, when, what, why, who? Anthony – you have posted something about Quinto seen half naked? Please – repost everything immediately!
Better not be holding out on anything of a similar nature in relation to CP “my captain”.
#32 – “other political issue “infomercials,” and the “birthday greetings” are really cheesy.”
Yes, but a little cheese is very good for you – cheese is full of protein, calcium and essential fat soluble vitamins. Please do not estimate the importance of a little cheesiness in our lives.
i am so looking forward to this film it look amazing ford and craig in the same film is enought to get my bum on the seat however given the story like so good
please keep up the good work on this site including all the non-star trek info not only this also the science,tv and film round up
it so must be hard keeping a site going about a film thats not even been written
Is there a video game planned for this…yet? Would be fun to work on.
Well,that was awesome! I can’t wait!! It looks like Bob & co. have done it again!! And,I think July will be full of other good movies as well,but this,coming out on the 29th for me,is like saving the best for last! And #16,,Anthony,rock on dude!! You keep going like you have been!! Trekmovie is the best!! :)
#16 Anthony
“Oh btw, there is this amazing new feature of the website you may want to try. It’s called the ScrollMaster 2000(TM). The way it works is when you see an article you aren’t interested in you scroll past it to the next one.”
I’ve been a visitor to this site for 3 years I’d say, and enjoy the coverage you provide and the interaction with the readers, but really this kind of arrogance on your part is uncalled for. Readers like Iva, whether you agree with them or not, are what keep this site running. No readers, no interest, no advertisers…
Don’t you agree?
if i upset anyone with making a joke I am sorry. But my point stands skip articles you dont care about. It is simple as that. We cover a wide variety of articles to cover a wide variety of interests. Just like a magazine or newspaper doesn’t assume everyone reads everything, as an editor I try and cater to different needs. There are articles on this site that I don’t particularly have any interest in reading, but this site is for all Trekkies and so I try to think of the whole and not just an individual or small group (or even just myself). Dare I say it, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.
Covering celebrity news is something we have done for years, and it is also done by other Trek sites. It is also exactly how all the other big franchise sites do things like theforce.net, leakycauldron, gateworld, etc.
And I would say covering the projects for the new team are even more trek related than the average “what’s Shatner up to this week” article, as it shows what Abrams, Orci, Kurtzman, Lindelof are up to in addition to their current work on Star Trek. Putting into perspective the time gap between the films. Unlike the previous regimes under Rick Berman and Harve Bennet, this team have a large non-trek portfolio. You can debate whether or not that is a good thing, but it is *a thing* and we are reporting on it.
Also keeping an eye on the quality and success of these projects is Trek related as it shows their creative abilities. The fact that JJ Abrams Super 8 is being well received and doing well is an interesting data point when considering his potential to direct the next Star Trek for example. Same will be true of Cowboys and Aliens for the writers.
Oh and Cowboys and Aliens has Han Solo and James Bond fighting aliens in the old west and looks cool, there is that too.
Every time I have seen a trailer for this movie in a theater, the house has erupted in laughter when the title of the film is displayed. Every single time. I find that kind of interesting.
The last time I saw it, I had my 12-year-old daughter with me. When the trailer was over, she turned to me and said, “So this is the live action version of Andy from Toy Story playing with his Buzz and Woody dolls?”
From the mouths of babes…
Some of the buzz on the Interwebs about “Cowboys” I’ve read has been decidedly negative due to what is described as a formula picture, i.e. ‘put aliens into a cowboy film and just fill in the blanks.’
With our boys having written it, and the star-power involved (who also happen to be good actors), it is a must-see for me, critics be damned.
ZQ half-naked on the cover of a magazine? … nah… I doubt this will happen… LOL… but if that happens I want to see, of course! … +LOL
:-) :-)
#45
What the hell are you talking about? Anthony’s responses were appropriate seeing as how “Iva” was THE ONLY ONE complaining about the so-called lack of Trek-related articles, when in fact this site also reports on projects being made by folks who were/are currently involved with Trek. I think it is Iva’s comments that reek of arrogance. “Iva” apparently has the nerve to tell Anthony what he should post and what he shouldn’t.
#49 And how is any of this relevant to what I said?
The point is not whether Iva was right or wrong. Who cares if He/She was the only one voicing a similar opinion? The point is how he/she was answered by Anthony. We all should be considered like customers to his site and in this context his answer was not appropriate.
#50.
“The point is not whether Iva was right or wrong.”
Oh, but it is. She is wrong big time. That is why Anthony replied in the first place!
“We all should be considered like customers to his site and in this context his answer was not appropriate.”
Customers are people who PAY for things. You, me, and everyone else who comes to this site DO NOT pay Anthony, and as a result, your analogy is wrong. Anthony has the right to respond in any way he sees fit.