Another busy week for Trek news and Trek in the news. This week’s summary brings news of Spocks, rumors, Trek baby names, donut eating Klingons and much more…
full report below.
Star Trek (2008):
- Perhaps we should rename the page “This Week with Zachary Quinto:” the actor who is to play Spock discussed Star Trek in multiple interviews throughout the week, including one with USA Today (with Leonard Nimoy) where he confirmed that Anton Yelchin has been cast as Chekov and confirmed details regarding the film’s shoot, and another with ComingSoon.net in which he revealed he has signed up to play Spock in any potential sequels. For the lowdown on all of these and the other interviews, see here, here, here, here… oh, yes, and here.
- In an interview with New York Magazine, actress Bryce Dallas Howard (Spider-Man 3, Lady in the Water) mentioned having asked her father, director Ron Howard, if there was “any female role” in the new Star Trek film. It is unknown whether or not this meant she was interested in auditioning for the film.
- Commenting on rumors that he would play the villain in the film, Russell Crowe told Extra that he is “apparently” up for a role but that he has not “read anything” and that he can’t “make a decision about anything” until he has.
- Yet another British tabloid, The Sunday Mirror, recycled an old rumor by reporting that James McAvoy had “won the role” of Scotty in the new film. This was later denied… again.
- A follow-up report to the one above states the William Shatner has indeed signed up to play Captain Kirk in the film, but there has been nothing official on this.
- William Shatner still isn’t in the movie.
Trek merchandise:
- TV Shows on DVD has a look at the inside contents of the remastered Star Trek: The Original Series Season One HD-DVD set. It was also announced that Paramount would will only distribute hi-def disks on HD-DVD, dashing hopes for future Trek on Blu-Ray any time soon.
- Art Asylum’s first wave of Star Trek MiniMates figures is now available in stores, at least according to Wizard Entertainment’s Toyfare Magazine.
Trek in the world:
- Having trouble coming up with a name for your baby? Australia’s Herald Sun has a story on a book called Sci-Fi Baby Names, which offers suggestions from Star Trek, including Tuvok (after the Vulcan on Star Trek: Voyager) and Tiberius (the middle name of James T. Kirk).
- They were apparently tired of gagh: The Dallas Morning News has an article on members of a local Star Trek fan club who dress as Klingons and enjoy Krispy Kreme donuts.
- Germany’s FedCon (the Federation Convention) is suing the German Star Trek news site TrekNews.de for posting a video recording of their event on the internet.
- The Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, California, held a Star Trek marathon from August 23rd through August 26th, which began with the premiere of “World Enough and Time” – the newest episode of the fan series Star Trek: New Voyages – followed by screenings of all ten feature films.
- A laser tag park in North Vancouver, Canada, is offering an interactive Star Trek-based or Star Trek-like adventure game for those who like to pretend to phaser their friends out of existence.
- This week’s TV Guide promoted piracy (unintentionally, I’m sure) by informing readers of a website where pirated episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation were available to view online for free.
- A musical Star Trek spoof entitled Dazzle was performed as part of the Arts Forum Festival at the Whitgift Theatre in Lincolnshire, England.
Trek science:
- It’s not exactly a medical tricorder, but it’s a step in the right direction: New Zealand company ARANZ Medical has designed a hand-held device called the SilhouetteMobile which uses laser and digital technology to map serious wounds.
Trek on the web:
- The latest episode of Star Trek New Voyages – "World Enough and Time" starring George Takei premiered this week in a streaming internet event, but demand overwhelmed the servers and it was temporarily pulled down…fans are still waiting for another chance to watch the episode.
- Trekmovie.com is among the sites listed by The Official Star Wars Blog that provide the latest news and information on the upcoming Star Trek movie.
- In a mock address written by Jeffrey Shaffer, President Bush uses the original Star Trek series episodes “The Enterprise Incident” and “All Our Yesterdays” to explain the need to develop a means of becoming invisible.
- The LAist has an article on the fan series Star Trek: New Voyages and information on the show’s upcoming episode, “World Enough and Time.”
- The People’s Voice used Star Trek as an example of how television manipulates people. What a crock of bull. Now excuse me while I go practice my Vulcan neck pinch…
- TV Squad named Star Trek: The Next Generation among nine shows which underwent “dramatic” changes between their first and second seasons.
- The Republican American used the “Herbert” line from the Star Trek episode “The Way to Eden” as a lead-in for an explanation as to “why government doesn’t work.”
- Peter Suciu of CrunchArcade trounced Star Trek video games, calling Trek “the worst franchise in the history of video games.”
- The original crew of the Starship Enterprise placed fifth in the World Hum’s list of the 10 Greatest Fiction Travelers.
- A writer on Lifted Magazine explained what the original series episode “City on the Edge of Forever” taught her.
Where are they now?
- Scott Bakula (Archer, ENT) has signed up to star in a play called The Quality of Life, which will run from October 10th through November 18th at the Skirball Kenis Theater in Los Angeles, California.
- Robert Beltran (Chakotay, VOY), Jonathan Frakes (Riker, TNG), and Dwight Schultz (Barclay, TNG/VOY) were among the guests at the 13th annual Fan Expo Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Center this weekend. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guest star Adrienne Barbeau (Cretak) and Star Trek Generations’ Malcolm McDowell (Soran) also appeared at the event.
- Joan Collins (Edith Keeler, TOS: “City on the Edge of Forever”) has signed up to play the villainous role of The Rani on the long-running Doctor Who series.
- Jonathan Frakes directed the Masters of Science Fiction episode “The Discarded,” which was written by Harland Ellison (TOS: “City on the Edge of Forever”) and which aired on ABC Saturday night. In the meantime, Frakes has been teaching filmmaking at Rockport College in Maine and doing interviews with the likes of the Winnipeg Sun.
- As reported by the Yakima Herald Republic, Mariette Hartley (Zarabeth, TOS: “All Our Yesterdays”) was the keynote speaker at the 22nd annual Merrill Scott Symposium in Yakima, Washington on August 23rd.
- Chase Masterson (Leeta, DS9) is an executive producer on the documentary Through Your Eyes, which was released on August 21st on DVD.
- Star Trek Generations actor Alan Ruck (Capt. Harriman) visited Geelong, Australia on August 19th for a screening of the independent Trek fan film Of Gods and Men, according to The Geelong Advertiser.
- Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher, TNG) was the keynote speaker at this year’s Penny Arcade Expo (or PAX) on August 24th in Seattle, Washington.
In Memoriam
- Lost in Space star Angela Cartwright reported on her blog that her brother-in-law, writer/director/producer/former actor Richard Compton, died on August 11th (the report was discovered August 24th). Compton appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series – “The Doomsday Machine” and “The Enterprise Incident.” He later directed the “Haven” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was 69 years old.
YouTube Clip of the Week
This week the #4 rated ‘Entertainment’ clip on YouTube is about Trek. Comedian Mark Day dedicated this week’s episodes of his popular YouTube show to the new Star Trek movie…including his own bid for a part in the movie. (Warning: the easily offended will be offended…sorry)
Mark also asked for video replies and there actually got nine of them, including some with other auditions (one guy auditions to be a red shirt). Check em out.
Yes I agree,
The easily offended will be offended,
:-Z
Someone needs to tell JJ Abrams that William Shatner NEEDS to be in his movie. Please, someone out there in Hollywood tell him how important this is to the ST Fans!
Yes, I totally agree with #2!! We NEED Shatner…if this is going back to TOS, Shatner has to be a part of it. What’s the Enterprise without Kirk and his overacting?
I was not offended. Except by the description of the guy as a comedian. You Tube: Where those who can’t do it anyway.
And #2 & 3: I’m with you. I really hope Shat is in the house. Unless that would make it a Shathouse. Sorry, easily offended–you’ve been abused again.
Im sure JJ knows that Shatner NEEDS to be in the movie. I think it’s mostly a matter of how much money Paramount are willing to spend on getting Shatner to do the part. I’ve heard he can be quite pricy which is why he didn’t appear in ST: Enterprise.
Anyways, i’d say it’s great if Shatner is in the movie, but I won’t shed many tears if he doesn’t.
JJ Abrams did not create Buffy.
In a misplaced attempt to keep this thread from (already) becoming another “Shatner MUST be in the new movie” clone, I’ll address a different topic from the list above: Trek Baby Names.
A few weeks ago my wife and I were watching “Cash Cab” on (I think) The Discovery Channel. If you haven’t seen it, the host of the show is an honest-to-goodness New York cab driver. When riders enter his van, he informs them that they’re on a traveling game show. He’ll ask questions and the riders win money for each correct answer. They are given a strike for each incorrect answer. If the riders get three strikes, the driver kicks them out of the cab whether they’ve arrived at their destination or not. It’s probably the best game show on TV right now, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.
Anyway, on this particular episode, three astrophysicists got in the cab; two men and one woman. The woman’s first name…I kid you not…was Saavik! She even spelled it for the host of the show who, if he knew where the name came from, made no mention of it in the episode. The three of them went on to win the largest sum of money so far on the show.
Her parents named her Saavik. And she’s an astrophysicist. How freakin’ cool is that! You just gotta love Star Trek fans.
We now return you to Shatnerpalooza, here at trekmovie.com.
Yeah, Joss Whedon created Buffy, btw.
Could somebody tell me how to pronounce Zachary Quinto’s last name?
Is it like “qwinto”, or “keento?”
thanx
Am I the only person who totally missed hearing about the “Masters of Science Fiction” show on ABC?? I totally would have watched it, but don’t remember seeing any promotion for it anywhere. Nuts…
I believe “Quinto” is pronounced “Shat-ner.” Bill will do anything to get into this film.
Re: #2 & #3
We don’t “NEED” Shatner. First and foremost, we need a good picture. Period. So, please stop with the “someone tell J.J. to put Shatner in this movie.” You guys are like a broken record. Let them make their movie. A Star Trek movie without Shatner does not mean the movie will be bad (First Contact anyone?). The movie will be bad if it is written and directed badly (Nemesis/The Final Frontier for example).
I just wrote a letter to Paramount telling how they should put Shatner in the movie. I said he should come at the end and act like he never got killed by Soran in the first place and chose retirement over attending the maiden voyage of the Enterprise B because old Spock had told young Kirk to make the most logical choices in his life. That’s not shoving him in, is it?
Herbert!
That Republican America article is bizzare, it reads like a disgruntled GOP backbencher lamenting his own parties fecklessness and saying “government doesn’t work” because bureaucrats are evil.
I always find it funny when politicians blame government.
Santo #11
They may not NEED Shatner to make a good move, but there are many people who want to see him back one more time.
I agree with #11. Shanter is not neccesary. I mean Shatner could be in the film and the film could be a totall bomb anyways. Why? because the movie won’t and can’t hing on shatner;s involvment, but rather on a damn good story. If you get a good story, I think those Trek fans who go and watch will forget about Shatner not being in the film.
Shatner is not necessary, he is MANDATORY!
I kid…I kid!
The movie will have the potential to blow away as many people with or without him, it will just be easier to this with him I would think (at least with one particular fan profile).
This movie can’t be released soon enough!
#12 Mike J. Hafezi
I’m not sure if you were serious or not, but please don’t write Paramount with nonsense like that. For one, they’re not the ones directly responsible for whether or not Shatner gets put into the movie. Secondly, they are fully aware that many want Shatner to be in the movie, they don’t need another letter stating that. And third, you’re probably just wasting your time — it is unlikely that someone high up on the Paramount food chain will read your letter, assuming it gets read at all.
And for everyone else jumping on the “Bring Back Shatner or Else” bandwagon, let’s not turn this thread into another campaign. We know you want Shatner in the movie, Abrams knows you want Shatner in the movie, and Paramount knows you want Shatner in the movie. We’ve heard it all before. It’s old. He will either be in the film or he won’t, and you will have to live with either outcome. Also, Santo and TJ Trek are correct — while it would be great to see him, Shatner’s presence is nowhere near necessary to make this a good movie. So let’s stop with the campaigning.
Let’s talk about something important… Put that coffee down! Coffee’s for closers only.
i would also like to point out that due to wga rules, they would never let abrams or any of the creative people ever see a letter with any story ideas…in order to protect them from suits and arbitrations.
Hollywood SHOULD have a show where they screen new screenplay ideas and pitches for movies. Show biz has all the makings of an incestuous community. It would seem that once you make it in, they circle the wagons to keep everyone else out, for fear of losing their stake in the game. No wonder we get the current crop of “writers” rehashing old T.V. shows and any other recycled idea they can get their hands on! Hollywood is out of fresh ideas and storylines,but they certainly don’t want to let any new blood in! God forbid they allow an open forum for fresh competition!
Guys check out the comment at The People’s Voice link! I just made a comment that you guys will love, my user name is TV IS NOT THAT BAD. I only created an user name to say that comment.
I’m one who really doesn’t want to see Shatner in this movie. He’s become such a parody of himself over the years that I don’t think I could take him seriously as Captain Kirk again. I would go as far to say that I think his presence would actually detract from the film. First and foremost I hope Abrams and company deliver us a good movie with a good script, and I hope they don’t feel pressured to find some contrived way to shoehorn Shatner into the movie. If they can find a good way to fit Shatner into the film, that’s fine, but I personally would rather Nimoy get the spotlight to shine this time
Re: #21
Amen to that.
Bring back Mugatu! He needs work!
…My god/yahweh/roddenberry – is that Rip Taylor as a Klingon?!?!
Re #24
Holy mackerel! Happy days are here again, petaQ!!! Qaplaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
Ok, so that last part was more Charles Nelson Reilly, so sue me. :-P
“World Enough for Time,” the latest episode of the fan series Star Trek: New Voyages, premiered online via streaming video on August 23rd.
Yikes – get it right on a Trek website. It’s “World Enough AND Time.”
#25: Oh, gee thanks, pal. I now have this horrible vision of Uncle Croc as a Klingon. If we were to add Wally Cox to that mix, could you conceive an even more impossible trio to play Koloth, Kang and Kor? :p
I thought the video was funny and that Red Shirt guy was pretty cool in the audition section I see they’ve got an update with Shatner above but haven’t checked it out yet :)
I thought the video was funny and that Red Shirt guy was pretty cool in the audition section I see they’ve got an update with Shatner above but haven’t checked it out yet :)
A follow-up report to the one above states the William Shatner has indeed signed up to play Captain Kirk in the film, but there has been nothing official on this
WHERE IS THE REPORT? FROM WHAT I SAW IT WAS ONLY UPDATED AND NOT A NEW REPORT