The WGA just released a video of Star Trek co-producer Damon Lindelof talking about the writers strike as he pickets Disney, the studio that produces Lost (which he and J.J. Abrams created). See previous story for more on Abrams, Lindelof and the WGA.
Rachel Nichols has seemingly confirmed the rumor that will be in the Star Trek movie. In an interview with the Toronto Sun the 27 year old actress said “I’m very restricted on what I’m allowed to say, but yes, there’s a good chance you’ll see my shining face in the new Star Trek.” Nichols said she did not even know the name of her character and even her mom didn’t know about it until she saw the rumor reports online. As noted in the first report on Nichols, she has worked with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams before on his show Alias. The connection is not lost on Nichols who said “J.J.’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met … He’s very, very loyal.”
It has been two years, six months and two days since the last time actors have stood in front of a Paramount camera on a Star Trek production (for the finale of Star Trek Enterprise). It has been over five years since a Trek film was in production (the longest period since the movie franchise began in the 70s). Today J.J. Abrams will declare ‘action’ again as he begins shooting his re-invigoration of the Trek franchise, simply titled Star Trek. Sources tell TrekMovie.com that this week’s shooting will be on location (somewhere in Southern California), with the first shots on the Paramount lot scheduled next week.
Lately the focus has been reporting on principal casting for the new Star Trek film, but what about the extras? TrekMovie.com has learned that Headquarters Casting, the agency handling extras for the new Star Trek feature, are currently looking to fill the backgrounds under the code name “Corporate Headquarters.” The agency will be holding an open casting call this weekend. They are now trying to find people with the right look to play Vulcans, Cadets as well as those with ‘unique facial features.’ More details below.
The release of Season One of the digitally remastered Star Trek: The Original Series is in two weeks (Nov. 20) and the promotions for it keep racking up. Firstly STARTREK.COM has a new contest with a grand prize of a Toshiba HD-DVD player and a TOSR Box Set, (DETAILS HERE). And if you live close to New York City and are one of the first in line to buy the box set at select Virgin mega-stores you will get a free Toshiba HD-DVD player and a ‘Star Trek goodie bag’ (DETAILS HERE). Lastly screenings of the HD version of “The Managerie” have been added in Australia (DETAILS HERE).
The WGA strike kicked off on Monday with picket lines at all the major studios. The guild has ordered all of its members to do 20 hours of mandatory picket time per week. According to this morning’s Variety, Star Trek producer Damon Linedolof and producer-director J.J. Abrams (who are both guild members) hit the picket lines yesterday to show solidarity for their writing comrades. From the Variety article…
James Doohan’s son Chris Doohan’s name first came up in relation to the new Star Trek film last February when he started a somewhat tongue-in-cheek campaign to land the role of Scotty. He has since gracefully endorsed the selection of Simon Pegg to fill his father’s shoes as the Enterprise’s engineer. That might have been the end of the story, but recently rumors arose that Doohan actually got an audition. TrekMovie.com contacted Chris and he confirmed that he recently read for an unnamed ‘minor speaking role.’ Doohan wouldn’t go into details, but stated:
Before I go on strike, This Week in Trek brings you news on the development of the holodeck, Trek golfing, lots of Shatner, people going under the knife for Vulcan ears, and much more. What do you mean the strike doesn’t pertain to me…?
TrekMovie.com recently reported that the new Star Trek movie should not be impacted by the WGA strike scheduled to start on Monday, but it appears that many TV shows are not so lucky. Heroes, the hit show featuring the new Spock (Zachary Quinto) along with recurring guest spots for a number of of other Trek veterans (Nichelle Nichols, George Takei and Dominic Keating) may only get 11 episodes this season. TV Guide is reporting that the Heroes production has shot an alternative ending to the show schedule to air on December 3rd which will allow it to act as a ‘season 2 finale’ instead of just the planned ‘volume 2 finale’ (Heroes’ 2nd season was originally planned to have 2 ‘volumes’).
Patrick Stewart is currently having his second go in life as a Shakespearean actor on the London stage. His current performances of Macbeth are getting him rave reviews. In a new interview with the London Times, TNG’s Picard talks about how he never expected the job commanding the starship Enterprise he took in 1987 to become such a big part of his life and his career: It came to a point where I had no idea where Picard began and I ended. We completely overlapped. His voice became my voice, and there were other elements of him that became me
The new Mr Spock, Zachary Quinto, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live Friday night Transcript of his Trek answers below
[WARNING: boring business article ahead] To all of us Star Trek is a hobby (or to some a way of life), but to CBS and Paramount/Viacom Trek is a ‘brand’ and a ‘franchise.’ The good news is that Trek is again getting the notice of the higher ups. In a conference call with Wall Street where he announced a big jump in profits, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman talked up Paramount’s 2008 line-up with a shoutouts to J.J. Abrams and Star Trek…
Today Latino Review reported that there is a teaser for Star Trek in the works and that it will show the construction of the Enterprise. TrekMovie.com has confirmed this with multiple sources. In addition, one source revealed that parts of the teaser have already been shot. Dates for release are under discussion and two possibilities are for it to be shown with Cloverfield (Jan 18, 2008), or Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22, 2008).
Does Star Trek have its second female cast member? FreezeDriedMovies is reporting that a source ‘overheard’ that Rachel Nichols has been cast for an unnamed part in film. Although it cannot be confirmed yet, it would not be a surprise as the 27 year-old actress has worked with Abrams, Orci and Kurtzman before as a recurring character on Alias. So far the only woman in the cast is Zoe Saldana (Uhura). In addition to mothers for Kirk and Spock we know there is at least one other female role (the one that Felicity star Keri Russell was talking to director JJ Abrams about). Nichols age would make her a reasonable fit for ‘Number One’ (Pike’s XO), Nurse Chapel, or a love interest for Kirk (Carol Marcus?).
After many delays the producers of “Of Gods and Men” have finally announced December 22nd at 17:01 EST (5:01 EST) as the release date for part 1 (of 3) of the Internet mini-series. OGaM is one of the most ambitious independent/fan Trek productions to date and is distinguished by having a cast made up almost entirely of professional actors, including Trek veterans such as Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Alan Ruck, Gary Graham and many others. The film was directed by Voyager’s Tim Russ, who also has a part. The OGaM team also announced they will be using the same technology partners that handled the ‘relaunch’ of the recent Star Trek New Voyages episode, after the initial release was hampered by the demand. More information in the latest OGaM newsletter and the official site.
In a new videoblog William Shatner discusses the real world connection for his latest Star Trek novel “Star Trek Academy Collision Course”
You may have heard that the Writers Guild of America has been in negotiations with the studios and producers (along with a federal mediator) for a new contract and according to reports the parties failed to come to an agreement Wednesday before the current contract expired at midnight. Although the WGA did not call for a strike immediately, industry watchers expect one could be called for within a week. [UPDATE: Variety: Strike set to start Monday] However, it appears a strike will not impact Star Trek which starts shooting next Wednesday. Variety lists Star Trek as one of the films Paramount has ‘ready to go’ despite the possible strike. Executive producer and co-writer Roberto Orci tells TrekMovie.com that Paramount and the team have been working on the assumption of a strike for months. “The script is in great shape and we had a long lead time,” said Orci confidently.
It looks the like nods to Original Series in the new Star Trek film will also extend to the music. In an interview with SciFi Wire, the longtime Abrams collaborator and Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino states he will be incorporating the original Alexander Courage Original Series theme into his score: I think that the thing to do would be to hold on to the only thing that does speak—that says Star Trek—universally, which is the [opening theme from the original series]…To me, that fanfare, boom, that says it all right there. And this film is about everything that came before that. So, yes, I want to keep that.