As reported yesterday, Entertainment Weekly has a cover story all about the new Star Trek in this week’s issue. That story is also now online at the EW website and includes behind the scenese info, plot details and interviews with cast and crew. This is a must read article for any Trekkie so go check it out. We have a quick summary (including some spoilers) and a high res version of the cover below.
Quotes
Paramount’s president of production Brad Weston on Trek franchise:
Every studio in town is searching for these kinds of franchises, so it was important for us to reboot. But we needed a clean, fresh take on this thing.
…
We have worldwide aspirations and we need to broaden [Trek’s] appeal. Doing the half-assed version of this thing wasn’t going to work.’
Abrams on Trek’s vision
I think a movie that shows people of various races working together and surviving hundreds of years from now is not a bad message to put out right now. In a world where a movie as incredibly produced as The Dark Knight is raking in gazillions of dollars, Star Trek stands in stark contrast. It was important to me that optimism be cool again.
EW review of footage screened:
the awe-inspiring introduction of the Enterprise; thrilling action sequences on a harsh ice planet and in the skies of Vulcan — the director has transformed Star Trek into state-of-the-art pop.
Other new info
- Trailer confirmed for Quantum of Solace
- Pine was one of three candidates to test with Quinto for Kirk
And there is much much more from Abrams, Nimoy, Pine, Quinto, Burk, Lindelof so read the whole thing at EW.
High res cover
Hi res image of the cover(click to enlarge)
Plot SPOILER
Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes. From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise. In fact, the movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both. The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ”I have been, and always shall be, your friend.” More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!” But revisionism anxiety is the point. ”The movie,” Lindelof says, ”is about the act of changing what you know.”
Other spoilers
- Romulan attack on USS Kelvin takes place ‘before Kirk was born’
- Chris Pine still ‘fresh-faced space cadet’ when confronting Romulan villains
- Kirk’s black shirt defined as ‘space-cadet colors in Abrams’ Trekverse’
- Phasers are "sleek silver gizmos with spring-triggered barrels that revolve and glow in the transition from ”stun” to ”kill.”
I don’t mean to sound like a troll here, but it still looks like Ringo Star there. And again it brings to mind why he’s announced he’s done signing things for the public.
But I’ll check out the mag.
This movie is going to ROCK, can’t wait the see the new trailer in November………
I was going to suggest a big SPOILER banner above this article, but then, why else are we here?
Great article, can we discuss the Kelvin and how it really reminds me of the Stargazer? It DOES look older than the TMP Big E. Just the flatter edges and the turbolasers… hang on, turbolasers???
I just realized, doesn’t Captain Kirk have hazel eyes? Did they decide he didn’t look good with contacts on.
How come Spock looks like he just did something he wasnt suppost to.
4
I was thinking that also.
That image of Kirk in the comm and chair, is that the Enterprise, another vessel, or perhaps the Kobayashi Maru test?
I’m no purist but the reports (or rumors) so far seemed to indicate this bridge would harken back to TOS. This one seems a bit further removed than I expected….
Spock is wearing a wig
Kirk, as portrayed by Shatner, had hazel eyes. Kirk, as portrayed by Pine, doesn’t.
Just reading the article gave me goose bumps!
Must we wait till May?!
Anyone notice this issue of EW number is 1017?
As you all know, 1017, USS Constellation registry numbers reworked from the 1701 numbers in the AMT model kit for The Doomsday Machine.
Very informative! Thanks for the link
I hope shatner is in this film :(
“The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!””
Zealots? Who on Earth are they on about?
EW must be one of those Daily Mirror type redtop mags then? :-D
So according to this article, the beginning of the movie starts out with a big canon-buster? For some reason I have the feeling that this movie is going to be as well-accepted as ENT was…
I mean, they’ve been leading us to believe that this fits in with canon, but that’s impossible judging from what we’ve recently seen and heard. We read that the Bridge would be recognizable as “the” TOS Bridge while looking a bit different, but the Bridge we’ve seen doesn’t look anything like it.
I’m more than a little wary of this project at this point.
Whoa! They confirm that the USS Kelvin is being attacked by a Romulan ship? I can’t wait to see this on the big screen!
Well from the look of this cover, it looks like the awkward sexual tension between Kirk and Spock is still there.
who are these imposters :-)
Spock looks like he is wearing a ugly fake wig. And he is too short … Spock was always taller than kirk…
That gave great composition shots…
I think this movie will be a big disappointment…
soemthing to think about…
I get that the series after TOS did the pointed sideburns in keeping with the ‘look’ of the era. (That’s a fashion trend that laster for decades in the trek universe!)
But – why did Spock have the pointed sideburns too. Was he a slave to fashion as well???
hmmmm
Is that Quinto or a plastic action figure?
I like the part about the new phasers: the “barrel” rotates and the glow changes color based on “stun” and “kill” settings!!!
COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the EW Mag the text under the Kelvin Photo Reads:
The USS Kelvin BEFORE Kirk is even born, a Romulan attack on a starship launches the plot for the new movie.
Major Info that was not mentioned.
I am not making any judgments until the movie comes out, BUT things are looking dire for those of us who love the original series. Times they are a changin’….
Here’s hoping we’ll see the original bridge updated at the end of the movie as opposed to the Apple store with the Wico joysticks.
that is one really bad photoshop picture…
My theory as to the plot:
– Romulans go back to kill Kirk’s father before Kirk is born (he’s serving on the Kelvin). This changes the timeline.
– Spock goes back in time, and works with his younger self to prevent Kirk’s death at Nero’s hands.
– In the process of travelling back in time to various time periods, we find out how the crew got together.
– With information gained from the future-spock, the current Spock works to save Kirk’s life, and the rest of the crew also learn of the plot.
– The voyage they are on helps bring everyone closer, and builds the bonds and trust between them, thus forging the Original Series crew as we know them.
23 – I seriously doubt it.
“The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!””
Could it be the attack on the USS Kelvin by the Romulans, and somehow Feds and Romulans see each other? Although perhaps the Feds don’t realize that they are fighting Romulans (sounds like ENT’s playing with canon in the first Ferengi “encounter”).
Oh FFS would you so-called Trek ‘fans’ stop bloody winging?!? This film looks set to reinvigorate the franchise like never before, and God knows Star Trek was in desperate need of a kick up the warp core!!! This ISN’T going to be classic 60’s Star Trek, because 1) this isn’t the 60’s and 2) these ARE NOT the original actors – get over it!!! As long as Mr Roddenberry’s vision is intact and whole, THAT’S what matters.. AND a darned good story to boot!
This is – like it or not – entertainment folks, entertainment for NOW – NOT a carbon copy retread!
Jeeeeeez!
I think everything looks great so far, but I also think people here need to remember that this Trek is not just for us, but for everyone who might be inclined or persuaded to see it. The mainstream audience they hope to bring in is not going to care that the bridge isn’t a matchup for the TOS era.
In fact, even if they are only remotely familiar with the “Trek look”, they would still be the ones most likely to appreciate the updates. I like them too, for that matter. Why does everything in Trek have to stay the same? I know, Trekkies will throw the “canon” card, but I never thought canon should have bearing on TOS. When TOS was being made, they did strive for consistency but nowhere did they enslave themselves to the concept of “canon”. They were just trying to make an exciting, dynammic, thought-provoking program. But at some point, canon took precedence over everything else, and frankly, Trk has suffered for it. If this is really a reboot, fine. I’ve got no problems with it personally, and I’m not taking it personally.
Here a fast look at the good old Pike-era phasers…
http://www.sttos.com/images/episodes/640×480/01_TheCage_1647_640x480.jpg
Well, maybe Nimoy’s Spock really dies, ensuring he and his hetero life partner Kirk had the long, adventurous lives as we know them? Plot point, why not incorperate Shatner in that way: A mear death Spock crawls out of a 24th century shuttle craft, into the nexus… Shatner’s Kirk is there, either as Spock’s Vision or the part of Kirk left behind… Part oe Guinan was still there!
26. How do you know he isnt in it?
I’ll bet they’ll be using LASERS from the Pike era, and by that I mean The Cage. The rotating barrel sounds like exactly what they used.
31… Or… Kirk and Spock and the Great Gazoo zap to the studio appartment of Rick Berman just before he signs the final contract for Generations and beat him silly. Then…
THIS IS A FRESH START. No backsies.
I think we’d all better be prepared for new rules in this Trek.
A show without consistency has no credibility/enjoyability. It would be like watching a show where a main character dies, just to show up again the next episode. It conditions the viewer to not invest their emotions into the characters or stories because everything you see could not have happened. I thought believability was an important factor for today’s audiences, no? A show can strive for consistency even if they don’t always succeed. But to throw the entire identity of the franchise to the trash can isn’t just reinvisioning, but purely arrogant and irresponsible.
The bridge looks like Galaxy Quest
THIS IS A DISASTROUS HERESY
SWEET!
Obviously, and I do mean obviously, the big change at the beginning is what the Romulans set out to do to change history. Can’t complain about it defying canon when that seems to be the point; historical revisionism.
You guys are retarded I swear…these people are doing their best to bring back a franchise that’s been DEAD AND BURIED for several years and all the fanbase has done so far was whining about Quinto’s wig on an irrelevant magazine cover.
Who the !%&@ cares, seriously.
Haven’t yoy thought that these people have probably finished shooting their scenes for Star Trek months ago? Zachary might have changed hairstyle meanwhile to match the requests of other productions. Then what else is there to do when EW asks you to strike a pose for their cover besides wearing a wig?
Just be glad they’re rebooting your favourite series in such a glorious way so that you won’t be left with the dismal choice between watching TNG DVD’s or reading TOS books for the rest of your existance.
This is going to be great. I’ll bet it will be better than “The Phantom Menace”.
Star Trek will be cool once again.
Who’s whining about a wig? They completely re-designed the bridge!
#36
LOL
The movie will be good. I have faith..it looks VERY good so far…
#24
I agree, Quinto’s eyebrows are obviously drawn in.
: )
i just read the full article and thought the tone of reporting was particularly condescending, but then trek still has to overcome the precoception that trek fans are all overweight 40 odd year old saddos that still live with their parents and have only ever seen a naked woman on the internet.
i like the sound of chris pine, and thought his comment about how he wouldn’t follow himself into battle was refreshingly self-deprecating
i think folk are getting too hung up on the changes in the visual asthetics – it would be naive in the extreme to expect a futuristic space ship to look like it was built in the 1960s. I personally am not that keen on the look of the bridge as i think there’s too much clear plastic panelling and its a bit too bright blue, but so what. To think something like that would ruin a film is just cuckoo. If it’s a good story that is well told, well performed, is visually impressive, exciting, and faithful to the spirit and history of star trek then it won’t matter that the ship looks a wee bit different or whatever. and besides, paramount would probably ask jj for their money back if the enterprise bridge looked like it was made of plywood!
stop worrying people!! i feel very optimistic about the new movie
I had not heard that jj abrams had worked on a script for a superman movie. is that available to read on the web anywhere?
Everyone that wants to complain that it is ‘different’ go back and watch the original with your betamax and TV with wire hangers.
Everyone else look forward to the rebirth of the Star Trek franchise! The writers an director understand Trek and have the same intentions that all of us should have.
Negativity can be directed somewhere else.
Roddenberry & Co. were talking about recasting Star Trek in the 1970s, with Robert Redford as Kirk and Burt Reynolds as Spock. How’s that for heresy?
Kinda makes all this Abrams stuff look good, don’t it?
What is Star Trek, the Shatner/Nimoy show, or is it the Kirk/Spock show? Ponder that carefully.
It would be narrow minded to think one can’t update the bridge, to make it look more structurally sound with modern technology and still “resemble” the original. They did so with the uniforms why not the bridge?
#40— Why are you on this site if you don’t care?
1) More than most films, this movie’s acceptance with the fan base relies heavily on the design of the ships, bridge and uniforms.
2) Was Star Trek really dead and buried? I’m not sure. It’s an old TV show that has the largest fan base in history and is still going strong.