It is another time to check in with Star Trek’s new crew to see what is up. Firstly Chris Pine is getting some high praise for his new play, Zoe Saldana is talking men in a new GQ cover story, Zachary Quinto wrapped acting on his new film, Anton Yelchin is the subject of a new Spidey Rumor, Karl Urban is talking Red and fans. All that and more below.
Pine ‘spectacularly good’ in new play – enjoying playing ‘wacko’
As reported last week, yesterday was the gala premiere of the Center Theater Group’s LA Production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore starring Chris Pine (tickets still available). Pine is already getting rave reviews, here is an example from Variety:
Most of all, Pine is spookily, spectacularly good. His smooth assurance in "Star Trek" and last season’s Geffen Playhouse production of "Farragut North" leaves one unprepared for his startling physical investment in Padraic’s insanity, and the emotional peaks and valleys thereafter. On top of its other glories, "Inishmore" audiences are present at the launch of what promises to be a truly remarkable stage career.
THR says that Pine and his co-star Zoe Perry "make a fine team of natural-born killers ". The LA Times is impressed with the "conviction and fine-grained texture" of Pine’s acting. The actor also talked to the LA Times after the play, saying that he is enjoying his time on the stage partly because he doesn’t often "get opportunities to play wackos"
Zoe UK GQ Cover Story: Likes a man with nice hands who can cry
Zoe Saldana may be engaged to be married, but she still has eyes. Star Trek’s new Uhura is gracing the cover of the new UK GQ magazine.
And in the mag, the actress reveals what she is looking for in a man:
I love men’s hands, not just nice, manicured hands. I feel as though hands say a lot about you and your history. There’s something very abrasively fragile about a man’s hands.
….‘The only thing I can’t tolerate in a human being, especially in a man, is ignorance. Somebody who talks in labels, or talks just to hear themselves speak. To me, judgment day is when you open your mouth and say something that lets me know what kind of personality you have. I mean, I’m not saying I love a man who cries, but I think that can be very sexy.
Quinto wraps acting work on Margin Call
As for Star Trek’s new Spock. He is still in New York working on Margin Call, the film about the recent financial crisis which he is producing. Quinto also appears in the film, and over the weekend he wrapped for his work playing Peter. Quinto also tweeted a photo from his last day shooting Peter.
Cho still shooting Christmas Harold & Kumar movie
Star Trek’s new Sulu John Cho is in Michigan shooting A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. He has been sending out lots tweets and pictures between shots (including back and forth joking with Zachary Quinto about Chris Pine’s hair). Here he is earlier in July dressed up as Harold Lee with director Todd Strauss-Schulson.
Urban talks Red – doesn’t mind fans approaching him on the street
Star Trek’s new Dr. McCoy will be next see in the Bruce Willis action comedy Red (see previous article with trailer). The folks at SuperHeroHype have a set visit report with an interview with Urban, mostly talking about his role as a CIA agent in the film, but he also talked about how Star Trek has upped his fame:
Q: If you’re walking on Bourbon Street, can you blend in? Or do people immediately want come up to you, especially with "Star Trek" and the success of that film, do they immediately look at you and they know?
Urban: Yeah, I do get tagged a bit. But it wouldn’t be like Bruce walking down the street. He would attract a crowd of people. He’s got the rule of no eye contact. That’s it. Think about it, if you make eye contact with someone, then they will, more likely than not, come up to you and want to interact with you. So that’s how he gets through situations like that. I don’t mind it at all. I think that it’s par for the course. You wouldn’t be in this business if you had an issue with people coming up and wanting to interact with you on the street. And they’re the customers. And sometimes it’s nice to know that what you’ve done has been appreciated. It’s not like theater where you get that instant response, negative or positive. So, yeah, there’s been a bit of that.
Another Anton Yelchin Spidey Rumor
Although he was in the running to be the new Peter Parker/Spider-man Anton Yelchin, Star Trek’s new Chekov, didn’t get the part. But in the last day a number of sites are reporting a rumor that Yelchin may be playing Harry Osborn in the Spidey reboot due in 2012. However, the source of the rumor appears to be the IMDB page for the new movie. There are no reports of this rumor before the IMDB page listed Yelchin to be ‘rumored’ to be up for the role, but ironically once some IMDB reader submitted his name there are tons of rumor reports, all of which are citing IMDB as the source. Even though IMDB is a great resource for info on films once they have been released, it is notoriously inaccurate for fanboy rumor mongering before a film is released so this should probably not be taken seriously.
Simon Pegg
What about Star Trek’s new Scotty? Well nothing much new to report for Simon Pegg. He is back in the UK and regularly tweeting.
Zoe likes a man with nice hands who can cry? My tears are falling on the keyboard as my beautiful hands type out this comment! (sob)
Is it possible that Pine, as an actor, could eventually eclipse the Shat?
I know, I know……SACRILEGE!
Zoe is really quite pretty, but can you IMAGINE how much more alluringly Bill Theiss could have dressed her?
#1
Well Harry, I suggest that you keep the raw, peeled onions away from your computer! And I’m sure you’re pleased with your hands!
As for your second question…it is sacrilage, yet equally as valid.
Could Chris Pine and Patrick Stewart one day share the same stage?
There are always possibilities…
4
Yes, but if one of these days Pine wins an Academy Award for acting, then where does that put him in the pecking order? That would certainly seem to trump knighthoods or Emmy nods, as far as sheer acting is concerned.
Harry
I was talking about the potential of seeing them both in the same play, whatever that might be.
I love the Harold & Kumar movies and can hardly wait for the next one. Did Kumar get a break from working for the President?
Kumar has left his position working for the President.
No one wants to stay on a sinking ship.
Nothing trumps a knighthood, which is what actors Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Judi Dench to name but a few all have. It is the equivalent to a lifetime achievement award and it usually signifies that these people have done consistently good work in all areas of the dramatic arts over a long period of time . It is certainly true of the three I have mentioned.
I think it is very possible that Chris Pine may eclipse the Shat. Chris Pine is getting good reviews for his acting in the Lieutenant of Inishmore (theatre work). He is already proving a very capable actor in all three mediums – TV, movies and live theatre performance.
There is no reason why Chris Pine and Patrick Stewart could not share the same stage one day. They are both very good. Only wish I could be there to see them. Wish I could be at the Mark Taper Forum to see Chris play a ‘wacko’… The Pacific Ocean is no ditch!
Damn. Zoe does some damage in those pics.
@3 — I think it is easy enough for Pine to eclipse the Shat as an actor yet highly unlikely that he could eclipse the “presence” of the Shat. I mean, I don’t see Pine as the King of All Media.
2
As good as Pine is he WILL NEVER eclipse the SHAT.
Shatner is an international legend and will always be the real Kirk.
Pine made the role his own as he plays the alternate version of Kirk. But as much as I love the new actors I still think the originals are still the real deal.
Am I the only one who thought Simon Pegg was miscast?
12
I think Shatner is a better actor than people give him credit for. If it wasn’t for Shatner would Kirk be the legenedary character we know and love.
Pine was excellent but I think to me the Shat wil always be Kirk for me.
I´d love to see Zaldana a “Storm” in an upcoming X-men movie.
13+14
I wasn’t talking about their performance as Kirk, but rather an overall career as an actor.
Patrick Stewart is 70 today. Happy Birthday Captain.
I think Simon Pegg was not given enough to do as Scotty. Plus, I think that JJ may have encouraged him to be a, how can I put it? Enthusiastic, in his delivery.
My belief is if SP is allowed to dial it down a little, we will see a fine Scotty in the next film.
“The perfect driving shoe” Wow! Oh, wait. My eye drifted half an inch too far to the left. There, that’s better. MUCH better.
#17 Sir Patrick was highly visible at the British F1 GP last weekend.
As generous and self-effacing as we’ve come to expect from him.
Clearly a big motor-sport fan too! And looking great for 70!
Chris is going to have a massive career- but eclipse Shatner? I don’t think so. It will be a pretty remarkable achievement if he can achieve half of what Bill has.
Harry Osborn isn’t the Green Goblin.
BTW — Zero stars for the cover shot of Zoe. Her appeal is in her giddie girlie behaviour, coupled with an obviously facile brain. This cover was shot as if the photog thought she’s just some bimbo. Stupid. Zoe’s better than this cover.
Actually, considering the ugly black bathing suit and the grim expression on her face, it looks like she’s just taken a dip in the Gulf and is desperately trying to hose off the oil.
“#13 – Am I the only one who thought Simon Pegg was miscast?”
Nope – a fellow Trek buddy of mine and I totally agree with you – I’ve posted that here before. Too goofy, too comedic. Not at all the Montgomery Scott who used to take the Capt’s chair and strike fear into the hearts of smooth-headed Klingons. Hopefully Bob and Co. have gotten the message on that for the next film.
It looks as if JJ is taking his time for ST2012 to allow the boys and girls to become bigger stars, and more bankable ones at that. They’re all doing high-profile stuff (except maybe ZQ).
We know James Cameron worked behind the scenes to get Yelchin into T4 and Zoe into ST09 pre-Avatar, so this all seems planned in the same vein to re-introduce our Trek crew as international stars rather than new raw talent, as they were, and effectively, in 2009.
Those Zoe pix do nothing for me. yuk.
Those Zoe pix do nothing for me. yuk
Those Zoe pix do nothing for me. yuk.
Those Zoe pix do nothing for me. yuk
(sorry, just skip past this post. I’ve been given punishment lines to do by my Mrs)
Those Zoe pix do nothing for me. yuk
(is that enough yet huneybun? ;-) )
Didn’t know Stewart was so old now.
2.
He would have to play a better Kirk first wouldn’t he?
I hate seeing men sitting with their legs crossed like women.
16
But William Shatner has such a diversified career that I do think Pine will eclipse the Shat in the fame dept.
Zoe needs to put on some weight! Geez!
Shatner and Pine have both been trained as actors in two different eras with very different approaches to techniques.
Jason Alexander has pointed out elsewhere that Shatner was a highly-trained Skakespearean stage actor. The man knows how to act.
32
Exactly Shatner is a better actor than people give him credit for. Shatner is more theatrical
DAMN!! Zoe you are FINE!!!
…come on to my house; I’ll show you some big, skilled, knowing hands! =D
…I’ll let you squirt MY hose, and bring tears of joy to my eyes!
Zoe looks very, very interesting in those photos. Very interesting indeed. I may just have to print them and file them away — for research and archival purposes, of course.
About the casting of the new Scotty — Simon Pegg’s delivery during the engine room core eject scene (“I’m not promising anything, though!”) showed a side of his character that was decidedly not humorous. I prefer to see the potential that remains rather than focus too much on the possible negatives of his portrayal.
And as for the James Doohan’s Scotty, how can we forget how broadly he was played as an inebriate in the “It’s green” scene (“By Any Other Name,” TOS)?
There is plenty of time and room for convergence yet.
#21 Harry is the “New Green Goblin”. Not to be confused with the yet to be cast “New and Improved Green Goblin”, not to be confused with the original “Green Goblin”.
Pine will never be able to sit down on a chair and recite Sarah Palin lines and turn that into an incredible performance.
YEAH!!!….CP is AWSOME!!!!
I hear “Pine” gets better with age.
Zoe Saldana= EXQUISITE
yes repeated viewing of ST09 show great subtleties and layers to CPs Kirk.
Quinto as well
Chris Pine is already a better actor than Shatner. This much is obvious. Never mind what the stary-eyed ShatFanBoyz say. :)
42
BAH
I like Pine as Kirk but one movie does not eclipse 79 episodes and 7 movies with the Shat.
Hey, the Shat will always be…..well, the Shat! Chris Pine will probably have a multi-faceted acting career. Good for him!
Harry, you don’t think Bills career has been multi-faceted then?
Buzz
Aw, c’mon, other than playing Kirk and Denny Crane, what else did he do? T.J. Hooker? Puh-lease! Shatner aspired to be a great actor when he was young, but then got caught up in a career of half-ass, lame, uninspired TV gigs!
He wanted to be the next Olivier, but ended up being a TV retread! Yawn!
ouch!
Lets face it not many get to be Olivier, Harry, but you can’t possibly say his career hasn’t be diverse, or multi-faceted. It may not have been what he wanted, but as they say, be careful what you wish for.
And in what way has he been a tv re-tread?
What fate has handed him has been pretty wonderful. Many, many actors can only aspire to his level of achievement.
However, the distinction that I’m very aware that you are making, Harry, is just how good of an actor he is over just how famous he is.
I’m with the Better than he’s often given credit for camp.
Sure, he can be inconsistent and, at times, campy, but at other times he is quite magnificent.
I’m certain that he has been central to Trek’s success.
No other actor could have the energy of Bill Shatner. He was the right choice for Kirk.
If you watch him he is a better actor than give him cedit for.
He is an icon of Star Trek, yet once again many fans on this site don’t feel happy.
THe SHat will always be my Kirk.
48&49 — Amen, Amen, and I say unto you, Amen. His acting in “CotEF,” for example, is pitch perfect scene-for-scene and powerful. Especially at the moment he stops Bones from saving Edith Keeler. Shatner, Kirk and the series at its absolute best.