Remastered “Shore Leave” Airs This Weekend
The crew find an idyllic planet for some R&R, but get more than they bargained for Preview | Episode Info | Show times
Articles by Anthony Pascale
Biggus Previewus of “Bread and Circuses” Remasteredus
StarTrek.com have a preview for next weekend’s "Bread and Circuses" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT
Star Trek Interview From 1976
Just showed up on YouTube: In 1976 the Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder dedicated an entire show to Star Trek – includes interviews with James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, Harlan Ellison and (con organizer) Al Shuster. (in 5 parts) other parts below
Abrams:Lost Season Finale ‘Mind Blowing’
The hit show Lost, created by Trek XI producers Damon Lindelof and JJ Abrams finishes it’s third season tonight with a 2 hour finale. The episode titled "Through the Looking Glass" was written by Lindelof along with co show runner Carlton Cuse. Some quotes from Abrams & Lindelof about the finale (w/ spoilers) below
Transformers Trailer
Paramount’s tent pole for this summer is Transformers – written by Trek XI scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. If you haven’t seen it, here is the the latest trailer. HD version and other trailers at Yahoo Movies
Orci: Trek XI Under A ‘Critical Eye’
Star Trek XI is mentioned (with a brief quote from Robert Orci) in a feature titled ‘Deja View: Hollywood reboots some familiar movie franchises in hopes of finding the next box office monster’ in the May 25 Issue of Entertainment Weekly. The article starts off discussing how franchises like Spider-Man, Pirates and Harry Potter dominate the box office and notes that ‘Hollywood is keener than ever on cultivating bankable brands out of old properties.’ It also points out ‘Batman and James Bond ‘reboots’ – featuring new stars and behind the scenes players – reaped big bucks.’ EW then ‘checks on the status of a few high profile reboots in the works’. These are The Incredible Hulk, Terminator 4, Star Trek, and The Mummy 4. Star Trek XI writer Roberto Orci is quoted in the blurb on Trek, full text below
This Week In Trek
TrekMovie looks at all the Trek news here and elsewhere for the last week Trek XI: George Takei expressed his confidence in JJ Abrams and tells thinks the new film will be ‘fantastic’ . Heroes’ Masi Oka stated he would be honored to play a new Sulu Gary Sinise denied the rumors he was to play McCoy Trek Merchandise: The first season of Star Trek Voyager was made available on iTunes last week, but today it was removed due to technical issues. We are told it should return soon. Trek Toy distributor Diamond Select has purchased Trek Toy maker Art Asylum
Remastered ‘Patterns Of Force’ Airs This Weekend
A Federation historian breaks the prime directive and uses The Third Reich as a model for a an alien society…what could go wrong? Preview | Episode Info | Show times
Stewart: Work In Hollywood Lacked Substance
Last weekend Patrick Stewart dropped by ITV’s Parkinson to talk about life back in the UK. TNG’s Picard stated that his return was permanent and that by the time he was offered the opportunity to return to the English stage had had grown "bitterly homesick." Although he did not mention Star Trek specifically, he did seem to be derisive of his time working in Hollywood. When I went to do all this exciting and thrilling work in Hollywood, and remunerative work too, and sunshine and palm trees and all of that, it was fun but there was a substance that was lacking in it. Because what I’m doing now is all that I wanted to do and I increasingly began to feel panicked.
Peer Through The Looking Glass At The “Shore Leave” Preview
StarTrek.com have put up a preview for next weekend’s "Shore Leave" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT
Masi Oka Would Be Honored To Play Sulu
At last week’s Saturn Awards Masi Oka won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Hiro Nakamura on NBC’s Heroes and TrekMovie.com had a chance to speak to him back stage after he won. The character Oka plays on the show is an avowed Star Trek fan who often makes Trek references, however it appears that Oka only plays one on TV. "I am not really as much of a Trek fan. I worked for George Lucas, so I am more of a Star Wars fan." Before he became a break out star, Oka worked for ILM. Even though he isn’t a huge Trekkie, he still got a kick out of working with Trek’s George Takei, saying "George is fantastic…not only an amazing actor but an amazing individual as well". Oka is also up for Star Trek XI, saying "JJ [Abrams] is a fantastic director and will serve the franchise and the audience well." So what does he think about some fans suggesting that he should play the new Sulu (if there is a new Sulu)? "It would definitely be an honor," says the actor. However he isn’t sure he could do it, saying "Heroes is definitely my first love and my first commitment so I don’t think the schedule would allow it"
Takei On Heroes, STNV and Trek XI
George Takei’s role in NBC’s Heroes seems to be expanding. What started as a one-off is turning into a bit of a recurring character who is tied into the shows over arching mythology. Takei appeared in this week’s episode and will also appear in next week’s finale. Comic Book Resources has a new interview with the former Mr. Sulu to talk about his Heroes role (and a bit of Trek as well). Regarding his expanding role on heroes Heroes Takei notes: "it’s been very interesting as with each script I’m making new discoveries about my character." Regarding where it is all headed Takei stated "I’m just as eager as you are to get the next script to see what happens next." TrekMovie.com might be able to help Mr. Takei out on that one. At last week’s Saturn Awards, Heroes producer (and former Star Trek Voyager writer/producer) Bryan Fuller told TrekMovie that Takei will appear in Season 2, saying "I understand there are plans, but I cannot say anything more." CBR also asked Takei some Trek questions as well…
Sinise Denies McCoy Rumor
Long ago this site suggested that Gary Sinise would be an excellent choice for the Dr Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy. In February IGN took it a step further by reporting a rumor that Sinise was in talks for the iconic Star Trek doctor. They even had a follow-up article detailing how issues were being worked out with Sinise’s schedule to allow him to work during the hiatus of CSI: New York. However, two weeks ago TrekMovie.com reported that the Sinise rumor was not true. We also reported that IGN’s other rumors of Matt Damon as Kirk and Adrian Brody as Spock were not true and that Paramount was looking at younger actors for the film. Now Sinise himself has denied the rumor publicly, telling the Washington Times it was a "bad rumor." So that’s that. Add Sinise’s name to the growing list of those who have been associated with the film. For a full list see the TrekMovie.com Cast FAQ.
This Week In Trek
TrekMovie looks at all the Trek news here and elsewhere for the last week Trek XI: William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy say they still have not been contacted, but are still open to appearing in the film JJ Abrams said he always thinks of Keri Russell when working on a new project and thinks she would make an ‘awesome’ Klingon Walter Koenig advises any actor playing Chekov to ‘stay out of the shadows’ Comedian (and well known geek) Patton Oswalt says he has heard a rumor that Ryan Gosling is interested in playing Kirk. Oswalt also opines that ‘JJ Abrams can do no wrong’ Wizard Magazine has put forward their choices for recasting Star Trek. Choices include Matt Damon for Kirk, Zachary Quinto for Spock and Vin Diesel for Kor.
Interview: Bryan Singer On Trek
At the Saturn Awards this week Bryan Singer picked up awards for Best Director and Best Fantasy Film for Superman Returns. After the show I had a chance to talk Trek with him about his love for Star Trek. Singer said that he is looking forward to Trek XI and thinks JJ Abrams is ‘brilliant’. He said that even though he had ‘bandied about’ some ideas for Trek himself, he never had the time to commit to it. Famous for spending over $200 million on Superman Returns, Singer did note concerns over Paramount giving Abrams enough money ‘to do it right’ and felt that he would ‘go north of $100 Million’ if it were his. The director also revealed how he ended up getting a cameo in Star Trek Nemesis and what it was like to meet some of Trek’s biggest stars, including a surprise guest at Patrick Stewart’s house.
Remastered “Errand Of Mercy” Airs This Weekend
Kirk and Spock try an save some peaceful aliens fro some not so peaceful Klingons Preview | Episode Info | Show times
We Have Ways Of Making You Watch The ‘Patterns Of Force’ Preview
StarTrek.com have put up a preview for next weekend’s "Patterns of Force" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT
In Search Of: Spock’s Planet & Scotty’s Ashes
Two real life space and Star Trek related stories have cropped up this week. One about locating ‘Vulcan’ and the other about the disposition of James Doohan’s Ashes. The red-orange dwarf star 40 Eridani is about 16 light years from Earth and is widely regarded as the actual location of the planet Vulcan. Although not strictly canonical, it is a notion that was endorsed by Gene Roddenberry. Now NASA are planning to use their new SIM PlaentQuest mission to try and detect and Earth-like planet around 40 Eridani. Because the star is dimmer than the sun, scientists surmise that a life sustaining planet would have to sit closer to the star than Earth (0.6 AU) More info at NASA
Keri Russell A Klingon?
Keri Russell got her big acting break in the 90s as the title character on JJ Abrams first show Felicity. Abrams also cast Russell in a supporting role for Mission Impossible III. This week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly has an extensive feature on Russell as part of the promotion of her new film Waitress. The article includes some quotes from Abrams regarding working with Russell and concludes with speculation on their next collaboration…
Images From ‘Errand Of Mercy’ Remastered
CBS have released 3 images from "Errand Of Mercy " (airing this weekend)
Koenig Has Advice For New Chekov [UPDATED]
Last week George Takei was recommending a new Sulu and this week Walter Koeing has advice for a new Chekov (although we still don’t know if either will be in the new movie). The new site Trekdom has an interview with the original Chekov where he talks about the origins of his Star Trek character and the subject of Trek XI came up. Koenig offered this advice for the new Chekov "stay out of shadows and insist on dialogue that does more than simply advance the plot." In the past Koenig has expressed his view that the ‘secondary’ characters in Trek (especially in the films) often had interchangeable dialog. Regardless Koenig is optimistic about Trek’s longevity, saying "For what it’s worth, if I knew of a way of collecting I’d wager substantial rubles that, in one form or another, it will definitely out live me." Check out the full interview at Trekdom.
Shatner and Nimoy: Still Interested In Trek XI – Still No Contact
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy appeared at Creations Star Trek Convention in Minneapolis on Sunday. TrekMovie has received a number of reports from attendees regarding how Shatner and Nimoy started out by saying they had no real news regarding Star Trek XI, with Shatner even joking he was "out of the loop." Both actors did express an openness to appearing in the film (especially Shatner). Nimoy was more subdued; noting (as he has done previously) that he would only be involved "if they had a meaningful role" for him However, they said that they had not yet been contacted by the Trek XI team regarding appearing in the film. Shatner did talk up his upcoming novel Starfleet Academy: Collision Course, noting how it also tells the story of Kirk and Spock’s early years.
Lost To End In 2010
ABC’s Lost (created by Trek XI producers JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof) is currently wrapping up its third season. The producers of the highly serialized show have spoken in the past about how they wanted to set a specific end date, and now ABC have finally agreed. Variety is reporting that ABC have cut a ‘paradigm-shifting’ deal with show runners Damon Liindelof and Carlton Cuse to bring the show to an end in 2010. Originally Cuse and Lindelof wanted to do two more seasons, but the final deal (said to be ‘hefty’) will be to do three shortened 16 episode seasons instead. Although Abrams is no longer part of the day to day, he is still an executive producer and is quoted in the Variety article as supporting the decision.
This Week In Trek
TrekMovie looks at all the Trek news here and elsewhere for the last week Trek XI: We reported that the Trek XI production team are gearing up to move onto the Paramount lot to begin pre production. Plans are for construction to start in the summer and shooting in the fall on six stages at Paramount an one at Universal. We also reported that the IGN rumors of Damon, Brody and Sinise being cast in the film cannot be confirmed and have been denied by some sources. George Takei opined that John Lim of Star Trek New Voyages would make a good Sulu for STXI TOSR producer David Rossi discusses Trek XI in the latest issue of Star Trek Magazine, details here DS9, VOY, & ENT science advisor Andre Bormanis told Sebs Raw Takes he is not interested in working on Star Trek XI
Remastered “Tomorrow Is Yesterday” Airs This Weekend
The Enterprise runs into a ‘black star’ and is sent back in time to party like it’s 1969 Preview | Episode Info | Show times
Wrath of Khan and TNG Make EW’s Best Sci Fi List
The editors of Entertainment Weekly magazine have picked what they consider to be the best 25 sci-fi TV shows and movies of the last 25 years. Two Star Trek items make the top 10: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (#5) and Star Trek: The Next Generation (#8). Topping the list was the 1999 film The Matrix and former TNG/DS9 writer/producer Ron Moore’s Battlestar Galactica got 2nd place. Star Trek XI producers JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof also made the list via their show Lost coming in at eleventh place. Excerpts and the complete list below.
AICN Interviews TOS-R Producers
Dave Rossi, Denise Okuda and Mike Okuda were interviewed by Aint It Cool News’ Merrick. They talk about the upcoming episodes "Tomorrow is Yesterday," “Errand of Mercy,” “Patterns of Force,” and "Shore Leave." It includes shot of the "Tomorrow is Yesterday" Ent doing the time warp around the sun. Go read the whole thing at AICN
Images From ‘Tomorrow Is Yesterday’ Remastered [UDPATED w/ Exclusive New Shot]
CBS have released 3 4 images from "Tomorrow Is Yesterday " (airing this weekend) UPDATE: now w/ larger versions + 1 exclusive for image
Trek XI Update: No Confirmed Cast – Some Shooting At Universal
Things are still pretty quiet on the Star Trek XI front. As JJ Abrams said in his recent message to the fans they were in ‘pre-pre-pre-production.’ However, TrekMovie.com has learned that they are getting ready to move into the pre-production phase soon. The script is complete, however the budget is not (so there may still be some changes based on the final budget). The production office should be opening up on the lot by mid month, and hiring for various behind the scenes people has already started. Although some ‘nuts and bolts’ Paramount people who have worked on Trek in the past (like in construction) are being tapped, for creative work it appears that the Abrams team is sticking with people that they have worked with in the past. Production designer Scott Chambliss is still filling out his art department, but some artists are already at work (primarily at their homes). They should be moving into offices on the lot this month as well. Set construction is set to start in early July.
Star Trek: The Mego Picture
Fun new YouTube find, enjoy [note: contains some adult situations]