Star Trek

Roberto Orci Talks STAR TREK Sequel; Updates on Budget, Scope, and the Ship’s Engine Room

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 21st, 2012 at 12:53 pm

As production is finally underway on the sequel to J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, fans are speculating away as to what the sci-fi follow-up will entail. We know that pretty much every major cast member from the first film is returning, and Benedict Cumberbatch is onboard as the film’s villain (which may or may not be Khan). Plot details are firmly under wraps in Abrams’ super secret, high-security mystery box, but writer/producer Roberto Orci recently spoke a bit about how the sequel will differ from the 2009 film.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Filming Officially Underway on J.J. Abrams’ STAR TREK Sequel

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 17th, 2012 at 11:24 am

Ladies and Gentlemen, Star Trek 2 is on officially on the way. Paramount Pictures has announced that production has commenced on director J.J. Abrams’ follow-up to the fantastically awesome 2009 sci-fi pic Star Trek. We’ve got John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin all reprising their roles from the first film, and in an inspired bit of casting, Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is onboard as the film’s villain. Joining Cumberbatch in the Star Trek newbie circle are Alice Eve and Peter Weller.

Development on the sequel hasn’t been without its fair share of drama (Benicio Del Toro dropped out of the villain role weeks before filming began), but it’s reassuring to know that production has finally begun. The script was written by Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Damon Lindelof, and composer Michael Giacchino will indeed return to score the pic (huzzah!). The currently untitled sequel will be post-converted to 3D and is set for release on May 17th, 2013. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Blu-ray Trailer

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 10th, 2012 at 4:41 pm

Last month we reported that the Gene Roddenberry series Star Trek: The Next Generation would be getting a long-overdue high definition makeover for its Blu-ray debut later this year. Celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year, all 178 episodes will eventually be released, but in the meantime fans will have to make due with a three-episode special called, Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Next Level. It will include the feature-length version of the pilot, as well as the season three episode “Sins of the Father” and the season five episode “The Inner Light.” The Next Level will hit shelves on January 31, 2012 and has a suggested retail price of $21.99. For a look at how the original version compares to the new hi-def re-mastering, hit the jump.

J.J. Abrams Talks STAR TREK 2; Says Filming Begins Thursday and 3D Tests on First STAR TREK Convinced Him to Post-Convert Sequel

by Christina Radish    Posted: January 8th, 2012 at 12:16 pm

Today, at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, J.J. Abrams was in attendance to talk about his latest television series, the spooky and mysterious Alcatraz, premiering on Fox on January 16^th. While we will run what he had to say about that series, along with his thoughts about the continuation of Fringe and the pilots he currently has in development, a little bit later on, we did want to share what he had to say about Star Trek 2, which goes into production this coming Thursday, his recent casting choice of Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), his decision to convert to 3D after filming, and how long he expects production to run. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

TOP 5: GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE Set Visit, Benedict Cumberbatch Talks STAR TREK 2, Mondo’s Justin Ishmael, BRIDESMAIDS Sequel, WAR HORSE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 7th, 2012 at 8:44 am

With awards-season upon us, I’ve been doing my best to catch up with any potential contenders that I may have missed up to this point. Without a doubt, the standout of late has been writer/director Tate Taylor‘s The Help. I had heard from several friends that the pic was solid but nothing special. After finally getting a chance to sit down with it myself, I have to say that I disagree. I think it’s better than that. Not only is it filled with great performances, but it also finds a way to be more than a story of how a caring white person can help those otherwise hopeless black people. If only 2009′s The Blind Side could go back in time and take note.

But enough of my own cinematic experiences, in this week’s “Top 5″ you’ll find a recap of our visit to the Romanian set of Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance, Benedict Cumberbatch talking about his villainous role in J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek sequel, our interview with Mondo creative director Justin Ishmael, the possibility of a Bridesmaids world without Kristen Wiig, and video interviews with War Horse‘s Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and more. Hit the jump for a brief recap and link to each.

Benedict Cumberbatch Talks STAR TREK Sequel and SHERLOCK Season 3

by Christina Radish    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Today, at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, actor Benedict Cumberbatch was via satellite from London, where he is for the British premiere of War Horse, to promote the second season of the hit television series Sherlock. v Having premiered on January 1^st in the UK, and on PBS on May 6^th, Season 2 is stronger, better (yes, it’s true!) and wittier than Season 1.

While we will run what Benedict had to say about playing the iconic detective later, we did want to post his comments on how he feels about being chosen for a lead role in the Star Trek sequel, what he makes of the level of stardom he’s currently experiencing, and whether he might return for a Season 3 of Sherlock. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Benedict Cumberbatch Lands Villain Role in STAR TREK Sequel [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 4th, 2012 at 6:52 pm

Star Trek 2 has a villain once more. After Benicio Del Toro surprisingly passed on the villain role in J.J. Abrams’ highly anticipated sci-fi follow-up, Edgar Ramirez and Jordi Mollà were reportedly under consideration. Now British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock) has been cast in the part. The actor has been having a stellar year, as he appeared in Steven Spileberg’s War Horse and was one of the best parts of the espionage thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He’s set to play Smaug (via motion-capture) in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, and now he’s poised for Star Trek greatness. Hit the jump for more including an update.

Noel Clarke Joins STAR TREK 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 4th, 2012 at 11:32 am

Star Trek 2 has gained another new addition to its cast with British actor-writer-director Noel Clarke (Doctor Who) coming on board.  According to Variety, “While the details of Clarke’s role are being kept under wraps, he will play a family man with a wife and young daughter.”  Clarke joins other newcomers Alice Eve and Peter Weller.  We heard back in December that casting of the film’s villain (who will likely be Khan) was imminent, but there’s still no word on who has the role. Edgar Ramirez was previously reported as the frontrunner after Benicio Del Toro passed on the part.

In addition to his recurring role on Doctor Who, Clarke wrote and co-starred in Kidulthood and the sequel Adulthood, which he also directed.  He also wrote, starred, and co-directed the crime drama 4.3.2.1 co-starring Emma Roberts and Ophelia Lovibond.  I haven’t seen any of Clarke’s previous work but I’ll be sure to check some of it out before the U.S.S. Enterprise starts exploring strange new galaxies again.  Star Trek 2 opens in 3D on May 17, 2013.

TOP 5: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, STAR TREK Sequel, Brad Bird Interview, Another Crazy Week in Trailers

by Jason Barr    Posted: December 24th, 2011 at 1:07 pm

I’m writing to you this afternoon in the late stages of a full-on nostalgia buzz. The reason? Last night, I had the pleasure of taking in a performance of the Beauty and the Beast musical at St. Louis’ beautiful The Fabulous Fox theatre. Thanks to Belle’s “Little Town”, “Something There”, and the Academy Award-winning title track, I’m still giddy and in complete tune with my five-year old self nearly 24 hours after the fact. Now, if I could just get my hands on that old Proton Pack I used to lug around at all times, my return trip to the ’90s would be complete…

…In this week’s “Top 5″ you’ll find a collection of items from The Dark Knight Rises, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo interviews with David Fincher, Rooney Mara, and Daniel Craig, tidbits of news from J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek sequel, director Brad Bird talking about Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Incredibles sequel and more, and a recap of what has been yet another crazy week in trailers (Hint: there’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Prometheus, and Wrath of the Titans). Hit the jump for a brief recap and link to each.

J.J. Abrams Says STAR TREK Sequel Will Shoot in 2D and Possibly IMAX; Will Post-Convert to 3D

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 5:47 pm

While J.J. Abrams is currently doing a few press rounds to promote Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (which he produced), he’s obviously being bombarded with a fair share of questions regarding the Star Trek sequel. The film is set to begin filming in mid January, and it’s previously been revealed that the sequel will be in 3D (we also recently learned that no original series cast members will appear). It was unclear whether Abrams would be shooting in 3D or if they would post-convert, but now the director has confirmed that it’s the latter; they’ll be post-converting the sci-fi sequel to 3D. Hit the jump for more.

STAR TREK Sequel Will Not Include Any Original Series Cast Members

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 11:19 am

Director J.J. Abrams is gearing up for a mid-January start date for the sequel to his highly successful Star Trek pic, and details on the project are starting to trickle down. While one of the neater aspects of the 2009 flick was Leonard Nimoy reprising his role as Spock with the help of a very convenient time-travel aspect, we now have word that no cast members from the original Star Trek series will be popping up in the sequel (sorry William Shatner). Sources tell Showbiz 411 that Abrams has no plans to include any original cast members in the sequel.

While it’s not exactly mind-blowing information, I think it’s wise to stick with Abrams’ rebooted cast. Nimoy’s inclusion in Star Trek was a nice way to bridge the gap between the other films and Abrams’ take, but there’s no need to dwell on the past in future installments; we’re happy to follow the new cast in original, separate stories. Following Benicio Del Toro’s departure from the flick, Edgar Ramirez is now the frontrunner to take on the villain role. The untitled Star Trek sequel opens in 3D on May 17th, 2013.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Season One Blu-ray Hits Stores Late 2012; No New Special Effects Added

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 4:58 pm

While the original Star Trek series has been enjoying a Blu-ray release for awhile now, the second most popular extension of the sci-fi canon, Star Trek: The Next Generation, hasn’t been so lucky. Since the series was originally shot on film and transferred to videotape for editing episodes, crafting HD versions of the entire series is quite an intensive task. However, the series will finally get its due diligence in high definition as all 178 episodes over seven seasons will finally be available on Blu-ray starting with the first season hitting shelves later in 2012. However, fans looking for a taste of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) will get a but of a teaser on January 31st with CBS releasing Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Next Level, a single Blu-ray disc that will have the feature-length pilot, Encounter at Farpoint, and the “fan favorite” episodes The Inner Light and Sins of the Father. More after the jump.

And since CBS is taking the original uncut film negatives in order to craft this high definition transfer, this also means that series will eventually hit TV and digital platforms in HD as well. As was expected when we first reported on this story back in September, the special effects shot on film will not simply be upconverted, but rather painstakingly recompositioned for the best possible quality. Read the full press release below.

Minor Details on Peter Weller’s “Substantial Role” in STAR TREK 2

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 7th, 2011 at 9:41 pm

It was announced on Monday that Peter Weller will join the cast of Star Trek 2, though his role was not specified.  At the time, Matt speculated we shouldn’t expect details any time soon thanks to director J.J. Abrams‘ patented secrecy.  And he was mostly right.  But we do have a small tidbit from Weller’s agent Todd Eisner, who informed EW, “Of course J.J. Abrams is very tight-lipped about his projects, but I do know that it’s a substantial role and that Peter is playing a C.E.O.”  Trekkies, I need your help: Is there a well-known businessman or corporation in the Star Trek mythology?  I actually like the theory proposed in the comments section at /Film that the agent meant “CO”—a commanding officer is a more natural fit in the military-based universe.  [Edit: Commenter Brian chimed with my new favorite theory, that CEO stands for "chief engineering officer."  Chief engineer is a common position in the Star Trek franchise.]

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban, John Cho, and series newcomer Alice Eve also star.  Following Benicio Del Toro’s  departure from the project, Édgar Ramírez (Carlos) has emerged as the frontrunner to play the villain (quite possibly Khan).  Star Trek 2 opens in 3D on May 17, 2013.

Édgar Ramírez Is the Front-Runner to Play Villain in STAR TREK 2; Jordi Mollà also Being Considered

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 7th, 2011 at 2:25 pm

It’s going to be tough for me to find a way past Khan being the villain in J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek 2 (unconfirmed at this point, but looking likelier by the day), and having a talented actor like Benicio Del Toro pass on the movie doesn’t make matters any better.  However, another excellent choice is now in the mix.  Variety reports that Carlos star Édgar Ramírez is now the frontrunner to play the villain, with Jordi Mollà (the bad guy from Bad Boys 2) also in the mix.  So you have three Hispanic actors connected to a villain role that no one will officially say is Khan even though Khan was originally played by a Hispanic actor (Ricardo Montalban).  Sigh.

Hit the jump for more.  Alice Eve and Peter Weller have already signed on to join the returning cast.  Star Trek 2 opens in 3D on May 17, 2013.

Peter Weller Joins STAR TREK 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 7:30 am

As J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek 2 speeds towards its January 15th start date, casting continues to heat up.  Last month, we learned Benicio Del Toro would be playing the villain (who may or may not be Khan); last week we heard Alice Eve (She’s Out of My League) had signed on to play a new character to the franchise; and now Variety reports that Peter Weller, the original RoboCop, is joining the party.  There are currently no details on what role Weller will play, and given Abrams’ penchant for secrecy, we shouldn’t expect to hear those details any time soon.

This won’t be Weller’s first time with the Trek franchise.  He previously played the character “John Frederick Paxton” in two episodes of the TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.  Let the rampant speculation begin that he’s playing the same character in Abrams’ film (even though the character was killed on Enterprise).  Star Trek 2 opens May 17, 2013.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design