Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: JJ Abrams to produce new Star Trek feature film

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 04-21-2006, 10:38 PM:

JJ Abrams to produce/direct Star Trek feature film

Yep, that's right children. Mr. Alias/lost/MI3 will go where nobody wanted him to go.... direct to Star Trek land.

Will this end his career? Will we see a good star trek movie? Is he just trying to get the bad taste of Tom Cruise out of his mouth?

One thing is for certain... No one associated with Star Trek currently will be involved with the project. This could be the only good news.

NOTE: As you can now see by the latest posting here, that some of the news was not accurate. JJ Abrams may not even direct, he only has the option to direct. Whatever!

[ 04-28-2006, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Dave Williams ]

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 04-21-2006, 11:02 PM:

Maybe Jennifer Garner will be the captain? [Wink]

Overall, Alias was enjoyable, it had its good and bad moments in its first four seasons (I didn't see any episodes of season five ... and have never seen an episode of Lost or Felicity). In a few weeks we'll see how his transition to feature film director goes.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-23-2006, 12:48 AM:

It'll suck.

Some Star Trek fans are already dubbing it Star Trek: 90120 or Star Trek: The Wonder Years.

It's Captain Kirk in "coming of age" Star Fleet Academy days. It's building on characters where many already have preconceived notions on how the characters should be. Fundamentally, it's a re-hash. Nothing completely new.

I think Paramount would be better off spending their $100 million or so developing a NEW science fiction story that isn't even Star Trek related. Hollywood used to mainly make movies from new ideas instead of remakes, sequels, TV sends ups and all that other regurged shit.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 04-23-2006, 06:34 AM:

My roommate "lovingly" refers to it as "Star Trek Babies". The only appeal it will have will be IMPRESSIONS of already overly parodied characters. How can it take itself seriously? It can't. If something good comes out of it, it will truly be a credit to everyone involved. Good luck to 'em.

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 04-28-2006, 01:09 AM:

Well, it may have nothing to do with Kirk after all...

from the official Star Trek web site

quote: Startrek.com
In his first comments to the press regarding his deal to produce an 11th Star Trek film (related story), J.J. Abrams says the news that was broken last week by Daily Variety was premature and somewhat erroneous.
"The whole thing was reported entirely without our cooperation," Abrams is quoted by Empire Online yesterday. "People learned that I was producing a Star Trek film, that I had an option to direct it, they hear rumors of what the thing was going to be and ran with a story that is not entirely accurate."

In addition to clarifying that he may or may not direct the film, Abrams also distanced himself from Variety's report that the plot of "Star Trek XI" would revolve around a young James T. Kirk and Spock at Starfleet Academy.

"We've made a pact not to discuss any specifics," he said.

At the same time, though, he confessed to being a fan of the Original Series and remarked, "Those characters are so spectacular. I just think that... you know, they could live again."

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-10-2007, 08:05 PM:

So now it's official. J.J. Abrams is in fact directing the next Star Trek movie, simply titled STAR TREK, and it will in all likelihood tell the tale of Kirk's first mission aboard the Enterprise. It's being released on 12/25/08.

The rumored casting includes Matt Damon as Kirk, Adrien Brody as Spock, and Gary Sinise as McCoy, with LOST's Daniel Dae Kim as Sulu and THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND's James McAvoy as Scottie (although he denies it).

What do you guys think of all this? Personally, I can't wait. Taking it out of Rick Berman's hands is a pretty great idea, and giving it to Abrams is an even better one. These dudes made the best movie of last year, and it wouldn't surprise me if this was the best movie next year.

As for the casting, going with talent of this calibre is cool, because it ensures that the performances won't be parodies. Mark Altman, the writer of FREE ENTERPRISE, suggested that Leonardo DiCaprio should be Kirk. I like that idea quite a bit, but I think Damon would be good too. Actually, anyone from THE DEPARTED is okay. If neither of them work out, they should give it to Nicholson.

I read somewhere that Roberto Orci, one of the writers, considers the Star Trek novels to be canon. That's crazy. But someone with that level of respect is what the franchise needs.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-10-2007, 08:49 PM:

So, is Abrams producing the movie (as indicated in the first few posts) or directing it, as in the most recent post?

I'd think if he were directing it, people would have more to be concerned about, while if he's just producing, might not be so serious.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-10-2007, 09:00 PM:

He's both producing and directing. And whether or not you liked M:I:III, keep in mind that he is an Emmy-winning director.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-10-2007, 10:38 PM:

The casting is confirmed:

James T. Kirk - George Clooney
Mr. Spock - Eddie Murphy
Dr. McCoy - Jack Nicholson
Mr. Sulu - Jackie Chan
Lt. Uhura - Queen Latifah
Mr. Scott - Forest Whitaker
Mr. Chekov - Hilary Swank

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-10-2007, 11:38 PM:

I would eagerly await this movie assuming Joe's casting list doesn't fall through!

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-11-2007, 10:51 AM:

Harve Bennett recently revealed that when he was planning a Starfleet Academy story for STAR TREK VI back in 1991, his dream cast included Ethan Hawke as Kirk and John Cusack as Spock! God bless Nicholas Meyer for knocking some sense back into the franchise.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 03-12-2007, 12:02 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Mr. Spock - Eddie Murphy
Dr. McCoy - Jack Nicholson
Mr. Sulu - Jackie Chan
Lt. Uhura - Queen Latifah

Posted by Mike Pennell (Member # 1692) on 03-12-2007, 12:09 AM:

Why not have Eddie Murphy play Spock, Kirk, and Uhura? Arsenio Hall can play McCoy. [Cool]

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-12-2007, 01:42 AM:

MTV is reporting that the film will be shot by Dan Mindel (M:I:III, DOMINO)! It just keeps getting better and better!

quote: Mike Pennell
Why not have Eddie Murphy play Spock, Kirk, and Uhura?

As an interesting side note, the studio wanted Eddie Murphy to be in STAR TREK IV.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-12-2007, 12:40 PM:

Murphy could play the "latter day" Spock in a fat suit.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 03-12-2007, 01:25 PM:

He isn't fat. He's gotten real wrinkly, but he isn't exactly fat.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 02-14-2008, 11:32 AM:

This thing just got pushed back to 5/8/09. I'm very disappointed. With news of the Star Wars movie, 2008 was looking like it might give 1982 a run for its money as far as genre movies are concerned. Even without STAR TREK, look at what else is coming out:

Cloverfield
Diary of the Dead
Iron Man
Speed Racer
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Happening
The Incredible Hulk
Wall*E
Hancock
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D
The Dark Knight
The X-Files 2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Punisher: War Zone
Death Race
Quantum of Solace
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Day the Earth Stood Still

Am I missing anything? Is it just me or is that a crazy list of high profile movies? STAR TREK belongs on that list.

EDIT: This also means that will have been nearly four years in between the last episode of ENTERPRISE and the new movie. That's the second longest gap in franchise history, the first being from 1974, when the animated series was cancelled, to 1979, when the first movie was released.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-14-2008, 12:15 PM:

Despite the significance of some of those titles, it's pretty depressing to see how many sequels and remakes are in that list.

Wall•E is one few completely new movies on the list.

I don't think this year's slate of major movies, much less the slate of major movies from the last few years compares anything at all to the level of originality we saw in 1982.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-14-2008, 12:46 PM:

For fun, here's a list of the movies we played in 1982, sorted in descending order of gross.

E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial
On Golden Pond
Porky's
Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, The
Rocky III
Bambi / Footloose Fox
Raiders of the Lost Ark (rerelease)
Conan the Barbarian
Taps
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Six Pack
Poltergeist
Private Lessons
Robin Hood
Some Kind of Hero
An Officer and a Gentleman
Chariots of Fire
Young Doctors In Love
Annie
Cinderella
Star Wars (rerelease)
Firefox
Hanky Panky
Heavy Metal
Swamp Thing
Absence of Malice
Sharky's Machine
Things are Tough All Over
Silent Rage
Mother Lode
Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, The
Ghost Story
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Reds
Savannah Smiles
Victor/Victoria
Quest for Fire
Modern Problems
Only When I Laugh
Neighbors
Empire Strikes Back, The (rerelease)
Endless Love
Zapped
Ragtime
Tex
Secret of Nimh, The
Beach Girls
Vice Squad
On Golden Pond (2nd run)
Beastmaster, The
Halloween III
Paradise

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 02-14-2008, 01:08 PM:

Okay, Mike, you had a good run of Great to not so Great to good and not so good movies in that list till you hit Halloween III! Major bummer on that one!

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 02-14-2008, 01:27 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
I don't think this year's slate of major movies, much less the slate of major movies from the last few years compares anything at all to the level of originality we saw in 1982.

But when you think about it, there wasn't that much originality in 1982 either. Unless I'm forgetting something, there was E.T., TRON, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and that's it. All of the other big ones (ROAD WARRIOR, STAR TREK II, BLADE RUNNER, THE THING) were based on some sort of pre-existing material.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-14-2008, 01:37 PM:

Since when did basing a movie on pre-existing material become a bad thing? Many of the greatest movies of all time are based on books, and quite a few (Ben-Hur and Ten Commandments among them) are remakes.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 02-14-2008, 01:44 PM:

quote: Mike Schindler
Unless I'm forgetting something, there was E.T., TRON, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and that's it.

There was a LOT more in the way of completely new movies back in 1982 than there is now. At least several of the ones on Mike Blakesley's list are now classics. And Bladerunner and Tron, though very influential visually speaking, were both commercial flops in 1982. They built up a cult following, as did certain other releases in 1982.

These days if you want something that isn't a sequel, remake, comic book send-up, TV show re-tred, etc., you're forced to search out lower budget indie film fare or foreign titles. The bigger problem is most movie theaters rarely book such movies. On top of that, too many movie going customers keep paying to go into movie theaters regardless of how derivative the crap is on the screen.

I think the really bad thing is all the endless sequels of crappy movies that never deserved any sequels and never deserved to be made in the first place.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 02-14-2008, 02:31 PM:

Mike,
"Robin Hood"?
Would this be the Disney animated one on reissue?
I can't for the life of me recall that one being reissued...

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 11-13-2008, 01:25 AM:

Did anyone else notice that Captain Kirk is wearing Air Jordan XX3's in the new trailer? That guy is as cool as it gets.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-13-2008, 11:21 AM:

quote: James Westbrook
Would this be the Disney animated one on reissue?

Sorry I'm late in answering this but -- yes, it was the Disney "Robin Hood."

Back on topic - we are already getting people asking about the new Star Trek film .... which is kind of unusual, because this really isn't a Star Trek town. I suppose the video afterlife of the original movies is creating new fans all the time - maybe that's part of it.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 11-13-2008, 09:58 PM:

They also recently released the original series in both DVD and Blu-Ray

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 11-14-2008, 12:28 AM:

Well, there is a trailer on Quantum of Solace, apparently:

quote:

Paramount Pictures is excited to announce that the new STAR TREK trailer will debut this Friday on Quantum of Solace!

though the sneak I saw tonight only had the attached trailer (Seven Pounds, Will Smith).

--jhawk

Posted by Tyler Potts (Member # 4952) on 11-14-2008, 01:58 AM:

I only had 1 Star Trek XI trailer between my two Bonds. Luckily, the one I watched had it. Its pretty damn impressive and you don't know what it is for the first 30 seconds. Though with all the flashy action they later show, I'm worried it might suffer from Speed Racer type motion sickness.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 11-16-2008, 07:14 PM:

I also caught the trailer before Bond and yes it does look awsome. And NO it does NOT look like Star Trek 90210 and thank god. Well beside Wyonia Rider, the rest of the cast look pretty good (Simon Pegg as Scotty Awsome!). I dont know too much about Kurt (Chris Pine) as I havent seen anything that he as been in but Zachary Quinto (Spock) is fast becoming one of my favroit actors. I was somewhat so so about this at first but am now really looking forward to seeing it.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-16-2008, 10:56 PM:

Chris Pine was one of the weirdo punk/trailer house trash killers in Smoking Aces. He got to play around with Ben Affleck's dead face in one scene. Then Martin Henderson (no relation to me, although I have a cousin named Martin Henderson) empties a .45 into him near the end of the movie.