Trek Plot, JJ Talks Trek & 3 More Pics!

Yesterday, we got a look at a six-pack of images from JJ Abrams "Star Trek," an idea when we might see our first full-length trailer, the reasoning why Abrams took on the reboot project and the film's running time which is slated to release next year. Today, we got more for you! Entertainment Weekly did a in-depth interview with Abrams along with some of his co-creators and got alot more out of him concerning the treasured space traveling franchise. That's not all, there are 3 more photos that have found their way onto the internet, plus the cover of this week's EW, with Kirk and Spock on the cover.

First and foremost Abrams gave away the official synopsis of "Star Trek." Abrams did however hold exact plot details to himself, he gave us a much clearer view of what to expect from the original story. JJ told EW, the film will span from Earth to Vulcan in a time traveling plot begining in the past where we see the USS Kelvin under a dramatic attack by the evil Romulan leader Nero, who is in search of one of the film's heroes. The film then brings both Kirk and Spock to center stage retelling the origin of their friendship and becoming officers aboard the USS Enterprise. The film will also introduce how the entire crew came together including Bones, Uhura, Scotty, Chekov and Sulu. The film will be Trekker friendly with a wide range of surprises and Trek lore. Abrams was sure to stress that it will be ultimately newbie-friendly. To back up Abrams ideas that the film is newbie-friendly he said, "We weren't making a movie for fans of Star Trek. We were making a movie for fans of movies."

Abrams talked alot about what it meant getting Leonard Nimoy in the film and casting the right people in the characters of Spock and Kirk. JJ Abrams was so steadfast on having Nimoy in the new Star Trek, that he told Paramount executives he would not move forward on the project without him. Nimoy however was not so sure about the return. Leonard Nimoy said, "I thought Spock was behind me. I had no unfulfilled wishes." Nimoy however was continually persued by Abrams and came on board with the idea. Nimoy related, "I felt J.J. and his writers had a very strong sense of who the characters were and how they should work. To find a team that was interested in putting it all back together was very exciting." Nimoy also played a vital part in the casting of Zachary Quinto as Spock. "I could see Zach had an internal life as an actor, which is important to the Spock character, because there's so little to show physically," Nimoy says. He added, "I called J.J. and immediately told him he was going to work." Quinto also heavily persued the role of Spock. He would use his press time from Heroes to plug his desire for the job, which obviously helped his plee's. The role of Kirk wasn't as easy to find. Chris Pine said that he felt very awkward in auditions barking out "Trek jargon." Chris Pine, who had his breakout performance in "Smokin' Aces" was among 2 other actors that were in final auditions for the role, but ultimately prevailed when Pine's and Quinto's chemistry was undeniable to exec's and Abrams.

Abrams clearly explains to EW that he was never a big Star Trek fan but rather a Star Wars fan before coming aboard the project. Abrams easily sums up the Star Trek universe in two words, "Galaxy Quest." The scifi spoof film of Star Trek that starred Tim Allen and Alan Rickman. Abrams continued by saying of Galaxy Quest, "It's so ridiculous, so accurate, so sophisticated, it spoils the Star Trek universe." Abrams continued to say that what he likes so much about Star Wars is why Paramount was adamant that he took on the reboot. "All my smart friends liked Star Trek. I preferred a more visceral experience," he said. Continuing Abrams said he wanted a Star Trek movie, "that grabbed me the way Star Wars did." (I bet that quote has some Trekkers fuming right now) Abrams was given a $150 million dollar budget so that he may be able to successfully develop the Trek universe the way he intended. "We have worldwide aspirations and we need to broaden [Trek's] appeal," says Brad Weston Paramount's president of production. "Doing the half-assed version of this thing wasn't going to work." Weston finally added, "But we needed a clean, fresh take on this thing." Lost co-creator and friend of Abrams, Damon Lindelof, continued the same point by stating, "The movie, is about the act of changing what you know."

Another note Abrams was sure to touch on was some of the original Cold War themes of Star Trek. "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," Abrams said. JJ continued by saying that he wanted to see a shift from the usual bleek optimism in Hollywood lately and present some totally different. "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," Abrams says. "It was important to me that optimism be cool again."

A couple final notes. JJ confirmed that the full length trailer for "Star Trek" will be attached to Sony's "Quantum of Solace" due out November 14th. JJ also snuffed any questioning to why Kirk is wearing black in all of the recently released images. In Abrams Trek universe, black is the color worn by all Space Cadet's. As to how Kirk becomes captain, he left that untold. Abrams summed everything up by saying that he has turned a new leaf in regards to love for Star Trek. He added, "I didn't love Kirk and Spock when I began this journey — but I love them now." To read the full story checkout EW coverage of Star Trek. Also, checkout the 3 new images released today and the current EW cover below....


What are your thoughts on the general synopsis for Star Trek? Are you confident that Abrams has made a Trek film that grabs us? Personally, I cannot wait for this film. 2009 cannot come quick enough for "Watchmen" and "Star Trek." Strikeback...

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Six Pack of Trek Photos & Other Trek News

JJ Abrams is in post production on Star Trek and has released six exclusive images from the film. All of the images are pretty badass and give the fans a real idea what the look of the film will be like. We get our first look at the full crew together, Spock in some serious action, Kirk trying to climb an ice wall, a look at the USS Kelvin, a starship from a generation prior to the original Star Trek cast and the villain of the newest Trek film, Nero. The films images come from six different major industry websites including JoBlo, TrekMovie, IGN, AICN, UGO and MTV but I have gathered them all for you here below. Enough chatter, check em out below....


Click any of the images for higher resolution
In other Star Trek News JJ Abrams has commented on why he decided to take on the epic scifi franchise. He told the Guardian, "I think it was the opportunity to tell a story that was based on a world and characters that I felt were just compelling and optimistic and the opportunity to treat that universe with a kind of energy and excitement and the resources we had." Abrams also explained that the film isn't just a re-boot but an entire new interpretation of the Star Trek franchise. "It didn't feel like a classic reboot or prequel. It is a brand new thing inspired by characters that are poised to make a big comeback," said Abrams.

Abrams also talked with MTV News and had a few things to say on the running time of the new film. “It will be a two-hour movie,” Abrams said. Continuing Abrams explained why only a two-hour running time. Abrams explained, "I’m sick of these two hours and forty-five minute movies. Seriously, it’s like I don’t have enough time to stay two hours and forty-five minutes. I’m exhausted just saying that twice. I can’t stand it."

Lastly TrekMovie says that the full length trailer for "Star Trek" will preceed Sony's latest 007 film, "Quantum of Solace." Paramount has not fully endorsed the idea of releasing the trailer with a non-Paramount film, but it is being heavily considered.

What are your thoughts on the six new Star Trek images? Will Abrams successfully bring back life to the Star Trek franchise with this film? How cool does Bana look as Nero? Are you suprised that the film is only 2 hours? I like the fact that Abrams says the film is only inspired by the original series, not a reboot!

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Wall Street 2 & Bull Durham 2??

In some seriously uninspiring news, two studios have decided to move forward with two sequels to some twenty year old titles. Both a sequel to Wall Street and Bull Durham are in the works! Both of these films have no need for a sequel, but has that ever stopped Hollywood before?

Wall Street was directed by Oliver Stone and released in 1987 and Michael Douglas won the Oscar for Best Actor. The film is amazing and despite the two-foot long cell phones, the film is really timeless. It seems that 20th Century Fox feels that one more dip in the Gordon Gekko pool of thought will work. Variety is reporting that Allan Loeb has been picked up by FOX to pen the script which is a re-write of Stephen Schiff’s draft titled Money Never Sleeps. The script follows Gordon Gekko as he is released from prison and returns to the financial world of Wall Street. With today's economy, Wall Street 2 or whatever they will call it, should have alot to cover. The film will not feature Charlie Sheen's character Bud Fox, which is at least one blessing. Edward R. Pressman, who produced the 1987 Oliver Stone-helmed film, is aboard to produce, with no director attached at this time. Michael Douglas seems intrigued at the prospect of returning to the world of Wall Street, but is reserved saying that he would have to read a script before he signs on to be in the sequel.

Bull Durham 2 seems like a much more unlikely sequel, but it seems that the film has steam, and is definately moving forward. The reason this film seems like it would never be made, simply based on the fact that both Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins have both said time and time again, that they would never do a sequel. Well it seems that at least Robbins has changed his tune on a sequel, to at least one of his films.

Writer and director Ron Shelton also for the longest time was against a sequel to his beloved Bull Durham but had some different thoughts after it hit it's 20 year anniversary. Shelton told the Union Sun Times, "For the last year we've been talking about it. I used to say 'You can't do a sequel 20 years later.' Then the fact that it's 20 years later started to intrigue me." Tim Robbins chimed in by saying, "I actually told Ron this idea a couple of months ago. (Nuke) hurt his arm. I want the sequel to open with him at one of those trade shows signing autographs." Shelton took over describing the setup for the sequel, "And you pan from Pete Rose and all these guys getting $350 and $500 an autograph, and there's Nuke and he's getting 15 bucks. And he's really steamed about it because (he was supposed) to get 25." So in the sequel Nuke did not live up to his potential and is extremely bitter about it. Shelton continued, "My view of his major-league career is he went up there and in his second year in the majors he was 18-4. In his third year he was 4-18. It was a sort of an unrealized career in which we saw glimpses of his greatness."

You may ask what is up with Saradon's and Costner's characters. Crash Davis is now managing the Triple A Durham Bulls and has kept his relationship with Annie all these years who is now holds the Faulkner Chair of Oxford Mississippi. The two of them see Nuke in his bitter and drunken stupor and bring him back to the majors by teaching him to throw a knuckleball.

There's no denying that the premise is pretty good for both of these sequels, but do we really need to sully these titles? There still is alot of news to come on both of these as well. Douglas needs to agree to the script and that it is worth him coming aboard for a Wall Street sequel. Kevin Costner has yet to comment on the idea of Bull Durham 2, but again he told Roger Ebert that he would never do a sequel. Tim Robbins appears to be in the mood to revisit his role of Nuke and I am sure his wife Susan Sarandon will be on board if hubby says so.

What are your thoughts on these two sequels? Should we have a Wall Street 2 or Bull Durham 2? Should Robbins and Costner break their no sequels rule for Bull Durham 2? What do you think of the concepts for these two sequels? Strikeback...

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