GhostFaceSaint's continuously updated Star Trek XII news thread

[Borgminister]

It will have been a long time, getting from there to here...

 

[Captain Pike]

Agghh..

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Yeah, I understand the sentiment, but if anything interesting is reported I will post it here for everyone to read, though I suspect I won't get much for a week or two at a time between my posts. Once their done with the script I don't think they'll be anything to talk about until preproduction begins hopefully in February or March.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Here is an interview with Simon Pegg at AirlockAlpha.com with some speculation by him in it about XII.

IGN.com did a smart interview with Karl Urban where he states what he believes XII needs to do; akin to the Dark Knight in terms of using XI's built in audience to expand the future success of XII hopefully.

Urban Talks Trek 2
Dr. McCoy wants the Enterprise crew torn apart. Seriously.
by Jim Vejvoda
We asked Urban, who plays Dr. Leonard McCoy in the rebooted film series, if he'd like to see the sequel go further in exploring the relationship between Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and "Bones" since the first film focused more on forging the bond between Kirk and Spock.

"The structure wasn't really the traditional triumvirate that you've seen on the television show. It was really more a movie about establishing everybody. I certainly hope that [screenwriters] Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and J.J. [Abrams, the first film's director] continue to strengthen and evolve those characters into those directions."

[...]
He added,

"I think the challenge is to come up with the most important mission, the mission that literally tears these people apart. The mission that is the definitive Trek mission. We have to come up with something akin to a Dark Knight or The Empire Strikes Back. Something like that."

The original post can be found here.

I might have a video interview with the cast of Star Trek (XI) from a previous post I had by this weekend, until then.
GhostFaceSaint


PS I think that Carl Urban is correct in his assessment of what XII needs to do and I hope it achieves such iconic status as Empire Strikes Back and Dark Knight surpassing II Wrath of Khan in everyones minds as well.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Got a Video interview with Orci and Lindelof from TrekMovie.com.

Exclusive Video Interview: Orci and Lindelof Talk Star Trek Sequel (+ Fringe & Lost)
[...]
Orci on Trek

On status of sequel: Star Trek script: team "will be having preliminary conversations on all the areas we are gravitating towards, then meditate over Christmas and hit the ground running in the new year"

Even though Abrams is now planning for Summer 2012, Orci & Kurtzman "have time slotted" for Trek in early 2010 and could "maybe get it in early"
Orci is preparing for writing sequel by looking at "classic (non-Trek) great epic sci-fi stories", including works of Arthur C. Clark, and "watching The Original Series again front to back"

On if Star Trek could work on TV again, Orci states: "I have to say yes…good stories are good stories and some of the stories in the Trek vault are the best stories around. It is just a matter of the energy and the context of putting it in there."

Orci would be interested in producing a new "Star Trek" TV show, but not being show-runner, agrees Manny Coto would be a good choice

The link to the video can be found here.

So I really don't expect to hear anything else until they get the script done hopefully by February/March.

PS
Lindelof says in the video that in regards to the name of the twelfth film they just don't know what they are going to call it yet, wether or not this will be Star Trek 2, Star Trek comma something, or something else.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Here is a video link posted at TrekMovie.com interviewing Saldana, Quinto, Urban & Greenwood on what they would like to see in XII.

Exclusive Video: Cho, Saldana, Quinto, Urban & Greenwood On What They Want In Star Trek Sequel November 22, 2009
by Anthony Pascale

The returning stars for the Star Trek sequel expected in 2012 may not know what to expect, but they do have some ideas about what they would like to see. At the Star Trek DVD release party TrekMovie talked to John Cho, Zoe Saldna, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto and Bruce Greenwood about their hopes for their characters and got an earful on ass kicking, chair blinking and more.
[...]
Highlights

John Cho Suggests that after the "external, physical action" for Sulu in first film that for the sequel "maybe we turn Sulu’s battle internal"

Zoe Saldana wants to see Uhura "kick some ass" in the sequel, doing real fight scenes, maybe "with a sword or a gun"

Zachary Quinto likes the idea of "exploring the dilemma" of Spock’s half human/half vulcan heritage, noting that it is "shifting"

Karl Urban would like to see Bones "come into that triumvirate figure that is so central to the series" between Kirk and Spock
Urban also wants to see "more arguments of passion vs. logic with Spock"

Greenwood would like to see Pike "on site" and not "back on Earth"
Greenwood does not want Pike in “the chair”, noting "the blinking, the beeping, it’s been done"

And the link to the video is here.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

From TrekMovie.com

Harlan Ellison Wants To Help Out With Star Trek Sequel November 24, 2009 by Anthony Pascale

Only a month after settling a lawsuit over Star Trek with CBS and Paramount, Harlan Ellison seems to want to make nice, and dive back in…as long as he gets paid, of course. In a couple of postings on his website the famously cantankerous science fiction author has said he would be interested in working with JJ Abrams on the Star Trek sequel.

Ellison Trek again?

Harlan Ellison has a long and rocky history with the Star Trek franchise. It started with the episode "City on the Edge of Forever" which is considered by many to be the best of the franchise. Ellison famously fell out with Gene Roddenberry over that episode over changes made to the script. After that they patched things up enough in the 70s for Ellison to be one of the writers to pitch an idea for the first Star Trek feature film. Most recently Ellison sued CBS and Paramount over royalties related to "City", and that suit was only recently settled.

In the last week it was suggested (and debated) by some fans on HarlanEllison.com that Harlan might want to get involved with Trek again. After some debate, the man himself weighed in with an unequivocal statement affirming that he would certainly be interested.
[...]
Will it ever happen?
There can be no doubt that Harlan Ellison is a talented and creative science-fiction writer. He has picked up many awards over his decades long career including eight Hugos and three Nebulas. In his recent interview with TrekMovie, co-writer/exec producer Roberto Orci said he was currently reviewing classic science fiction novels for inspiration, so talking to a ‘legend’ of sci-fi is not out of the question. Ellison may very well have some interesting ideas, and he does understand the Star Trek characters. Also, Ellison’s praise for JJ Abrams is sincere. I interviewed him during the writers strike in 2007 and he spoke highly of the director at that time (as you can see in the video below).
[...]

The original post with video can be found here.

Good writer, though I am sure he would make some nervous, but I think he can still contribute to Star Trek, but we'll see.

 

[Captain Pike]

As long as he isn't busy suing anyone else over wild rumours..

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

So I haven't had anything to post since the DVD/Blu-Ray release of Star Trek and with the holidays being here I suspect I wont have much more than what I have today.

From the MiamiHerold.com under People.

William Shatner's hitting a 'Raw Nerve' MADELEINE Monday, 11.23.09
William Shatner's got the right chops for his current gig -- talking.

For years, the Canadian actor best known for his role as Capt. James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek has been mimicked -- Kevin Pollack, for one, does a memorable impersonation. Now at 78 (believe it), Shatner is talking up a storm.

Shatner's Raw Nerve on A&E's Biography Channel just got picked up for Season 3.
[...]
As for rumors he'll have a part in the Star Trek sequel (he was passed over for the last one), he would not be averse.

``That comes as news to me,'' he said. ``If you could write that up, put a couple of clauses in there -- contract, salary, time -- I would really enjoy signing that.''

The complete article can be found here.

This interview is usual Shatner though it is clever and funny I have to say. I am not surprised that Shatner says he hasn't heard anything from Abrams crew; they still need to write a script before they can offer him anything in XII.

I decided to post a funny response by Avery Brooks on the possibility of a DS9 movie. In this video he is asked about his interest in a possible future DS9 film and here is his response.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56d0ylJUMmY[/yt]

Also here is a link to some Star Trek (XI) film related books coming out soon.

I hope I'll have more over the holidays but I don't think I will have anything to post until January, yuck!

'Till then, GhostFaceSaint

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

More from Harlan Ellison at HarlanEllison.com via the Star Trek Movie blog at StarTrek11.blogspot.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009

I would jump at the chance to work with the inordinately-talented J.J. Abrams on a new STAR TREK film. Yes, I would likely try to steer him toward the original film idea I was asked to pitch, by the late Gene Roddenberry and a production exec whose name I have blissfully flensed from memory (but he had been, if I recall, a hairdresser or clothing designer or ex-boyfriend of someone or other, and he kept trying to press me to include the Mayan Calendar).

If the very smart Abrams didn’t want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go.

Paramount would, of course, have to pay me from the first meet git-go; but I have absolutely NO attitude that would prevent me from jumping in to work with such a clever fellah. One is NEVER too old to come up with fresh ideas, particularly if one has lived long enough, and cleverly enough, to know WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE to death, sixteen times over.

If anyone out there thinks this melding has legs, let Abrams or anyone else with the chops to get in touch with me DIRECTLY. I am without full-time film-agent representation, by choice, at the moment; so if the job presents itself, I will work for pay.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

He would later follow up in a response to fans.

e later followed this up in response to fans:
What the hell ARE you guys…nuts?

Where’s the "downside" to getting topside the radar of J.J. Abrams? This guy ain’t Roddenberry! He also ain’t the ex-hairdresser with the jones for Mayan calendars!

He’s a writer I respect, whose work has frequently blown the lid off my box of surpriseability. But, then, he already KNOWS that. It isn’t as if I’d kept my admiration chained in the darkest cell of the basement of Bedlam.

So go, my faithful minions. Fly! Fly! Save the Olde Geezer from croaking without a killer Third Act.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

While the idea on the surface sounds interesting, in the end I just don't see it ever happening. The biggest obstacle is he just finished suing Paramount for the last Star Trek episode he wrote over 40 years ago and seems likely to sue again if given an excuse. If I were Abrams and really anyone associated with the next Star Trek film, I wouldn't even have a simple conversation with the man as he could later claim that an idea in the movie was stolen from him and thus money is owed.

Also his agenda seems less focused on working with Abrams and more about a himself. As his frequent use of the word "pay" indicates he wants a piece of some blockbuster dollars that could equate to millions by the time back end credits are included. Additionally, it appears he is aiming for creating a capper for his long writing career by using Trek and Abrams ("save...from croaking without a killer Third Act").

Finally though, it just doesn't seem to be much of a fit for the easy going Abrams and the cantankours Ellison. Abrams prefers to work with team players that can check their ego at the door for the project and one thing Ellison will never be able to do is that.
[...]

The original article can be found here.

From reading Ellison's own words I would stay away too if I were JJ, which I think it's safe to say he will.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Here is one article from io9.com on why they think Harlan Ellison could actually work for the twelfth film.

Why Harlan Ellison May Be A Good Thing For New Trek by Graeme McMillan

Oh, how we laughed when we heard that Harlan Ellison had offered to write the sequel to JJ Abrams' Star Trek, despite a recent lawsuit over his previous work on the franchise. But then we realized it could work.

Ellison may have a reputation as someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly, and he may have sued Trek owners CBS over royalties from his "City On The Edge Of Forever" episode from the original TV series (and written that the show "can turn your brains to purée of bat guano"), but it's his admiration for JJ Abrams that would make working on the next Trek movie an attractive proposition:

I would jump at the chance to work with the inordinately-talented J.J. Abrams on a new Star Trek film... Where the downside to getting topside of the radar of J.J. Abrams? This guy ain't Roddenberry. He's a writer I respect, whose work has frequently blown the lid off my box of supriseability. But then again, he already knows that. It isn't as if I'd kept my admiration chained in the darkest cell of the basement of Bedlam.

He suggested reworking his original pitch for the original Trek movie, but added that "f the very smart Abrams didn't want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go."

But before you reject this public offer as misguided or an unusual publicity stunt, consider the potential of an Ellison/Abrams/Kurtzman/Orci/Lindelof collaboration on a new Star Trek.
[...]
with, of course, appropriate credit and compensation to avoid lawsuits down the road - could be a winning proposition for Abrams and company:
[...]

The original article can be found here.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Admiral Archer in Star Trek XII? From TrekMovie.com

Exclusive Interview: Scott Bakula Talks “Men of A Certain Age” + Star Trek Sequel + more December 7, 2009 by Anthony Pascale

Monday night TNT premieres their new drama Men of a Certain Age, which stars Scott Bakula as one of three old friends dealing with middle age. In an exclusive interview, Bakula talked to TrekMovie about the show, working with Matt Damon in The Informant! along with what he would have liked to have done with Archer on Enterprise and how he would be interested in appearing in JJ Abrams next Star Trek movie.

INTERVIEW: Scott Bakula
[...]
Bakula wants to beat Shatner – wanted to explore more of Archer

TrekMovie: Lets switch to some Star Trek stuff. Assuming you saw the new movie, how did you feel about the reference to Admiral Archer?

Scott Bakula: It went by so fast and there was so much going on that I almost didn’t think that I had heard it, because it was the dog reference and I was like "did I just hear that?" My two sons, they were all caught up and they didn’t care about my backstory, so when I asked them if they heard it, they didn’t remember it. So I had to confirm it with other people. I thought it was very clever. I thought JJ Abrams did a great job with the movie and everybody was great and it was a huge success for the studio.

TrekMovie: I talked to Bob Orci, who co-wrote the movie, and he told me that in his mind that reference was to your character, who was still alive at that time.

Scott Bakula: I really appreciate that. Maybe I will get in the next one. All I want to do is beat Shatner out for being in the next one.
[...]

The original interview can be found here.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Shatner sat down and had lunch with JJ Abrams recently, from Jimmy Kimmel Live via TrekMovie.com.

Shatner: Star Trek Movie “Wonderful” + Talks Star Trek

Sequel December 10, 2009 by Anthony Pascale
Last night Bill Shatner was on Jimmy Kimmel Live, promoting his show Raw Nerve, but things swung around to discussion of Star Trek. Bill said he thought the Star Trek movie was "wonderful", implying he finally saw it, and revealed he and JJ Abrams recently had lunch. However, he said he didn’t know if he would be in the sequel. See video below.

Shatner talks Trek sequel on Kimmel
Last night Bill Shatner appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live (video below). Bill talked about flying, Jimmy’s appearance on Raw Nerve, and his wax figure at Madame Tussauds, and then ended talking about the Star Trek sequel. Jimmy asked Bill about reading that he and JJ Abrams were going to meet to talk about the Star Trek sequel. Bill said they did meet for lunch, here is the exchange

Kimmel: What is going on with Star Trek?

Shatner: I don’t know, will you call JJ for me?

Kimmel: I will call him

Shatner: Please, call him and ask him, in a slightly plaintive note, what are you doing?

Kimmel: Just say I am the captain and it is time for the captain to take charge.

Shatner: I said that, but this maître d’ came over and said "I am the captain."

Kimmel: You didn’t really give me an answer

Shatner: I literally don’t know. Star Trek is a wonderful show. They did a wonderful movie. JJ I think of as a buddy, he is a great director. I am sure when the right time comes, he will make the right decision.

To see the video click on the link to the news article: here.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

So unless JJ Abrams takes up Harlan Ellison's offer I don't expect any more news until January when JJ and his crew are done relaxing with their respective families this holiday season.

As far as Shatner being in XII I would like it to happen though if it does happen it might be kept a closely guarded secret and if they did it right kept it secret until the movie came out in 2012, wich would be an awesome surprise I feel.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Trek 12 is a far ways off says Paramount.
Enjoy those Blu-rays in the meantime...

http://www.411mania.com/movies/news/124506/[Movies]-Star-Trek-2-Probably-Not-Happening-Soon.htm

 

[Borgminister]

Just what they want to do with a resurrected, profitable franchise: Put off a sequel.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Here is a Christmas present in some non XII related news but something that is relevant to my interests. From TrekMovie.com


Full quote edited to link per wishes of referenced site. -Lindley

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Got an update on the film I missed at TrekMovie.com the other day.

Saldana: Star Trek Sequel In Pre-Production This Time Next Year December 27, 2009 by Anthony Pascale

The next Star Trek movie is now expected to arrive in the Summer of 2012, or in about 30 months. Before that happens, it has to have a script written, go into pre-production, then production and then post-production. In a recent Avatar related interview, Zoe Saldana gave an update on when she thinks work will begin on the film.

Pre-production starting in a year?

Saldana offers this update at MTV:

I spoke to J.J. and Bryan Burk, his producing partner at Bad Robot, and they are still in the middle of building the script with Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, and we’ll probably be going into pre-production around this time next year.

Zoe’s timeline is mostly consistent with recent comments from the film makers.
[...]

This time shouldn’t take as long
[...]
However, the making of the Star Trek sequel will very likely be shorter. There is much less work to be done in the pre-production phase as the cast is mostly in place and much of the design and construction work is done for the Enterprise, costumes, etc. Assuming a May 2012 release, then a pre-production start around Thanksgiving 2010 would give them 18 months for pre-production, production and post-production. That is a bit tight, so it would not be surprising if pre-production started earlier than a year from now, and Orci did say they expect the script to be done by late Spring, so there would be time to start earlier if they wanted.

[...]However, in another recent TrekMovie interview, Abrams said he believed he would still be available to direct the sequel. We will probably not have the final word on the director and release dates until the film gets the green light and that wont happen until the script is finished, which should be sometime in the Spring of 2010.

Of course, just like for the first movie, TrekMovie.com will be there every step along the way, providing news, commentary, rumor squashing and more.

To view the original article go here.

 

[startrekrcks]

I hope they make this sequel better don't you think and 2012 is a long wait.

 

[Lindley]

I'll remind everyone that policy is not to quote entire articles. Relevant excerpts are fine.