How long will new cast last?

[Jeffe63]

40 years ago, the business of TV and film was much different. The atmosphere that existed, along with other factors, is likely what led to the cast of TOS to play these characters as long as they did.

This new cast is so young, they have their entire careers ahead of them. Will Kirk or Spock be played by 3 actors over the next ten years (like the Batman films, where the lead was played by 4 actors in 5 films)?

My guess is if the films do well enough, the cast will want to stay. However, they may not want to be typecast (they shouldnt have signed on for a film such as Star Trek if they were worried about being typecast).

Thoughts?

 

[DeafPoet]

I think Quinto said he was signed on for three. Could be wrong though. If that's the case, I imagine the rest have similar deals.

 

[Jeffe63]

Yes, but do you think they can last 40 years as did the TOS cast?

 

[Kokomo]

^^^ I agree, I believe that they all have sequel deals in their contracts. Now, whether or not they last the next 40 years in these roles is unknown at this point. It is too soon to tell.

 

[Franklin]

Of course they won't last forty years. All of Trek itself doesn't have another forty years in it.

I doubt three movies will typecast them, either. I could see one or two of them break out in a way similar to what Harrison Ford did with "Star Wars" and the Indy movies. Otherwise, they're supporting character actors who will go on to play plenty of other characters in plenty of other films and maybe TV.

(By the way, in bringing up TV, I seriously doubt we'd see all if any of the seven in a TV series. If anything like a TV series ever came up.)

 

[Kokomo]

I see most of the cast like James Marsden of the X-Men movies (Scott Summers aka Cyclops). I can see them playing their roles in three movies, but also having no problem continuing their careers after Star Trek. Marsden has been in many films since X-Men ended for him and I believe that many of the actors from the new Trek movie will be able to do the same. I see the entire cast doing just fine after the possible trilogy (especially Pegg! I am one of the few who absolutely cannot wait to see him as Scotty!!!).

 

[number6]

They only need to "last" through this one film.

Any other discussion about cast "longevity" is premature.

Actors like to work and if the film does well they will be able to. That's reality.
Anything else is speculation and wishful thinking.

 

[Jeffe63]

Do you think it will hurt Trek, assuming there are a number of "Reboot Trek" films, if the main roles are played by a number of different actors?

 

[Dale]

The cast was clearly assembled to have a "shelf life" and with the possibility of success and sequels in mind. As mentioned above, Quinto and likely the rest of the bridge crew were signed to three-picture contracts. I do not, however, forsee another epic, lifelong run of these actors with these characters. They'll certainly never become a TV cast. I imagine they'll make at most three films and that'll be it.

 

[Kegek]

Not forty years, no. The first cast did that because the kibosh was placed on recasting, period. If the formula of having Kirk, Spock and the gang proves a workable one for Star Trek, then they'll become like Superman, Batman and Bond - and so this is six or seven films at the very most, more likely just the three they're contracted for (assuming these films are successes).

 

[Jeffe63]

The child in me, the optimist, doesnt like the fact that you are probably all right. This will likely be 3 movies, and that will be it. I would love to see, though, this cast, if it works out and they have chemistry, last for maybe not 40 years, but a decent run. We'll see, but I wont hold my breath.

 

[Michael Chris]

Honestly? I'm guessing one film. It'll be treasured by some for many many years, perhaps there'll still be a following even a hundred years from now, but I don't think they'll be making more than just XI.

 

[Lord Garth]

Usually* the casts/characters that are most remembered are the first and current. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy will be associated with Kirk and Spock because they were first. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto will be associated with Kirk and Spock because they're current.

The same with Sean Connery and Daniel Craig regarding James Bond. The same with presidents really. Most people can only list the first few presidents and then the presidents of their lifetime. In almost anything, especially if it starts to get cumbersome, the middle gets lost in the shuffle.

I think the current neo-TOS stars will be remembered for as long as they make movies. However many that is, I don't know.

What will probably happen here is that either the recastings will serve as a stepping stone for future recastings or they'll just stop.

* I say usually because Adam West and Christian Bale are most associated with Batman ("first" and current") but someone would be right in pointing out the two 1940's serials. I make a case for an exception here: serials were shown in theaters and then not remembered until much later. TV series and feature-length movies are more conductive to longevity than old serials. Same as Larry Niven's TV special as Bond, it was a one-time event that also wasn't remembered until later by trivia buffs.

 

[Bones1864]

3 movies.

 

[T'Cal]

I'm guessing there will be a three movie run followed by a tv show with a different cast and with perhaps different characters and era. While I've always been a proponent of semi-annual miniseries set in the early 25th century with a few known characters coming from TNG, DS9, VOY, and maybe New Frontiers, I wouldn't mind seeing a series or miniseries that depicts Picard's early career. We know very little about his 22 years on the Stargazer and even less about the 8 years between that tour of duty and his assignemnt to the Enterprise-D. I'd like to know more about Jack Crusher, Beverly Howard, and Professor Galen for example.

 

[Kegek]

^
I don't think a new series should fill in the blanks. It should be about something intriguing in its own right - irregardless of whether there's any blanks filling going on.

Anyway, assuming this film is a success, I expect the Star Trek franchise to focus on interpretations of Kirk, Spock and company. This may still be the emphasis even if it's not, assuming the franhise is ever returned to after that point.

 

[SiddFinch1]

Lord Garth said:
TV series and feature-length movies are more conductive to longevity than old serials. Same as Larry Niven's TV special as Bond, it was a one-time event that also wasn't remembered until later by trivia buffs.

Larry Niven is a writer- i think you mean David Niven

 

[Tamek]

DeafPoet said:
I think Quinto said he was signed on for three. Could be wrong though. If that's the case, I imagine the rest have similar deals.

I expect Eric Bana's character to be dead by the end of the movie.

 

[Gepard]

Jeffe63 said:

How long will new cast last?

Forever. They're being dipped in preservative to retard aging, and a special crypt will be installed in the Paramount back lots to store them when they are not being used for a Trek production. It's what Gene would have wanted.

 

[Dale]

Lord Garth said:
Same as Larry Niven's TV special as Bond, it was a one-time event that also wasn't remembered until later by trivia buffs.

David Niven's TV special as Bond (easy mistake for a sci-fi guy to make) ...and Roger Moore will always be Bond to me because that's the Bond I grew up with. I know he's got a high cheese factor, but still.