Breaking News: Ben Cross cast as Sarek

Now this really makes no sense. Maybe Sarek was supposed to be this much older than Spock's mother in the original Star Trek? Cross is 59, Winona Ryder is 36.

George Takei is also trying to master JJ Abrams' new math. Takei notes in the Glasgow Daily Record that he was only 27 in his first appearance as Sulu. New Sulu John Cho is 35, he says. Takei said of William Shatner, "Bill is a magnetic actor, but he is not the easiest person to work with."

www.startrek.com
www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Breaking News: Kirk's Father and Henchman Cast

Variety reports that Chris Hemsworth will play George Kirk, father of Captain James T. Kirk, and Clifton Collins will play the evil henchman to Eric Bana's Nero in the new Star Trek film. Reaction ranges from, "Who?" to a defiant shrug of the shoulders. Apparently, these guys are in a few movies currently in production, and therefore are unknown and - most importantly - cheap to hire for the studio. Ho hum. This is boring news, but it will be interesting to find out more about Kirk's father in the movie.

www.variety.com

Breaking News: Avoid Star Trek Spoilers Today

There is a report on the web that some familiar plot device in the new film will be achieved through a familiar device in the Original Star Trek, but to say more would be a spoiler. A number of spoilers are coming out in the last few hours, so avoid the Daily Herald or IESB.net if you don't want to know! But if you do want to know...

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=76097

www.iesb.net

Something called Hollywood UK is also claiming to have the first photo of Zachary Quinto as Spock.

Breaking news: Winona Ryder to play Spock's mother

This is a few hours old. Variety reports Winona Ryder has been cast as Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson. Others have reported this in the last few hours, but here is exclusive analysis: While she may be a good actress, isn't she way too young (36) to be Zachary Quinto's mother? Am I the only one who realized this?

www.variety.com

Lights, Camera, Action!

Filming has officially begun on the new Star Trek movie, reports TrekMovie.com. These are outdoor shots as sets for the Enterprise, etc., are still under construction. No word if Chris Pine was involved in today's scenes. In a related report, an open casting call will be held this weekend in Burbank for extras with "unique faces." No word if the Gorn has submitted his head shot.

www.trekmovie.com

The Negotiator's Master Class

Consider the mastery of communication through facial expressions on display in William Shatner's Priceline print ads. Of course, these ads are in the new Shatner persona. But any actor - including Chris Pine - should consider these print ads a free master class by the master himself, William Shatner. There are words, ad copy, in the design. But the face says all that and more. Think about it: you have to sum up an idea in one frame of film. The man is simply leaping out of the page! When the new Star Trek movie tickets go on sale, will the Negotiator let you Name Your Own Price?

www.priceline.com

A Professor's Opinion

Even the academics are weighing in on the casting of Chris Pine as Captain Kirk. Lawrence Krauss is professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University, and also wrote the books The Physics of Star Trek, and Beyond Star Trek. Does this guy have any spare time? If you missed the class, Julie E. Washington of The Cleveland Plain Dealer took notes for you:



"Will fans — who are understandably wary after the fast demise of television's "Star Trek: Enterprise" and the mothballing of the movie franchise — learn to love Pine, Quinto and Urban with the same fervor as Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley?"



Capt. James T. Kirk
Original actor: William Shatner, currently portraying attorney Denny Crane in "Boston Legal."
New actor: Chris Pine.
Where we've seen him: Music manager Jake in "Just My Luck," neo-Nazi assassin in "Smokin' Aces."
Krauss says: "He looks like a fine young man. The key thing is, can he overact?"



www.cleveland.com/plaindealer