As more and more casting decisions are announced, I’m of two minds on the upcoming, eleventh Star Trek film.
If you haven’t heard about it, it’s scheduled to open on Christmas Day, 2008. Directed and Produced by J.J. Abrams – the man who brought the world Alias, Lost and Mission: Impossible 3 – it will feature a brand new cast, set to take on the roles of the original Star Trek characters. By all accounts, the film will deal with the very first mission of the Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701…no bloody A, B, C, D or E) under the command of a newly-minted Captain Kirk.
So…what have I heard and seen that I like so far?
(1) Most of the announced cast seems quite promising: a collection of young, up-and-coming actors, led by Zachary Quinto (known for his superb portrayal of the villainous Sylar on Heroes) as the new Spock. Everyone seems exceptionally talented, and they all seem to have just the right look to play our intrepid heroes in their younger days. I won’t judge their performances until I see the film, but the potential exists for some solid acting.
(2) Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as a much-older Spock…which leads me to infer that there will be a flashback-style narrative to the film, told from the p.o.v. of Spock’s declining years during the Next Generation era. Again, I’m perfectly fine with this…and Leonard Nimoy has gone on record approving the casting of Quinto as his successor. You can’t argue with that endorsement.
(3) The writers of the script, veterans of the 90s television phenomenon Xena & fresh off of their success with Transformers, have promised a script that will see much that is new…yet entirely respectful of series continuity. Roberto Orci in particular has admitted to his life-long love of both the Original Series and The Next Generation, and promises that the fans will not be disappointed…so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. 
(4) Eric Bana has been cast as the main villain – and he’s a wonderful, under-appreciated actor.
(5) Finally, with a reported budget of $150 million, this will be the most expensive Star Trek movie ever filmed…and the promise of first rate effects work to re-create the universe of the Original Series (especially the original Enterprise) does make my mouth water…
HOWEVER…doubts rear their ugly heads as I think about this more and more…
(1) There have been reports of a plot that involves the Romulans, temporal shenannigans…and the birth of a parallel Star Trek universe that would allow them to play with the originals while keeping the current Star Trek universe untouched & intact. I suppose you could call it doing a Battlestar Galactica: re-booting the series without touching the original…
…sort of…
Not exactly the best solution…especially after 40 years — and over 700 hours — of adventures across two centuries in the future. That’s quite the investment in time and creativity and passion that one would be willfully ignoring…
…but you know Hollywood types. They can always ruin a good thing…just look at how Abrams’ very own Lost has all but crawled up its own derriere into confusion and self-absorption. The auguries are worried on this count…
(2) The idea of going back to the beginning still bothers me for two reasons. First of all, why mess with something that is already a classic? The iconic interplay between William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly…the unforgettable adventures…and the way the first six films concluded their story with grace and respect. We’ve already been on the journey of a lifetime with these people…what more needs to be said? It’s akin to sacrilege.
Secondly…are people going to twist into contortions trying to reconcile the look of the Original Series with what modern design technology can achieve in this day and age? How much does one change? How much do you throw out? And why put yourself in this predicament in the first place?
Let’s all have a long and loud HMMM about this…
(3) One casting decision not quite to my liking: Simon Pegg – star of many British comedies, as well as the films Shaun of the Dead & Hot Fuzz – has been cast as Chief Engineer Montgomery (Scotty) Scott.
Oh dear…
He’s certainly not Scottish.
He’s not what I picture Scotty to be, especially after 40 years of James Doohan personifying the role.
He’s a good actor…but I think there’s a bit of an edge and darkness to him that is completely at odds with Scotty’s gung-ho attitude in Engineering, his never-say-die miracle working, and his light sense of humour. I find the character to be at odds with the sarcastic – even vicious – characters Pegg usually plays. Again, I won’t judge him for something I haven’t seen yet, and yes I can understand the necessity to have a few big names in a cast of mostly unknowns…but this decision sticks in my craw.
Not painfully, mind you…but it’s there.
In the end, the movie will speak for itself. But the closer we get to the launch date, the more trepidation I feel. Will this be the birth of a new Star Trek renaissance? Or will this spell the death-knell of a once-powerful franchise? Or will it be an oddity: a commercial success that infuriates Trekkies the way the Star Wars prequels left fans of that classic series howling with contempt…
Time will tell..and let’s hope the answer doesn’t actually involve time travel!
