Amazon CEO fulfilled dream to appear in Trek movie
The current slate of Star Trek movies might take place outside of the franchise’s “prime” universe. But it doesn’t mean someone known for creating what many enjoy today as Amazon Prime from participating in those films. Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of the online retail company Amazon, took a step onto the Enterprise, playing an alien in next week’s “Star Trek: Beyond.” Both producer J.J. Abrams and director Justin Lin confirmed Bezos’ involvement to the Associated Press on Friday while the two were promoting the film. “He was awesome,” Lin said. “It was like …
J.J. Abrams: Fourth film already written
Far too often, fans complain that Hollywood fails to learn from its mistakes. Not J.J. Abrams, apparently. Some felt that 2013’s “Star Trek: Into Darkness” borrowed too much from 1982’s “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Paramount Pictures wasn’t very happy that the script for what would become “Star Trek: Beyond” was practically written at the last minute. And who gives Thor just a cold opening? To be fair, when Chris Hemsworth filmed his scenes as George Kirk, he was not quite yet known as the Marvel Avenger. But he’s since become a big-name actor — and this is science-f …After weeks of waiting, critics are finally voicing their opinion
In just a week, many parts of the world will finally have a chance to see “Star Trek: Beyond” for the first time. But as what’s typically done, those who review movies get to see it first. And so far, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes, critics are pretty happy with what Justin Lin, Simon Pegg and Doug Jung have put together. “The young crew of the Starship Enterprise enters uncharted space to rescue a missing ship,” …Abrams still considering how to handle character in future films
One of the biggest questions since last month’s tragic death of 27-year-old actor Anton Yelchin has finally been answered. At least partially. J.J. Abrams, who directed Yelchin as Pavel Chekov in the first two Star Trek movies in the reboot era and continues to serve as a producer in the franchise, told the Toronto Sun that he will not cast someone else to play the iconic role. “I would say there’s no replacing him,” Abrams said. “There’s no recasting. I can’t possibly imagine that, and I think Anton deserves better.” Yelchin died June 19 after his Jeep Grand Cher …It requires a trek to Upstate New York, but it’s probably worth it
There’s a good chance that no more new episodes of the fan-film “Star Trek: New Voyages” will be produced. But that doesn’t mean the meticulously constructed re-creation of the original “Star Trek” sets will sit in the dark. James Cawley, the producer behind “New Voyages,” is now opening those sets to the public in Ticonderoga, New York. The project, which has been licensed by CBS Consumer Products, will begin July 30 and include guided tours and photo opportunities. “To me, there is no other franchise around that is more enjoyable and more socially relevant than Star Trek, …See how Star Trek will be represented at the 68th annual awards
Fall is almost here, and you know it when Emmy nominations celebrating the best in television this past year are finally revealed. And while there might not be any Star Trek in the mix, as usual, there are more than two dozen nominees who have Star Trek conventions. In a quick perusal of the nominee list (which you can find right here), two big names from recent films pop up right away. Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Khan in 2013’s “Star Trek: Into Darkness …PLUS: Paramount not offering film to critics in advance screenings?
It wasn’t easy to get in. A security checkpoint just to get on the lot, and then another checkpoint inside to check for weapons. After a panel discussion, people were brought into a stage room where smartphones were collected and stored in foam cases with magnetized pin locks and security guards on ladders watching the crowd with night-vision binoculars. No that, wasn’t a gathering of all the world leaders into one place. It was just a chance to fans to screen a few minutes of unfinished footage from “Star Trek: Beyond” at the Paramount Pictures lot in May. The fear …PLUS: One reporter shares how news helped him come out
He may not be “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, but son Rod Roddenberry probably knew him best. And days after a minor controversy erupted over the “outing” of John Cho’s Hikaru Sulu in the upcoming “Star Trek: Beyond,” the younger Roddenberry said including a gay character in Star Trek is something his father would’ve been behind. “I think he would be 100 percent in favor of a gay character in Star Trek,” Roddenberry told the Associated Press. “There’s so much going on in the world today. I think he would love any sort of social issue being brought into Star Trek.” …
Both sides want to protect confidential documents, trade secrets
The two sides in the copyright infringement battle over an “independent” fan-film might not agree on a settlement, but it looks like they’ve cleared one hurdle facing discovery. David Grossman, the attorney representing Paramount Pictures and CBS Corp. in their lawsuit against Axanar Productions and its principal Alec Peters, has filed what is known as a stipulated protective order intended to keep some information collected in discovery confidential. Discovery, of course, the process where both sides collect information from each other in order to help support their position …2009 reboot basically wipes slate clean for revised canon
Simon Pegg might be known for his comedy and his acting, but he is indeed a serious writer. And when he was tasked with developing what would become “Star Trek: Beyond,” it was a job he took quite seriously. It’s not just finding the right story, and knowing the characters. But Pegg had to understand the new universe J.J. Abrams created with the 2009 “Star Trek” film, and how that played into the rest of Trek canon. And how even if Hikaru Sulu wasn’t gay in what is now known as the “prime universe,” how he could indeed have his sexuality adjusted in “Beyond.” “With the Kelv …First gay spouse is actually a cameo by co-writer Doug Jung
South Koreans are getting some of their final looks at “Star Trek: Beyond” before the film debuts there Aug. 25. But they’re getting the first look at what has become a somewhat minor Trek controversy over Hikaru Sulu’s family. The trailer, which reportedly debuted this past week in the Asian country, shows a quick scene of people running to shelters, according to TrekCore. That scene reportedly takes place on the Yorktown station (named after what the USS Enterprise was originally going to be called), and wouldn’t have gained …Believe it or not, that could’ve been a thing for the Starz series
This story contains possible minor spoilers for the Season 2 finale of “Outlander.” A good Star Trek fan knows that there are some big names from Trek’s past working on Starz latest hit series, “Outlander,” including Ira Steven Behr. Based on the books by Diana Gabaldon, the television version was developed by Ronald D. Moore, who got his break in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and later carried that over to “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” By the time “Star Trek: Enterprise” got to air, Moore was hard at work on what would become one of Syfy’s signature seri …Imagine watching your favorite films from the Enterprise-D bridge
Many Star Trek fans would leap without hesitation at the chance to enter a real-life version of that fictional universe. With its enlightened society, advanced technology and spiffy clothing — what’s not to like? Aside from minor troubles such as Romulans, Borg, and the occasional planet-destroying probe, it looks like a pretty sweet place. Well, Marc Bell has created a little slice of Star Trek heaven for himself in his Boca Raton, Florida home. Bell’s custom-built theater boasts an amazing resemblance to the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D from “Star Trek: Next Generati …Marc Scott Zicree is rewriting history, ‘New Voyages’ producer says
Marc Scott Zicree might not be the first name you think of when it comes to Star Trek. But he has made his mark in a couple of ways, including the story for the popular “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” episode that pulled everyone out of their makeup, “Far Beyond the Stars.” His writing since then has been a mix of “Sliders” episodes, some animated series work, and the 2007 “Star Trek: New Voyages” episode “World Enough and Time.” This was an episode that more or less helped put fan-films on the map, and featured a guest appearance by George Takei, who has been in the news thi …UPDATE: Zachary Quinto weighs in to support change, too
John Cho was excited to share the newly revealed sexuality of his “Star Trek: Beyond” character Hikaru Sulu. But George Takei, who portrayed Sulu the first — and the longest — called outing Sulu an “unfortunate” event that should’ve been done to a new character, not an existing one. However, “Beyond” co-writer Simon Pegg is defending the decision to make Sulu gay in an eloquent statement he rel …