Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments
Star Trek XII (Reboot 2)
1/5/12 - Benedict Cumberbatch accepted a major role in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek sequel for Paramount. Although sources would not comment on the character and Abrams keeping story details close to the vest, it is believed that Cumberbatch will play the movie’s villain.
1/4/12 – Variety reported that Noel Clarke has been cast in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2. He joins franchise newcomers Alice Eve and Peter Weller in the sci-fi sequel. While the details of Clarke's role are being kept under wraps, he will play a family man with a wife and young daughter.
12/5/11 – TheWrap reported that Peter Weller, the veteran actor who played Robocop, has joined J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie. Details about Weller's character aren't being revealed quite yet, but Weller has Star Trek experience, having played John Frederick Paxton on two episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise. The Paxton character is the murderous leader of radical group Terra Prime, which advocates expelling all non-humans from earth and the entire solar system. Abrams is writing, directing and producing. Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof also wrote. Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison are producing.
11/30/11 - Variety reported that J.J. Abrams' second installment of the Star Trek franchise is gearing up and has chosen Alice Eve to join the cast. Benicio del Toro, whose deal is also pending, is Abrams' choice to play the villain. Most of the cast from the previous installment is returning, including Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Abrams is back to direct with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof penning the script. Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison will produce through Bad Robot and Skydance Productions. Production is expected to start in early 2012 with Paramount planning to release the pic on May 17, 2013.
11/23/11 - Paramount will release the next Star Trek sequel on May 17, 2013 in 3D, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The studio's announcement of a new release date for Summer 2013 indicates that J.J. Abrams is happy with the status of the script from Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.
1/11/10 - Paramount has reportedly set a date for J.J. Abrams' second Star Trek movie: June 29, 2012. The news suggests that writers Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have cracked the script for their second film, which doesn't yet have a title. It's uncertain whether Abrams will again direct or simply produce.
6/16/09 – SCI FI Wire reported that writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are already thinking about the sequel, and they know their dilemma: whether to come up with an original story or go back into Trek lore to retell a story that's been dealt with before. In either case, the writers say they learned a few lessons from the first movie, which has become an international hit. "I think the major lesson we learned is that fans were willing to accept differences and surprises, provided that they were somehow echoes or inspired by canon," Orci said. He added: "We still have to be true to Star Trek the next time around, but we've also been blessed with being able to be unpredictable. And that doesn't mean we can just be shocking for no good reason and just throw everything away. ... It still has to echo everything that Star Trek has been." At this point, the writers don't have a story or even a premise. "We have agreed to write another one," Orci said. "We're going to start thinking about it any second now. But we're still just having a mental sorbet before we jump back in. And, you know, just seeing all the reactions to the movie. We want to make sure we take it all in and really figure out what worked and what didn't and proceed from there. But now that we have ... an open canvas, ... anything can happen."
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