Star Trek (2009 film)

Star Trek XI
File:ST11poster1.jpg Star Trek XI teaser poster
Directed by	J. J. Abrams
Written by	Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci
Produced by	J. J. Abrams Damon Lindelof
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	2008
Country	United States
Language	English

Star Trek XI is the working title of the planned eleventh entry in the film series based upon Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe. The film received extensive coverage in the entertainment press during 2005-2006. In April 2006, after several years of rumor and speculation, Paramount Pictures announced that the movie will be produced by J. J. Abrams (who also is being given the option of directing the film as well) with Damon Lindelof, while Bryan Burk, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman will be executive producers. Orci and Kurtzman are also writing the screenplay. (All worked with Abrams on the television series Lost, as well as other projects.) The release date is expected to be in 2008; however, neither an official release date nor a title has been announced.

Early reports and speculation

As early as 2003, Rick Berman, then-executive producer of the Star Trek franchise, began quietly discussing the possibility of an eleventh Star Trek feature film. Due to the recent failures of the franchise, however, including the underperforming Star Trek: Nemesis and now cancelled Star Trek: Enterprise, these statements were widely ignored. However, in February 2005, Berman finally backed up some of his statements with names, claiming in Variety that screenwriter Erik Jendresen, among others, were involved in production of a new film. Despite being tangled up in rumors of other screenplays under consideration , the Jendresen script was widely believed to be in pre-production. It was believed that the story, entitled Star Trek: The Beginning, would revolve around a new set of characters, led by a man named Tiberius Chase. It would take place in a time after Enterprise but before Star Trek: The Original Series, possibly during the Earth-Romulan War. These rumors have since been verified in large part by Jendresen.

However, on February 25, 2006, Douglas Mirabello, a personal assistant to Rick Berman, made an extensive posting at the Something Awful forums in which he denied that production on The Beginning was going forward, and claimed that Star Trek was dead for the time being. "The franchise needs a totally new creative team, some time off, and a cool new approach," he said. In Jendresen's words, "Essentially, what's being said is true. This is 'dead' because it's not moving forward. It's like a shark. It has got to keep moving or it's dead."

There has been no further word on Erik Jendresen's Star Trek script.

Star Trek XL will feature Early days of kirk followed by Tng, and enterprise. We will have to wait and see for the facts on this.

Production

On April 20, 2006, the Associated Press reported that the eleventh Star Trek movie was officially in production. Citing sources at Paramount Pictures, the AP claimed that the untitled new movie would be directed and produced by J. J. Abrams, best known as the creator and executive producer of Lost and as the producer/director of Mission: Impossible III. Most of this information was later confirmed by Paramount, with the exception that, while he has been offered the role of director, Abrams has not yet confirmed his acceptance of the position. (He has confirmed that he will produce.) Longtime Abrams collaborators Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have since independently confirmed that they will be writing the movie, with fellow Abrams alumnus Damon Lindelof co-producing. Kurtzman, Orci, and the final member of Abrams' production company, Bryan Burk, are all executive producers. The film is expected to be released in 2008, based on multiple reports and the recently released promotional poster.

There remains extensive speculation that Michael Giacchino will compose the score for XI, based on his previous association with Abrams on MI:3, Lost, and other projects. However, no announcement by Paramount has been made concerning the composer.

Cast

No roles have been confirmed for Star Trek XI, nor is there any credible information definitely pointing to any actor or actress in any part in the movie. There have been a number of rumors and some well-sourced speculation, however.

Much of this points to Matt Damon playing Captain Kirk. The rumor was widely reported as true after Marc Malkin of The Insider Online reported that J. J. Abrams had contacted William Shatner to get the former Kirk's permission to recast Damon in his place. Shatner's approving comments to USA Today seemed to confirm these rumors. [1] The official Star Trek website later denied that Shatner had been contacted in any way. [2] Writer "Tony P" of The Trek XI Report has launched an investigation of the matter, with some success, reporting that both Malkin and StarTrek.com stand by their stories. He speculates that both may be true: "Shatner may be acquiescing to the cloak of secrecy that JJ Abrams has imposed." [3]

Other uncorroborated rumors have fingered Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman as playing a doctor other than Dr. McCoy in XI (possibly Dr. Mark Piper, McCoy's predecessor) [4] and Ben Affleck as playing either Kirk or, in light of the Damon rumors, Spock. [5] These rumors have been denied or disputed by Paramount [6] and Moviehole.net [7], respectively. However, Moviehole.net went on to support the Hoffman rumor, though it is unclear whether this is based on the original IGN article or new information. There also is a possibility that Brent spiner could be staring in star trek 11, we will have to wait and see.

Storyline

Producer J. J. Abrams has stated repeatedly that "it is infinitely too early to be talking about the plot" of Star Trek XI. [8] A number of sources, however, including Variety magazine [9], an interview with Abrams' childhood friend Greg Grunberg [10], and, most notably, a promotional poster released by Paramount and StarTrek.com [11], indicate a prequel movie, spotlighting James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock in their years before Kirk took command of the Starship Enterprise. Though the early report from Variety pointed to a story taking place at Starfleet Academy, with Kirk and Spock in their late teens or early twenties [12], Abrams specifically referred to those reports as being "premature" and "not entirely accurate." Abrams insists that, "We've made a pact not to discuss any specifics," though, so confirmed information is not forthcoming. [13]

However, it is clear that Abrams has a particular vision of Star Trek, based on an interview he gave to Variety. "Star Trek to me was always about infinite possibility and the incredible imagination that Gene Rodenberry brought to that core of characters," he said. "It was a show about purpose, about faith vs. logic, about science vs. emotion, about us vs. them. It was its own world, and yet it was our world." [14]

On July 22, at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego, Paramount Pictures began circulating a Star Trek XI promotional poster. It bears the gold and blue pastel colors of Kirk and Spock's respective uniforms, with a 2008 release date etched in the lower-left hand corner. Dominating the image is a Starfleet badge of Kirk's era. [15] (The exact meaning of this badge is unclear; the badge is a universally recognized symbol of Star Trek as a whole; however, within the Star Trek universe, the badge, arguably, was also worn exclusively by the original Enterprise crew. Thus, the symbol may simply intend to signal the era of the movie, or it may be a more specific signal that the action will deal significantly with the U.S.S. Enterprise.)

Fan reaction

The announcement of an eleventh film, only a year after the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise aired, has caused quite a stir in the fan community.

There has been both support and opposition among the fan base for the prequel concept. Areas of concern run the gamut, from unease about recasting the iconic Kirk, Spock, and McCoy characters, to fears that a "Starfleet Academy" treatment would devolve to "Star Trek 90210" (a reference to primetime youth-oriented soap opera Beverly Hills 90210). Some worry that longtime and highly controversial Trek producers Brannon Braga and Rick Berman will somehow be involved; others worry that Berman and Braga might not be involved. Others, especially members of fan group TrekUnited, continue to seek "closure" for ratings-challenged Star Trek: Enterprise, or the involvement of some of its popular season four writers and producers.

Of great concern to many fans is the level to which Abrams and his team will adhere to Star Trek canon. The prequel concept in particular raises questions of whether the movie might modify continuity, as either a retcon or a reboot. In interviews, Abrams has saluted both the fans and the continuity several times. "Being involved with a series that has a passionate and vocal following makes me incredibly sympathetic. They have put up with so many incarnations along the way. These fans, they are a smart bunch. They are an intelligent group. We are very respectful and we have no intention of subverting the material," he told Donald Clarke of The Irish Times. [16] Later, to Empire, he said, "As someone who works on a show that has a very loyal and vocal fanbase, I do understand the need to be respectful... I think we can do the fans proud," [17] Abrams has not seen Star Trek: Nemesis, and claims that the franchise eventually "disconnected" for him. However, Roberto Orci claims "immediate recall" of all things Trek, and has made comments indicating that he considers even the line of Star Trek novels to have canon value. [18] In contrast, Abrams has labeled Bryan Burk as being "relatively fresh" to the Star Trek universe. Abrams himself labeled himself as a "big fan", but not a "Trekker". [19]

External links

• Star Trek (2009 film) at Memory Alpha
• The Star Trek XI Report: Independent website dedicated to exhaustive XI news coverage and commentary.