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After decades of being upstaged, it appears that Leonard Nimoy has finally managed to best his longtime friend, castmate, and frequent nemesis, William Shatner. The original James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Shatner was extremely critical of director J.J. Abrams' decision to exclude him from the 2009 franchise reboot, Star Trek, while including Nimoy as (future) Spock. It appears that there was a lot of miscommunication between Shatner's people and Abrams' people — see Shatner's explanation in the video below in which he even offers a way to bring back Kirk, who died in the 1994 movie Star Trek: Generations — but as recently as March of this year Shatner was still stumping for a part in Star Trek 2. Apparently, the franchise has moved past the need for the dwindling star (Trek) power of Shatner because he recently revealed at the Calgary Comic Expo that he "will not be in Star Trek 2."
more about Star Trek 2 >> Posted 12.21.11 by BrentJS -
Paramount Pictures has released the first photo from its upcoming sequel, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and shows franchise star Shia Labeouf with Transformers newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley taking cover behind a school bus. The photo lacks a little in terms of action, but is the first look into director Michael Bay's sequel since a Super Bowl TV trailer debuted in February.
The photo isn't the only Transformers-related occurrence over the last several weeks. Leonard Nimoy was recently brought out of retirement by Bay to voice Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime's predecessor that was recently featured on the cover of Empire Magazine, and whose wrecked body was shown being discovered on the moon in the Dark of the Moon teaser trailer.
Bay "scared" to ask Nimoy? >> Posted 04.11.11 by Ryan -
Last year, Leonard Nimoy announced that his version of Spock had "run its course", but said he would be "more than willing to enter a discussion about it" should director J.J. Abrams call him about returning for Star Trek 2.
In a recent interview with The Calgary Herald, however, Nimoy said he's planning to retire his Spock — or as he's referred to after the Star Trek reboot, Spock Prime — and doesn't foresee a return to the role.
I don't see it happening. I'm comfortable. I'm not glad, I'm not sad. I feel like I've had a great ride with the character ... we started making Star Trek pilots in 1964. I've been involved in Star Trek for 44, 45 years. It's been a wonderful ride for me and it's been great for my family. We got to do some very interesting work outside of Star Trek because of Star Trek and I'm very satisfied.
Nimoy has still been working with Abrams on his TV show Fringe as Dr. William Bell, a role that Nimoy believes will be his last.
I certainly hope so. I've been doing it long enough, so I hope so. I've had a great, great run and I have no unfulfilled dreams or aspirations.
Posted 03.25.10 by Ryan -
While Leonard Nimoy has said that his days of working on Star Trek have run their course, director J.J. Abrams addressed this concern in a press junket for the Star Trek DVD/Blu-Ray, saying that this is not necessarily the case.
I can't imagine a Star Trek movie not needing him. I'm sure that what he's saying is a combination of modesty and honesty. He may actually feel that way. But, the truth is, we could never have made this movie without him, and working with him again would be a joy. It is clearly too early, given that we are just now talking story, to conclude whether or not Spock Prime is in the film or not. Do I want to work with him again? Of course, 100%. I’d love to.
Abrams also explained that Star Trek was almost made in 3-D, which was stopped when he became too nervous about the technology. He claims the sequel may be different.
Paramount talked to me about doing the first one in 3-D and, having it only be my second film, I was petrified just at the addition of it. I thought it would be another dimension of pain-in-the-ass. I was just like, "I want to make a decent 2-D movie." I was so worried that, instead of being a decent 2-D movie, it would have been a bad 3-D one. I'm open to looking at it 'cause now I feel a little bit more comfortable. And, if I, in fact, direct the Star Trek sequel, 3-D could be really fun, so I'm open to it. What I've seen of Avatar makes me want to do it because it's so crazy-cool looking.
Posted 10.13.09 by Ryan -
At a press junket for the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of Star Trek, director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman gave a few details on Star Trek 2. Orci and Abrams have said that the sequel will deal with "modern-day issues" such as torture or the economy, but Orci is quick to clarify their allegorical intentions.
The torture thing was just a for instance. Someone asked, "Modern day issues?," and we said, "Yeah, sure, modern day issues." But, we're not doing a story about Gitmo. I read on some site that it was going to be about Guantanamo Bay. But, now that we've established the characters, we can have a more philosophical allegory, where what's happening in the future represents our world, like the best versions of it in the 60s did with women's rights and racial equality.
Abrams agreed that Star Trek 2 won't be about making an overt political statement.
It's not like we're looking to make the second movie some kind of heavy political allegory. I think that it's important that there is metaphor to what we know and that there is relevance, and I think allegory is the thing that made shows like The Twilight Zone and Star Trek resonate and still be vital today.
But, because the first movie was so much about introducing these people, and it was very much a premise movie about how to bring these people together, it made it difficult to also have the film go as deep as it could, about certain conflict, certain relationships and the heart of who some of these characters are. I think it was successful in what it needed to do, to introduce these people, but I feel like, now that we've done that, it is the job of the next film to go a little bit deeper. It shouldn't be any less fun or take itself too seriously, but consider who these people are now and grow with them, and just examine them a little more closer, now that we've gotten through the pleasantries and introductions.
Posted 10.13.09 by Ryan -
There hasn't been much news about the fourth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, but the production is inching along. It was announced in June that Mission: Impossible IV was moving forward, with both J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise attached. However, it was not made clear whether both men were only producing or if they would also be returning to direct and star, respectively. In August, it was announced that Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec were hired to write the screenplay, based on Abrams' idea.
Now, Abrams has revealed that Mission: Impossible IV may feature characters and actors from the original TV series.
How cool would that be? I just got a call that Peter Graves is in great shape, which would be a very bizarre bend in the space-time continuum, for obvious reasons. I almost feel like you could make him serious again and bring him back. Whether it's [Leonard] Nimoy, who I have an incredible affinity for, or Graves or anyone, we'll see. I actually tried to get Martin Landau in Mission 3, in a very small little moment just for fun, and was told that he had no interest in doing it.
Of those mentioned, Nimoy is the most likely of the group to agree to appear in M:I IV because of his relationship with Abrams: He recently reprised the role of Spock in the Abrams-directed Star Trek relaunch, and he played the pivotal role of William Bell in Abrams' TV series, Fringe.
Abrams admitted to having a lot of irons in the fire, but said he is "hard at work on Star Trek 2 and Mission: Impossible IV." In addition to Fringe and a new, unnamed TV show pilot, Abrams is producing Morning Glory, starring Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams, due out in 2010.
Posted 10.11.09 by BrentJS -
Leonard Nimoy enjoyed his return as Spock this summer in J.J. Abrams's Star Trek reboot, but despite having directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Nimoy told Star Trek Magazine that he won't be directing a sequel.
[Star Trek] is technically on a scale that I would be not be able to handle. The technology has increased and evolved so far beyond the kinds of things that we were doing when I was making those films. It's beyond me. It takes a certain skill and an understanding of the technology that I do not have to achieve the integration of the sets with the extraordinary special effects that are in this film.
Despite saying he would not appear in a Star Trek last month, Nimoy said he would be willing to return if Abrams asks him to.
If the phone rings again, and its J.J. calling to talk about another project, I'm more than willing to enter a discussion about it, and explore it with him. I have the feeling that my involvement has run its course — but then again, I've had that feeling many times before. I've felt that I was finished with all this, so this was a very pleasant surprised to be called back after all these years and be able to make a contribution here. If it happens again, I would glady work for him again.
Posted 10.09.09 by Ryan -
At a Dragon Con 2009 panel discussion, Leonard Nimoy revealed that he will not appear in the follow-up to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. Appearing with William Shatner, Nimoy also took the opportunity to razz Shatner about his apparent disinterest in the movie.
There are no plans for me to return for the second movie. I think the Spock character is very well established as portrayed by Zachary Quinto. And I think if you saw the movie Bill, you'd say the same of Chris Pine.
Shatner's response? A curt "bulls**t."
Posted 09.05.09 by Ryan -
As the new Star Trek goes into warp speed at the box office, it also appears to be reaching into the highest office in the land. Politico reports on rumors that President Obama has requested a special screening of the movie at the White House. There has been a lot of speculation for a while that Obama was a closet Trekkie, and even some commentary on how much he resembles Mr. Spock. More remarkable though is this latest comment from from the original Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) himself:
I've met [Obama] twice. The first time was a couple years ago, very early on, when he had just announced his candidacy ... he came through the house, saw me, and immediately put his hand up in the Vulcan gesture.
What better sign that Star Trek really has crossed over into the final frontier?
Posted 05.11.09 by reelz -
You would think that Leonard Nimory would know the intricacies of playing Spock like the back of his hand, considering he's been portraying the character for nearly forty years. But Nimoy wasn't afraid to go to director J.J. Abrams for advice. Nimoy told Entertainment Weekly:
It was clear [Abrams] was nervous, and I'm glad he got over it. Look, I had been away from the character for a long time. His input was important to me.
It's still a mystery just exactly how the elder Spock will fit into the Starfleet Academy-set reboot, but with Eric Bana portraying a time-travelling Romulan with a grudge against Chris Pine's James T. Kirk, it's possible Nimoy's Spock may actually meet young Spock, portrayed by Zachary Quinto.
Posted 04.27.09 by BrentJS