Corona | Coming Attractions

While being interviewed on CNN yesterday about the space shuttle Enterprise's piggybacked trip to New York, original Star Trek cast member Leonard Nimoy was asked by the hosts if there were any plans for him to appear in 2013's Trek movie sequel.

At first Nimoy seemed hestitant to answer the question but then commented, "We're talking. We're talking," and left it at that.

If accurate, this is the first mention of Nimoy being approached to reprise his role of Spock Prime in the new Star Trek film.

Even though director J.J. Abrams has employed heavy duty tactics to try and keep paparazzi photographers away from taking photos, a new image showing Zachary Quinto hanging around the set of the next Star Trek movie has been published. Taken by On Location News and then brought to a wider audience by MTV, the photo shows Quinto wearing what is being reported as a "volcano suit".

The scene in question showed Quinto being dropped quickly down (by wires) against a green-screen background. Lights were being shone close by so the illumination could be reflected in Quinto's visor, as it's believed that this would be light coming from the glow of the active volcano he's under.

No one knows how the scene fits into the (still unknown) storyline for the next Trek flick.

Now that filming has started, the movie studio has issued a press release announcing the start of production on the still-untitled Star Trek sequel:

   Paramount Pictures announced that principal photography has commenced in Los Angeles, CA on the sequel to STAR TREK from director J.J. Abrams. The film will be released on May 17, 2013 in 3D. The 2009 re-launch of the Star Trek franchise by Abrams was met with critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of over $385 million at the box office.

   Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions present a Bad Robot Production of a J.J. Abrams Film. Returning to their posts on the Enterprise are John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin. They are joined by new cast members Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve and Peter Weller.

   Based upon Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, the film is produced by J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The script was written by Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci & Damon Lindelof.

   Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers. The director of photography is Dan Mindel, ASC, BSC. The production designer is Scott Chambliss. The film is edited by Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. The costume designer is Michael Kaplan. The music is by Michael Giacchino.

The reporter for L.A. Times' Hero Complex was on hand for yesterday's first day of principal photography. His report on what he saw and the vibe on the set is now published and online.

"Throughout the morning, the crew members of the Starship Enterprise were scheduled for fittings with the wardrobe department and the atmosphere was a bit like the first day of school with big grins, backslaps, hugs and handshakes," writes Hero Complex's Geoff Boucher. "There was Simon Pegg (Scotty) and John Cho (Mr. Sulu) ducking into the coffee shop just before lunchtime and, on the patio out front, Bruce Greenwood (Capt. Christopher Pike) and cast newcomer Peter Weller discussing their golf swings and the enduring allure of John Le Carre novels. Pegg, with a toothy grin, stopped by Greenwood’s table to pay his respects: 'Nice to see you!' Greenwood responded with a 'My man!'"

A little deeper into the article, Bruce Greenwood talks about the level of security that everyone is maintaining to keep the storyline for the Star Trek sequel under wraps. "Everybody’s got their script – all printed on red paper with every actor’s name stamped across every page — and their brown bag and we’ve all signed these releases that are as long as your leg. The script is good, as you would expect.  You won’t be given anything by anybody when it comes to the movie. It’s easier to push the building than get anything out of anyone."

Today marks the first day of filming on the new Star Trek movie. Shooting is taking place on the Sony lot in Culver City, CA.

The latest casting news breaks from Entertainment Weekly. The publication claims that former 24 actress Nazneen Contractor will play the role of Noel Clarke's character's wife in the movie. No other details surrounding Contractor's character were learned.

British actor Noel Clarke has landed a role in the Star Trek sequel. Right now, all we know about his character's details isn't much: he's a husband and a father, and that's all we've been told.

Clarke is best known for playing the character of Mickey Smith in several seasons of Doctor Who. He's also had roles in the films Centurion, Huge and Screwed.

Two new names have surfaced as possibilities to play the part that Benicio Del Toro was up for, which is rumored to be Khan.

The two actors are Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) and Jordi Molla (Columbiana). Both are of Latino descent and fall in line with the rumor that the new Khan will be played by an actor from the same heritage as was the original Khan, Ricardo Montalban.

Peter Weller has been cast in the next Star Trek. For the present time, his role is a secret.

Weller is best known for playing the cyborg police officer RoboCop in the first two films of that franchise. He's also starred in Buckaroo Banzai, Leviathan and in recent years had memorable recurring roles in TV's Dexter, 24 and Star Trek: Enterprise. [Full story]

Now Vulture is claiming that the deal to hire Del Toro has fallen through and he won't be starring in the movie. On the up side, the site also backs up Latino Review's scoop that Khan is indeed the villain in the new Trek movie.

A major leak may have just happened: according to Latino Review, Benicio Del Toro is playing none other than rogue superman Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek 2.

The character was first played by Ricardo Montalban in the classic Trek episode "Space Seed". Montalban later reprised the part in 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, considered by many fans to be not just the best Star Trek film ever, but one of the best sci-fi action movies too.

Latino Review stands by their source and points to their impressive record of breaking major casting news before.

Later that same evening, HitFix followed up on the scoop and contacted director J.J. Abrams. When the site asked Abrams if Del Toro was playing Khan, the filmmaker said, "Not true." [Full story]

Alice Eve has been cast in the Star Trek sequel. Her character is said to be new to the Trek universe. The actress reportedly beat out Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four) for the part.

Eve has starred in She's Out of My League and the final season of Entourage.

Also mentioned is that there are two other major male roles to be filled, both villains and one character (rumored to be the character that Benicio Del Toro is up for) is younger than the other male part. [Full story]

Paramount has finally announced a specific release date for the next Star Trek movie. The second Trek adventure to be directed by J.J. Abrams will come out May 17, 2013.

Production on the Star Trek sequel begins on January 15, 2012. That's the latest news courtesy of TrekMovie and their insider sources who go on to say that ILM has already begun working on special effects sequences. Before you begin wondering what space battles the FX company could be making for Kirk and his Starfleet crew, most of these shots are for space sequences that don't need any additional elements.

Scouting is also taking place. Hawaii is a rumored possible filming location for Trek 2, which could stand in for a jungle planet. There's also talk that the production will shoot inside a museum in Los Angeles that's reportedly well-known within the Star Trek lore. Filming will also take place within Paramount soundstages.

While the writing on the wall made it look like Paramount wouldn't be able to make a June 29, 2012 release date for its Star Trek sequel, Deadline claims that internally the studio has decided to give the 6/29/12 date to the G.I. Joe sequel called Retaliation. If so, that would bump ST2 to a holiday 2012 or more likely a summer 2013 release.

Deadline also claims that J.J. Abrams is presently working on the script and will come back to direct the sequel.