Where No Man Has Gone Before: Remastered

Here’s a preview of the Delta Vega station from the remastered Star Trek episode ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ which airs this weekend (click on the image to see full size):

History Channel To Air Special on Star Trek

The History Channel will air a documentary narrated by Leonard Nimoy (Spock) next month about the Star Trek phenomenon. Produced to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary, “Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier” features interviews with many of the stars and crew from the four spinoff series, at look at the fandom, and its cultural impact.

Star Trek “Landing Party” Kirk Statue

Forget those overpriced auctions! For just $125 you can have a pre-painted Captain Kirk ready for display:

Star Trek: The Original Series –
40th Anniversary “Landing Party” Kirk Statue

“A Diamond Select Release! An Art Asylum Design and Sculpt! When beaming down to strange alien planets, rest assured that James T. Kirk can be on your side with this Star Trek Landing Party Kirk Statue! Each piece of this series can be displayed individually or combined with the upcoming Spock and McCoy statues for the ultimate Away Team!”

Shatner vs. Rocket Man

Arguably the most famous performance of Elton John’s Rocket Man was in 1978, at a science fiction film awards ceremony, Bernie Taupin personally introduced William Shatner’s unique interpretation of Rocket Man. Shatner’s version utilized then-modern chromakey video techniques to portray simultaneously three different facets of the Rocket Man’s character:

Read more…

Star Trek XI set for 2008

J.J. Abrams confirmed to Variety that work is on track to release a proposed 11th Star Trek movie in 2008. Abrams is producing the movie for Paramount and co-writing it. TrekMovie.com, meanwhile, reported that Abrams and Paramount have added Stratton Leopold to the growing list of executive producers for Star Trek XI. On a slightly related note they also report that CBS is think of doing a new animated Star Trek series as well, but it has yet to get the green light.

More Star Trek Props for Sale

If you must own an actual Star Trek prop but missed out on the last high profile auction, here’s your chance:

More Trek Props Go On Sale

“Paramount will auction off costumes and props from various incarnations of Star Trek starting Dec. 16 on eBay and It’s A Wrap!, another online auction site. Items for sale will include costumes and props from 10 Trek motion pictures and five television series and will include furniture from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s U.S.S. Enterprise-D, a Borg alcove and prop Borg, a Starfleet rifle, a Klingon bat’leth bladed weapon and costumes.”

Below: Paramount executives inventory the merchandise.

Wrath of Khan Deleted Scenes

This is a must watch clip for any true Star Trek fanboy, here are two discarded scenes from Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, that are not on the DVD or ABC versions. It includes a scene where Saavik is revealed to be half-Romulan, and a scene where Kirk introduces Saavik to David Marcus:

Trailer for Star Trek: Of Gods And Men

The extended trailer for the new Star Trek fan film “Of Gods And Men” is now available. What makes this fan production cool is that it includes cast members from the original Star Trek series:

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

“Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, an all-new three-part mini-series webisode featuring many Trek alumni, wrapped production yesterday in Los Angeles. A 40th anniversary gift to Star Trek’s loyal fans, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men will be released exclusively on the Internet as downloads, each 30 minutes in length.

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men stars Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols and Grace Lee Whitney (Uhura, Chekov and Rand of the original series) along with Alan Ruck (Captain John Harriman of the 7th feature film, Star Trek Generations). Joining them are Garrett Wang and Ethan Phillips (Voyager); Cirroc Lofton, Chase Masterson and JG Hertzler (Deep Space Nine), Gary Graham and Crystal Allen (Enterprise), Herb Jefferson (Battlestar Galactica) plus Tim Russ (Voyager), who also directed.”

The Hunt for Shatner

One fanboy sets out to attempt to interview William Shatner:

The 2006 Toronto Fan Expo

The Cult of Khan: Director Nicholas Meyer

Wrath of Khan was perhaps Star Trek at it’s very best. This is a great interview with writer and director Nicholas Meyer who discusses the making of the film, Spock’s death, Khan’s chest, the movie’s connection to the Horatio Hornblower novels:

‘The Cult of Khan’: One on One with Star Trek director Nicholas Meyer

“It wasn’t even my idea to bring him back (Kahn), it was just one of the things we all agreed on that we liked. They showed me the episode. At the very beginning, when I first went in, I didn’t know anything about Star Trek. They showed me the Robert Wise movie, and they showed me four or five episodes from the original series; I sat and watched, and said: “Ah! Hornblower…in outer space”.”

The Galileomobile

A very cool automobile based on the Galileo, found via Geek24:

Push For Season 5 of Enterprise

I always rather liked Enterprise, and I wouldn’t mind seeing another season of the show, or at least a special or two. I think Enterprise suffered from “Voyager fatigue” it seemed like they just wanted to run the franchise into the ground. I think once people see the series solo that it may gain some fans:

Push For Season 5 of “Enterprise” Continues With SCi FI Channel

“The folks over at Trek United have never given up on the idea of a season five for Star Trek: Enterprise and now that the show has been picked up for syndication on The SCI FI Channel, the organizers of the Save Enterprise campaign are focussing their attention there for a possible fifth season. In a surprise announcement, one of the leaders of the campaign who goes by the screen name AussieTrek released this call to all members of the Trek United website and to anyone interested in helping with the 5th Season Campaign:

This week, the fans of Star Trek are encouraged to participate in the preparation of the postcard campaign to Sci Fi Channel. The organizers are hoping to persuade the Sci Fi Channel (the new home of syndicated Star Trek: Enterprise reruns), to negotiate with CBS Corporation for the continued production of new episodes of Enterprise. We are asking everyone to choose their favorite ‘slogans’ for use on the postcards to kick off the mailing phase of the resurgent campaign.”

The Klingon Language Institute

Because Klingon is the Esperanto of the 21st Century:

The Klingon Language Institute

“Welcome to the Klingon Language Institute. That’s right, Klingon. Those bumpy headed aliens of Star Trek really have their own language, one which has far outgrown mere television and film. That’s what we’re about. We’re here to promote and support this unique and exciting language. So, whether you’ve just stumbled in here by accident, or lost a bet, or have sought long and hard for people who share your passion for the warriors’ tongue, come on in. Our site has information and resources to interest both skeptic and enthusiast alike. Join us in our exploration of the galaxy’s fastest growing language.”

…by the way check out the fonts page!

My favorite Klingons are from the first Star Trek series, their makeup wasn’t as cool but they seemed to have much more fun than the Klingons in the other shows (and didn’t grunt as much):

Star Trek Fan Webisode with Original Cast

A new Star Trek online fan film stars Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig reprising their roles as “Uhura” and “Chekov” and takes place on “Enterprise B”. The movie’s Web site is startrekofgodsandmen.com, and looks quite impressive when you keep in mind that it’s done as a labor of love and with no budget.

Matt Damon not to be James T. Kirk?

It looks like that rumor that Matt Damon was to play a young Captain Kirk may be false:

Exclusive: Matt Damon as James T. Kirk?

“Damon was quick to say he hadn’t heard anything about it. His publicist added that Abrams was joking when he said he would choose Matt to play Kirk and it’s nothing serious. As we followed his publicist into the elevator we got a little more, “I think that it [the rumor] came out of a junket he [Abrams] was doing in Asia for Mission Impossible and from my understanding it was one of those hypothetical questions actors always get about who they’d like to work with and JJ threw Matt’s name out there. But we’ve never heard anything on our end. I even called Endeavor, Matt’s agency, to see if they had heard anything – they hadn’t. There has been nothing from Paramount and I haven’t heard anything from JJ’s camp. I’m sorry there’s nothing more interesting to report”.”

Nimoy To Play Spock’s Father?

Having Leonard Nimoy play the father of a young Mr. Spock would be a most logical move:

Leonard Nimoy As Sarek?

“While at Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention in Sacramento Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy took the stage and got bombarded by questions about the film. One of the questions posed to him was whether he’d be interested in playing Spock’s father Sarek (originally played by Mark Leonard Baker) in the new movie. Leonard’s response, “get Abrams on the phone right away!” seems to indicate that he’d be up for it.”

Looking at the photo on the right I think Nimoy might be too hippy looking to play his own father:

…but say what you may, Mark Lenard (on the left) was a darn good actor!

Star Trek Turns FortySomething

Today Star Trek hits middle age and turns forty. I grew up watching the re-runs of the series, although I was a tad too young at the time for the first mega “Bring back Star Trek” conventions in the 70s. Back then the show had a cult following, but it wasn’t until after the success of movies like Star Wars that Hollywood came back to the series. The show was a cultural icon even in the 70s, but I think most people had no idea that there would be not one, but four more TV series that would be created in the years to come.

Yet in my mind as much as I loved the shows and movies that followed, none quite came close to capturing the magic of the original series (although Wrath of Khan came close). There’s a sort of charming magic to that show which stands the test of time, although the series is very much a product of the 60’s (but like the Beach Boy’s Pet Sounds perhaps that’s why we love it so much).

Related article: Star Trek at 40: September 8, 1966

Captain Kirk: Scared of Space

This is pretty funny stuff, however Shatner isn’t the only sci fi guy with a fear of flying — when Issac Asimov was alive he was afraid to take airplane trips:

Captain Kirk scared of space

“Star Trek legend William Shatner has been offered a real-life space flight — but he won’t go boldly. Shatner — who plays fearless Kirk — says he is terrified of taking up Sir Richard Branson’s offer of joining Virgin Galactic’s first passenger flight in 2008. The actor fears he will throw up in space or the craft will crash. Shatner, 75, said yesterday: “I’m interested in man’s march into the unknown but to vomit in space is not my idea of a good time.”

…however the article notes that Alien’s Sigourney Weaver is signed up!

Nimoy Must Approve the New Spock

It looks like Leoard Nimoy holds the approval rights on the casting of a new Spock. If Paramount was smart they’d make the approval process a reality TV show!

Here’s the Spock scoop:

Leonard Nimoy Holds Approval Rights for Casting of New Spock

“All I know is what I’ve been reading, probably the same as you, that (J.J. Abrams) has been engaged and expressed interest in a Star Trek movie, and the idea expressed so far is that it would be a prequel that would deal with the time and place where Spock and Kirk first met in their academy days. “Who might be his choice of actor in the role of young Spock? “I haven’t gone there yet, I think it’s premature,” said Nimoy. “Although I do, by contract, have the right to approve the casting.”

It may be safe to assume that William Shatner has similar influence over Kirk’s new face. When asked about Abrams’ film, Shatner replied, “I have no idea. All I know is I’ve received an okay from Paramount to go ahead with a series of books that I’m writing on the young Captain Kirk and the young Mr. Spock. I started work on that just recently. And that will be my idea of what the story should be”.”

Kirk, Spock, and Nine Inch Nails

Very funny fan video of the classic Star trek series set to Nine Inch Nails:

Rumor: Enhanced FX for Original Star Trek

Rumor has it that Paramount is looking to add new special effects to the old Star Trek series. I hope these rumors aren’t true – the special effects from the original Star Trek series were pretty decent for their day. Like Dr. Who the show isn’t about the special effects, but the writing and sometimes over acting. In fact I’ve been watching old Twilight Zone episodes on the Sci Fi channel, and those hold up great and they make old Dr. Who episodes look high budget.

Here’s the source:
Star Trek May Go Where It Went Before

“Rumors sped at light speed on the Internet Tuesday that Paramount is working on an enhanced version of the original 79 Star Trek episodes that it plans to sell as a syndication package to broadcast stations. According to the reports, state-of-the-art visual effects will replace those in the series, new music will be added, and the show will be offered in high definition. Presumably, the new series will also be packaged for sale on high-definition DVD after the syndication package airs.”

I mean look at this shot from the old show, it’s not that bad:

Star Trek: Rick Berman has Left the Building

This video was shot at a convention in England, on stage is Marina Sirtis, Garret Wong, and Robin Curtis. After being asked what the future of Star Trek is on TV, Garret gives a possibly too honest answer:

Rick Berman not welcome at Paramount?

Read more…

Shatner to save Star Trek

It looks like William Shatner will be doing a voice over for an upcoming Star Trek video game:

William Shatner to save Star Trek

“WILLIAM SHATNER is hoping that his voice over work for the next Star Trek game could spark a renewed interest in the franchise. Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk in the original series, has agreed to reprise his role in the new Star Trek: Legacy game which is due out in October. Interest in Star Trek is waning after Star Trek: Enterprise was mercifully canned last year and no feature films planned until 2008.

Shatner told Reuters in a telephone interview that interest was waning because Trek has been around a long time. He thinks it needs something new and different. Shatner, who doesn’t play video games, hopes the gaming medium can keep the “Star Trek” flame burning. He added if Legacy was a good game, keeping true to the characters and having an interesting story that branches, it could bring freshness to a franchise like ‘Star Trek.”

Star Trek Inspirational Posters

A fan website has come up with some inspirational posters featuring Kirk and cohorts. Each poster is available for download as a low-res JPG or a higher-res PNG: