New Star Trek XI Movie Delayed
JJ Abrams’ Prequel to the Popular Sci-fi Series Postponed
The new Star Trek film will now be released in May 2009
In a move that may worry fans of the series, Paramount Pictures have announced that the release of the JJ Abrams directed Star Trek XI has been moved from December 2008 to May 2009. Due to the writer’s strike, the still untitled film had to begin production without the writers being available for script changes which has led to fears as to the quality of the final story.
“Star Trek is in fantastic shape”
However, keen to scupper any rumours that the Star Trek shoot may overrun, Paramount has said that production on the film will still be completed on schedule but that release will be delayed due to confidence in the project. With the new May 2009 release date, Star Trek XI will now be released head-to-head with predicted 2009 summer blockbusters such as the Da Vinci Code sequel Angels & Demons starring Tom Hanks and the Wolverine film starring Hugh Jackman.
"Summer is where you see the Star Wars and the Transformers," said Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman. "Star Trek is in that league."
Star Trek is certainly not the only film to have its release date delayed as the major studios attempt to deal problems stemming from the writer's strike. Several other big budget films have also been pushed back until 2009, including Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder and Leonardo DiCaprio's Shutter Island.
A New Era
The idea of a Star Trek prequel was opposed by series creator Gene Roddenberry when it was first proposed after filming was completed on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier in 1991. The idea persisted, however, in the form of Erik Jendresen’s script Star Trek: The Beginning which was to be set in a time before the original Star Trek series but later than Enterprise.
Jendresen’s script never reached the production stage and, coupled with the cancellation of Enterprise, it seemed possible that the Star Trek saga had come to an end. Then, in February 2007, sci-fi wunderkind JJ Abrams announced his intention to make Star Trek XI.
Although exact plot details are not known, Star Trek XI is said to be a prequel and will chronicle the early days of Captain James T. Kirk, Mr Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701. Internet rumours persist that that story will involve an elderly Mr Spock (with Leonard Nimoy guest starring) travelling to the past and enlisting the help of his younger self to defeat a Romulan threat to the timeline.
Chris Pine will take over from William Shatner as Captain, Heroes star Zachary Quinto will play Mr Spock, while Brit favourite Simon Pegg will play a slimmed down Scotty.
