Comments on: Casting Star Trek: Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Eric Bana as Villain

By: doubledumbassonyou » Pegg As Scotty? Harold as Sulu? Even More Trek Casting | a colorful metaphor

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:44:26 +0000

[...] comes on the heels of the casting of Eric Bana as the mysterious villan Nero. My first guess is that he’s a Romulan; and if you get him [...]

By: JJ Abrams’ Star Trek Casting Nearly Complete - Kirk Confirmed | Wild Bluff Media : Entertainment Examined

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:45:33 +0000

[...] Source: Slashfilm [...]

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:45:05 +0000

Also since we know that none of the main characters die (for a long while), suspense surrounding their lives is useless. In regards to casting an “unknown” - don’t use Superman-Brenden Routh as an example because he was horrible as Superman, and the movie sucked. Christian Bale was an established actor before taking the role of Batman and he was great (so was the movie). If Chris Pine is cast as Captain Kirk this movie will TANK. The guy is way to ugly to play Kirk and he’s cock-eyed (take a look at his side profile) - not to mention his horrid acting ability.

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:31:57 +0000

I like J.J.’s work but I don’t think this is the right direction for Star Trek. This movie is going to tank just like “Enterprise” series. Re-casting the iconic original characters is a dumb idea and trying to portray the technology (as seen in the 60’s TV show) will be awkward and will just alienate the fan base. Just like Enterprise, this movie is going to trample on the continuity and canon of the entire franchise - a major reason to Enterprise’s demise.

We have had the original crew for over 40 years, through 80 TV episodes, 6/7 motion pictures and numerous appearances in other Trek shows/books/videogames/etc. - We know the crew and we don’t need to see them re-cast/re-invented or whatever. MOVE ON. Star Trek needs to take a break and move forward not go back and mess with the original characters/canon.

By: JOhn RIddle

JOhn RIddle — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:09:27 +0000

Hopefully the movie will have the same aura as the 300
politics, econime , technology to match the time, real life and death circumstances, and the actors to solidify the plot. Why be vogue, be the ball just like the way life is in our present day reality’s. remember the British portray things very well visually and scriptualy

By: Peggy

Peggy — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:54:50 +0000

I agree that an unknown would be best for the role of Capt. Kirk ala Superman or even the relatively low profile of Christian Bale as Batman. But the person playing Kirk has to *look* the part, and Chris Pine doesn’t look right at all. I haven’t seen him act, but I wouldn’t buy him as Kirk like I would buy Zachary Quinto as Spock, for example.

By: Star Trek Casting Updates at POWET.TV

Star Trek Casting Updates at POWET.TV — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:44:35 +0000

[...] Earlier this week they cast relative newcomer Chris Pine as Captain James T Kirk, and Eric Bana as the villain named Nero. [...]

By: ScreenRant.com

ScreenRant.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:08:27 +0000

Ah, gotcha. Maybe they’ll be able to coax a great performance out of him. As Jeff says, I don’t know which direction they’re going to go with the character portrayal. Shatner was pretty stylized.

Vic

By: Peter Sciretta

Peter Sciretta — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:05:23 +0000

I might not have been totally clear in my blog post, but my disappointment comes not in the name talent but the talent. Chris Pine was in Just My Luck and the Princess Diaries 2. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s not a very good actor. I’m not saying I would like someone like Matt Damon to play Kirk, as you suggest, that might be distracting. I would just like someone with some proven acting abilities.

By: Jeff Nyman

Jeff Nyman — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:37:57 +0000

I have to agree with Vic here. I’m not sure that casting someone like Matt Damon as Kirk would be all that useful. I can sort of see the “look” side of it; Matt Damon could probably pass for a young Jim Kirk (if you think of how Shatner looked in the Original Series).

But I just think that a big-name actor here (who would be taking on, as Vic indicates, an iconic role) would simply stand out as that actor, rather than as the character.

That said, I have no real suggestions for who should play the part. Given that this role is so idiosyncratic, in a lot of ways, I think that would depend largely on auditions: who can truly immerse themselves in the “type” of character that Kirk was? If I was making this movie, that’s what I would be looking at. Who can seem like a reasonable Kirk persona. Now, on the other hand, given that this movie is trying to play to many audiences (not just the potentially built-in one) perhaps they’re going to be going for a new type of Kirk? (Is this a re-imagining of Star Trek? Uh oh.)

By: ScreenRant.com

ScreenRant.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:40:18 +0000

Peter,

I’m going to have to disagree on this one. I would HATE to see a “star” in the role of Kirk. Especially in such an iconic role… it would be like “hey, there’s Matt Damon.”

I don’t know about Pine’s acting chops, but I think it’s a good call to go with relative unknowns. Personally I think this film has a good shot at re-invigorating the franchise.

Vic

By: Zachary Pruckowski

Zachary Pruckowski — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:04:35 +0000

While I can’t imagine this is going to be a popular opinion, it’s worth pointing out that Shatner hasn’t been Kirk for over 15 years (Kirk’s role in Star Trek 7 was pretty minor). This means that most of the 13-30 single male demographic haven’t seen Shatner as Kirk in theaters. While the cultural knowledge of the character is there, it’s worth pointing out that the other Bush was in office the last time Shatner played Kirk.

I think that it’s possible for the characters to be recast 15 years later successfully in the same way Bond is recast - actors playing the same character, without any overt attempt at reinvention. Especially given the time differential (playing a younger crew), it’d be like Batman Begins.

Notably, Brendan Routh took over as Superman, and by all accounts did a bang-up job. In many senses, there’s a bit of a parallel - stagnant, flailing series with a younger actor taking over an established character under an acclaimed director.

Point is, this has worked in the past, and can work again.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:55:44 +0000

Jamie is exactly right. Not only is the franchise a dead thing, but trying to go back and recast roles so clearly and memorably defined by other actors is absolute suicide. This is a tremendous mistake.

http://www.therecshow.com

By: Stuart

Stuart — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:13:02 +0000

Well, if they go for less name actors (nb: I said nothing about talent) it becomes easier for them to negotiate multiple picture deals. Kind of important when you’re talking about an ensemble cast…

By: Jamie Cole

Jamie Cole — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:35:23 +0000

William Shatner IS Captain Kirk.

This is an unfortunate problem for what the producers are trying to do with this movie. It’s going to be very very tough to surmount this.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:32:42 +0000

Who cares? This movie is going to bomb just like Enterprise did. Star Trek fans want two things:
1. To move forward, not backward in time
2. The cast and crew that we have come to love an admire

What a disappointment this is! Poor Gene would be rolling over in his grave if he were buried. :-(

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:28:33 +0000

Chris Pine was also in The Princess Diaries 2, I’m sure you’ve seen that since you looooove Anne Hathaway.

By: Zachary Pruckowski

Zachary Pruckowski — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:40:39 +0000

Don’t forget that Zachary Quinto (Sylar on Heroes) will be playing Spock. That’s one casting choice to be excited about.

From the AP (can’t find direct AP site link):
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9XFqTsK1DAwdIQWp4JlPPBlL1yw