First Look: The Cast of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek

Star Trek Cast Photoshopped

Now that the full crew of the Enterprise has been cast in JJ Abrams Star Trek prequel/reboot, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at the talent involved. The photo above is obviously photo-shopped (poorly in fact) by myself to show you what JJ Abrams’ on deck line-up may look like. Click on the photo to enlarge. Let’s take a look at thee new crew of the Starship Enterprise.

Chris Pine is Captain Kirk

Captain James T. Kirk had a distinguished career in Starfleet Academy, becoming the first person to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test that stymied cadets for many decades. Whereas any situation would be met by the simulator’s overriding dictate that the cadet lose, Kirk won by rewriting the program to allow him to rescue the Kobayashi Maru’s crew. For this, he received a commendation for original thinking. Kirk became the youngest captain in Starfleet to date at 34.
Original Actor: William Shatner
New Actor: Chris Pine
Age: 26
Filmography: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Just My Luck, Blind Dating. Smokin’ Aces

Spock Casting

Spock is one of the few aliens in the permanent cast: half-Vulcan, half-Human, and serves as the science officer and first officer of the USS Enterprise, under Captain James T. Kirk. His personal struggle between the Vulcan logical self and his human emotional self is the centerpiece of the character and created some evocative drama.
Original Actor: Leonard Nimoy
New Actor: Zachary Quinto
Age: 30
Filmography: Heroes, So noTORIous, 24

John Cho as Sulu

Sulu (first name: Hikaru) served as helmsman of the USS Enterprise, during which he held the rank of lieutenant.
Original Actor: George Takei
New Actor: John Cho
Age: 35
Filmography: American Pie, Better Luck Tomorrow, American Pie 2, American Wedding, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, In Good Company, American Dreamz, Smiley Face, Kitchen Confidential

Simon Pegg as Scotty

Montgomery Scott, better known as “Scotty“, is the chief engineer of the Enterpise. He retains a reputation as a “miracle worker”, and is renowned for his technical skill, knowledge, determination and resolve.
Original Actor: James Montgomery Doohan
New Actor: Simon Pegg
Age: 37
Filmography: Shaun of the Dead, Mission: Impossible III, The Good Night, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run, Spaced

Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov

Pavel Chekov is a young and naïve ensign who first appeared on-screen in The Original Series’ second season as the Enterprise’s navigator. The Russian Starfleet officer also substitutes for Mr. Spock at the science officer station when necessary.
Original Actor: Walter Koenig
New Actor: Anton Yelchin
Age: 18
Filmography: Charlie Bartlett, Alpha Dog, Hearts in Atlantis, Along Came a Spider, House of D, Huff

Zoe Saldana as Uhura

Nyota Uhura is from the United States of Africa and speaks Swahili. She joined the crew of the USS Enterprise in 2266 as a lieutenant, serving as chief communications officer under Captain James T. Kirk.
She is significant as one of the first major black characters on an American television series.
Original Actress: Nichelle Nichols
New Actress: Zoe Saldana
Age: 29
Filmography: Guess Who, The Terminal, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Drumline, Crossroads, Get Over It, Center Stage

Karl Urban as Bones

Leonard McCoy, better known as “Bones“, is a physician of considerable skill, capable of successfully treating creatures whose physiologies he is unfamiliar with. He is suspicious of advanced technology, especially the transporter, which he regards with distrust and outright dismay, and occasionally is bigoted with regard to Spock’s half-Vulcan ancestry.
Original Actor: DeForest Kelley
New Actor: Karl Urban
Age: 35
Filmography: Pathfinder, Doom, The Bourne Supremacy, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Lord of the Rings, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner

Leonard Nimoy (age: 76) will return to play an older Spock, in some capacity. William Shatner (age: 76) is also expected to return as an older Kirk, although the studio and Shatner are both denying these claims.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana is signed on to play a new Romulan villain named Nero
Age: 39
Filmography: Black Hawk Down, Hulk, Troy, Munich, Lucky You

  • Nice photoshop job on all those pics!

    Vic
  • Thanks Vic, they certainly took long enough :P
  • Yeah, that's the problem with some posts... they take so bloody long to craft, especially when you want a nice graphic to go with it. I'll bet these will end up on other sites. :-)

    Vic
  • I'm very pleased that this article was put together to get a visual of them all together, now we just need to know what the movie's about so we can get an idea of how much good acting to expect from everyone.
  • Very nice job on this post.
  • NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! NO NO NO NO!!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!! FUCK NO!!!!!!!!!! FUCK NO!!!!!!!!! well the casting seems kinda neat...but seriously...what the fuck im soo mad right now...i fucking hate this shit...the old school should remain as such....fuck....what the fuck.......FRAK THIS NOISE!
  • Anthony M

    Can we add Poiter to Eric Bana's exploits? That guy cracks me up. I've never been able to take him seriously as an actor because I always expect a punch line. It's like watching Johnathon Lithgow in Cliffhanger when you're so used to him in 3rd Rock From The Sun.

  • itz Good Job carry on
  • SomeDood
    It's a little wierd that Bones is now tough enough to rip both new Kirk's and Spock's heads off while getting the nasty on with the new Uhura.

    BTW, I'll watch it hoping that the new Uhura will do a fan dance... rowr...
  • bill bull
    Stupid. There's no going home. Trying to recreate Star Trek with todays "pretty boy" actors just won't work. What made Star Trek amazing is that it dealt with issues and values that Americans related to. How is Hollyweird going to do that?
  • Richard Lee
    They have done a good job with the recasting, most of the new actors do look quite similar to their older counter-parts.

    I just wonder if its going to be any good, the last few films have all been DOA. Last Contact was the last film of any particular quality.

    I really don't know why they didn't just try their luck with a voyager inspired movie (forget about DS9!).
  • Richard Lee
    doh. that should read "First contact"
  • Diana
    Bones isn't old enough, Scotty doesn't look right and the rest I'm just praying for a solid cast.
  • I hate to put on my Trekkie/geek hat, but if this is a prequel, how can Eric Bana play a Romulan? Didn't ST:TOS make a big deal about the first face-to-face meeting with them and that nobody knew what they looked like?
  • i dont like eric bana very much ...
    may except munich ... that was good ...
    i dont think he can pull this off ...
  • Big A
    ST:TOS did make a point that this is the fist meeting of the Romulans. So, either that will just be conveniently ignored, or JJ has a plan. Maybe The Hulk doesn't refer to himself as a Romulan during the movie, or the Enterprise crew gets their memories wiped at the end of the movie. It'll be interesting to see how JJ deals with it.
  • Alan
    best photoshop EVER!!!
  • Well done mate!
  • Pode
    Excellent work! Nice to see the side by side comparisons. This post points out one of the things that's been confusing me for a while: Many of the characters are different ages and at different points in their military careers. How are they all going to be at Starfleet academy at the same time?
  • will
    balance of terror---- looks like spock's father remember..whoa to these new one that don't know the old
  • excellent post, but, why am I hearing about this only now?? bah, lost my trekkie badge now..

    thanks for taking the time to give us all a good side by side of all the actors.
  • Stuart
    The new Chekov looks like he's 12.
  • sounds incredible
  • Charles
    I first noticed Karl Urban in Riddick. I think he's going to be huge soon.
  • Sarah
    Karl Urban is hot so I'll watch any movie he's in.
  • Eric
    So does this mean Paul McGillion isn't Scotty? WTF?! WHY NOT?!
  • Edvin
    I dunno why everyone is bitching about this...

    While I know this is not a reboot 'ala Batman Begins, but still you have to treat it like such..

    This has potential writen all over it..

    and By GOD I hope you die hard fans will be cut mostly out of the loop or you just might ruin this :)
  • Laura
    I appreciate the info and all, but I'm just taken aback by Zoe Saldana as Uhura. For whatever reason, I cannot stand her in Pirates of the Caribbean. In fact, she ruins the film for me. Ugh. Blech. Ptooie.
  • kitty
    just want to know when it is coming out. i love star trek & want to see it very much
  • kitty
    i also want to say that it is great that someone took the time to want to bring star trek back to life & it is awesome that William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy is gonna appear on it
  • Daremo
    Simon Pegg as Scotty!!!
    This movie will be great for that alone.
  • J
    Isn't Kirk dead? How can the "older" Kirk make an appearance?
  • alex
    In the original series the enterprise makes contact with the romulans and it is stated that its the first time anybody has seen them for some years. It couldnt have been the first meeting or the first time anyone has heard of them as Spock would know the vulcans and the romulans are the same species.
    I cant wait for this film i just hope they dont fuck up the actual enterprise, as DS9 proved no matter what you call it , it just aint star trek without the enterprise.
  • When I heard the casting choices I couldn't agree more. When revitalizing a great movie classic like this the audience will never be fully satisfied unless these roles are played by the original cast. Great photo editing!
  • Kerry
    The weirdest thing about this article is the shot of Uhura wearing a gold uniform.
  • Paul larkin
    I think the whole setup looks cool and I'm sure as someone has already said, if it's a prequel the actors are going to have be young.
    Also I really hope that they get the remaining crew of the Enerprise A back for another film or two. They were the originals and in my book the best.
  • Tim
    I would have liked to see singer Samantha Mumba as Nyota.
  • Steve
    I think it is stupid, none of them look at all like the original crew, (actually neither do the original Kirk or Spock) they should call it something else other then Star Trek, because it is NOT Star Trek
    Steve
  • Trebek
    I don't like where this is going. I think they should have just left TOS alone...
  • Cmdr K'Jon
    Old School Trekkies need to give it a rest. I heard the whining about TNG, DS9, Voyager and Enterprise. If we wish the Star Trek Universe to continue, we as fans must adapt and look forward to being entertained. Each series started slow, after learning the cast and crew they were all quite enjoyable.

    Forget the concept that this is some sort of historical documentary. All of the original crew are too old or dead to continue, unless you wish to watch Star Trek, The Nursing Home.

    If you have no interest in the new features, stay in your basement and watch DVD's. I am looking forward to the new movie.
  • Trebek
    It may turn out to be good...All I meant is that I don't like their casting choices...But I guess we will see how it pans out. I may be pleasantly surprised...Or maybe not...
  • osiris
    Very interesting and talented bunch they've brought together--So wot if they don't look EXACTLY like their older 'selves'? Can't wait for the film!!!
  • Someone asked, with the characters' different ages, how could they all be in Starfleet Academy at the same time? Easy. People go back to school all the time to change careers. Scotty could have spent 10 years or so in private industry and then decided to join Starfleet. Same with McCoy in private medical practice. And that's just those two, off the top of my head. Surely the writers can come up with suitable backstories to make it all fit together.

    Some might remember that they first floated this "prequel" idea nearly 20 years ago, back when all the original cast members were still hale and hearty enough (and willing) to keep doing films. The idea was shot down then. Now, it just might work. I am willing to reserve judgment until I see the finished product.
  • Art Deco
    Abrams is an idiot if he leaves Shatner out.
  • William
    Are they on a 5 yr mission and they all forgot to take along there razors? I just dont think the grundge thing is going to work.
    Why remake Star Trek ? There were other star ships, 13 I think.
    Anyway if you look back at Star Trek the original. I think you will find everyone was neat and clean. They had a some what military look about them. From the photos listed these guys look bad.
    There uniforms look like they were slept in, way to baggie. People are going to notice this and it will make a difference. If your going to remake a movie go the extra mile and do it right. Star Trek was magic. And like any good magic trick you have to have a great presentation. The greatest trick in the world preformed poorly will never be any good. Think about it, first impressions matters. You know what people expect.
  • mzt
    Star Trek is unique in the world of entertainment. It has spawned more people to make something of their lives and contribute those inventions and services to the world then any other TV/Movie ever created. Gene Roddenberry was most responsible but the interaction of the cast, their chemistry and the meaningful messages in the episodes carried the torch as well as so many other factors.

    Perhaps this is just a ploy by JJ Abrams, the studio and Shatner to generate publicity. If so, you've done the job well. If not, then this is a mistake to not include Shatner. As far as him being "dead", he was in the Nexus so he is still alive. Another way around it is Kik and Spock could have time travelled back during an earlier time period. In any case there are plenty of ways a writer can come up with a story when you are dealing with science fiction.

    Generations was a disgrace how Kirk died. JJ...you should resurrect James T Kirk/William Shatner and by combining his role with Spock/Leonard Nimoy this film has more potential to be a huge success. But... only if accomplished by following the original ideals of Star Trek. If you wonder into some foolish plot or silly unsophisticated writing, it will fail no matter who is in it!
  • concerned fan
    I'm concerned that even though Kirk died in Generations, that Spock could not be sitting on Vulcan and "remember"ing one of thier last conversations in a flash back. That would allow Mr. Shatner to be in the new Trek film (announced today that JJ Abrams was not using him). We don't have many of the Original cast left to enjoy on the screen and when one of the main Original Characters are not utilized, it seems a major mistake on Abrams part. I know that if Mr Shatner will not be in the film, I'll wait until the film in sent to NetFlix and I'll put it my my "Q". Mr Nimoy is Great, and he was given opportunities in the growth of the franchise with appearances in the new series. I was very disappointed in Generations when I did not see him. The concept of the new film with the fisrt mission seems fun.
    Thanks for reading.
  • My congrats on a great post. I am an old trekkie; a fan from the very first episode. I was wildly excited when I heard there was going to be another film. Casting doesn't mean filming and sometimes the wheels fall off, but it would be great if it happened. For all the hype, the series has always represented hope, and a nerdy faith in mankind. I'm fine with the cynical and tightly editted films of today, but once in a while it is nice to see a film with a vision of a future where friendship and valour count for something. LLAP!
  • Sean
    To William above:

    You should look into medication if you don't understand that the photo above is not from the new movie.

    Scary.
  • Fionn
    Abrams is a charlatan.

    These actors are NOT actors. They are face-paint.

    I'm sick of philistinism being passed off as entertainment. Everyone defending this against the "old guard" is being naive.

    Abrams will leech this of any life it had. The film will be slick, snappy, urbane, sexy and utterly forgettable, like the soft, shapeless, designer bestubbled faces of his new cast.

    This is a FRANCHISE that he's messing with here. Everything he does with it becomes canon, and limits the possibilities of further, worthwhile explorations of the ST franchise. Remember The Final Frontier? The "give it a break" attitude is unwise.

    Quinto has admitted he hasn't watched much Trek before, isn't interested in it really, won't be watching any Trek for his character, won't be basing his character on Nimoy's and will be going off on a creative (read banal & unstructured) tangent, where Spock is more "emotional, you know."

    These people are actually STUPID. They are not performance artists, like Shatner or Nimoy.

    I'm not a fan of the original series, but at least it had the courage to be cheesy, and actually DO something.

    JJ Abrams will ring in the OC era of ST, as if Enterprise wasn't bad enough.

    An end to this folly.
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