Star Trek XI Finds Its Kirk -- and Maybe Bones, Too

Thanks for the scoop, Smokin' Joe!

by | October 16, 2007 | Comments

Hey, it’s been a few days — who’s up for some Star Trek XI casting news?

First, from IGN Movies, we get word that Karl Urban — recently thought to be up for the role of Nero, the villain who will be played by Eric Bana — is the favorite to play Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. IGN quotes TrekMovie.com:

TrekMovie.com “has confirmed with a source that Urban is now in talks for the role of Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, the role originally played by DeForest Kelley. According to the source the deal is not certain and Urban’s schedule seems to be an issue with a film currently shooting and another in pre-production.”

While you ponder whether Urban has the gravitas necessary to pull off Bones’ famous “I’m a doctor, not a…” line, we’ve got more Trek news: ComingSoon.net is reporting that Chris Pine has been confirmed as the new James T. Kirk.

ComingSoon‘s source? “Smokin’ Joe” Carnahan, who, until very recently, expected to direct Pine in White Jazz. From a post at Carnahan’s blog:

The young man playing Junior Stemmons has opted to ‘boldly go where no man has gone before’ and thus, had to bow out of WHITE JAZZ. I’ve been talking to him this past week and knew how tough the decision had to be for him. I don’t envy ever being in that spot but I gave him my full support, even if it meant he didn’t do JAZZ. I get it. You don’t get opportunities like that often and I told him as long as he could control as much of that process as possible and not get sucked into doing lesser sequels as a result of taking this gig, then good luck and God bless.

We’re sure to do something down the road. I’ve already slotted him in for KILLING PABLO.

There you have it, Trekkies — your new Enterprise crew is almost complete. Still looking forward to 12/25/08?

Source: IGN Movies
Source: ComingSoon.net
Source: Smokin’ Joe Carnahan