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Star Trek 2: Rumour Round-up
All we know about the sci-fi sequel so far.
by Orlando Parfitt, IGN UK
UK, October 21, 2009 - There's been a lot of gossip lately about the hotly anticipated sequel to Star Trek, with talent behind the film doing press for the movie's imminent DVD and Blu-ray release. We were finding it hard to keep track of all the Trek-chatter, so we decided to condense what we've learnt into one handy round-up of all that we know about Star Trek 2 so far.
The Story
In short, no one attached to the film knows what the story of Trek 2 will be and which villains it will involve. Or if they do, they're not saying. This hasn't stopped the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, director/producer JJ Abrams and even actor Leonard Nimoy talking around possible plot-points for the movie. Some of the ideas that will shape the script for Trek 2 seem to be:
1) Keeping it mainstream. Says Kurtzman: \"Whatever the final movie ends up being, I know it will be something that will...work on its own terms and be something that you don't need to know and study Star Trek to get.\" In short; making sure it's accessible to non-Trekkies.
Expect more character development for the expanded crew of the Enterprise in Trek 2.
2) Going deeper into the characters. One of the issues IGN had with Trek was that, Kirk and Spock apart, the supporting cast were somewhat lightweight - there simply wasn't enough time to go deeply into their relationships. Apparently this is the plan for Part 2. \"I think that it is the job of the next film to go a little bit deeper,\" said Kurtzman. \"Not to be any less fun, not to sort of take itself too seriously, but to consider now who these people are and to sort of grow with them and, and just examine maybe a little bit more closely.\"
3) Most tantalisingly, Orci has also said that he's been re-reading many of the Trek novels and fan-fiction for further plots: \"I'm starting to re-immerse myself again in what's come before.\"
We are the Borg?
Could this include plots from The Next Generation, or more specifically, fan-favourite organic-assimilating villains The Borg. Again, it's a possibility. Orci told Coming Soon: \"I think we would think about it, because we do love The Next Generation.\" Kurtzman meanwhile said: \"it is on the table\" though ideas from the original series have priority.
\"Khan is out there...\"
One mooted plotline that would surely get fans excited is the re-introduction of Khan Noonien Singh - the iconic baddie from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Back in August, Abrams addressed the rumour, saying: \"It'll be fun to hear what [scripters] Alex [Kurtzman] and Bob [Orci] are thinking about Khan... [Khan and Kirk] exist... Certain people are destined to cross paths and come together, and Khan is out there ... even if he doesn't have the same issues.\"
Kurtzman meanwhile also admitted to thinking about the mad super-genius, but said that it would be who's most appropriate for Kirk and Spock that decides which villain they eventually choose. \"How do we want to test them...Who would be the best foe?\"
Social Commentary
Back in September Orci said that they would want to reflect present day issues in Trek 2, maybe even a 'war-on-terror' Klingon storyline. The writer cleared this up recently.
\"The torture thing was just a for instance,\" Orci explained. \"We're not doing a story about...Guantanamo Bay. But now that we've established the characters, we can have a more philosophical allegory where what's happening in the future represents our world. Like the best versions of it in the '60s did, represented racial equality, progressive issues.\" So don't expect any heavy-handed political allegories in the next movie. A good thing, no?
Abrams loves Shatner. So do we.
Will Shatner Return?
A big part of the story for Star Trek was the time-travelling plot, which saw Leonard Nimoy return as an older version of Spock and go back to meet his younger incarnation. (Spoiler Alert) The writers said that after Nero's time-travelling device was destroyed at the end of the movie, there would be no more hopping back-and-forth through the decades, (\"we're stuck with this universe we're in now.\"), effectively ruling out further appearances for former cast members.
However there's been recent speculation (from Cinnematical) that Nimoy and possibly William Shatner could return. Beginning with the former Captain Kirk, JJ Abrams has said that he's already opened a dialog with Shatner about appearing in the next instalment.
\"I would love to figure out something\" he said. Apparently now they've done the job of introducing the new cast, it gives the writers more scope to get Shatner involved. \"Maybe there's less of a burden and there's going to be more opportunity to work with him again. I would love to work with him.\"
This could also leave the door open for Nimoy to don pointy ears once more, but the actor himself is not convinced, telling us: \"I frankly doubt that I will be called upon again. I think I was useful in his last film to help bridge between the original characters, the original actors, and the new cast. I don't see, at the moment, why they would need me in the next film.\" Having done such a good job rebooting the story initially, we reckon bringing back one or both of the old guard would be an odd decision, but who knows?
Back-to-back Trek
Moving away from possible storylines, there's also been chat lately about various behind-the-scenes aspects of the sci-fi sequel.
One such rumour was that a second and third Trek movie would be shot back-to-back (like the Matrix sequels) and would follow-on directly from one another. It seems Orci is certainly thinking about it, telling us that there is more than enough Star Trek material for a two-part story. \"It happens to cross your mind, but we're not leaning one way or the other yet.\"
The Release Date
When the sequel was announced (a month before the original came out) in the trades, a summer 2011 release date was mooted. However with JJ Abrams now definitely attached to Mission: Impossible IV, the date could be pushed back to 2012.
JJ Abrams might not direct Star Trek 2.
Trek in 3-D?
Another tantalising rumour we heard recently was the possibility that Star Trek 2 would be shot in 3-D. Abrams hasn't made a decision yet, but wont rule it out.
\"It's funny, Paramount talked to me about doing the first one in 3-D and having it only be my second film I was petrified,\" Abrams admitted. \"I thought that it would be another dimension of pain in the ass. I thought it would be like, 'Oh, my God. I just want to make a decent 2-D movie.' I was so worried that instead of it being a decent 2-D movie, it would be a bad 3-D one. But I'm open to looking at it because now I feel a little more comfortable and if, in fact, I direct the sequel of our Star Trek film, 3-D could be really fun. So I'm open to it.\"
Will Abrams Direct?
Hang on, let's time travel back to the previous quote. \"...if, in fact, I direct the sequel\". That means that the big man hasn't even fully committed to direct the next film (although he'll definitely produce). Maybe Mission: Impossible IV commitments (see above) would mess with his schedule. Either way, the possibility of another helmer at the bridge of the franchise is perhaps the most terrifying Star Trek rumour to have emerged so far.
Just put him in a bunch of make-up and set him loose.
