Once again, J.J. Abrams aimed high for the casting of a role in Star Trek but in the end settled for a smaller name but highly respectable actor. Abrams has hired Bruce Greenwood for the role of Captain Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise in the unaired pilot which got the 60’s show commissioned by Paramount, but they would drop his character for Kirk.
Pike would later be resurrected for the famous two part episode The Menagrie where in continuity it was kept that he was the ship’s original Captain and Mr. Spock was his second in command.
This is what Greenwood looks like. If you don’t know him by name, you should recognize his face…
Greenwood is 51 and has a full CV of authoritative roles in movies such as Deja Vu, JFK and I, Robot.
He has even played a president twice in Thirteen Days and the upcoming Disney movie National Treasure 2: The Book of Secrets.
Greenwood is a great supporting actor who should breeze through this small but important role. He’s a little older than we expected (the new Kirk, Chris Pine, is 27) so they may push with the storyline that Pike is starting to feel his age.
It’s believed early filming has already begun on the picture, with production now set to run until March.
Other rumors have hit the web this week that 27 year old Alias actress Rachel Nichols was to be in the sci-fi reboot.
Well, Trek Movie have stumbled across some quotes from the actress which she made in an interview with the Toronto Sun…
“I’m very restricted on what I’m allowed to say, but yes, there’s a good chance you’ll see my shining face in the new Star Trek.”
Apparently she doesn’t know the name of the character she is to play but that seems to be a crock to me. Of course she knows what part she has, and if you ask me it’s probably the role of Janice Rand…
Janice Rand was one of the members of the original crew and appeared in a total of 8 episodes from the first season but was later fired from the show and her character written out but she would make a brief appearance in later movies.
With Abrams going as far back as the original Captain Pike, you have to believe Rand would be in there somewhere and with a male dominated crew, this move just seems to make sense for so many reasons.
Nichols’ film career has been mostly in the horror genre with parts in The Amityville Horror, The Woods and this weekend’s horror release P2. She’s also in the upcoming Charlie Wilson’s War.
And finally, the U.K. are getting a remastered HD screening of the famous ‘Pike’ two part episode The Menagrie on Tuesday 13th November at 7:30pm. Here’s a list of venues, all Odeon cinema’s, which you can see by clicking here.
source – the hollywood reporter
6 Comments
Greenwood’s an awesome choice. I’ve been an admirer of his since Nowhere Man on UPN.
Well if nothing else JJ Abrams is getting the casting for this movie right. Shame he’s not in charge of the Justice League flick.
This film will fucking STINK!!!!!!!
I agree with glove whole heartedly. Remind me why we care about trekkies.
Here’s where I’ll sound schizophrenic. I HATE the idea of a “reboot,” so I agree with Glove that my hopes for this film are low. But I still think Abrams is a damned genius when it comes to casting.
And aren’t the dumbass er, dynamic duo of Orci and Kurtzman, writing the script for this one? Even without Bay their involvement makes me doubtful a stellar cast will do a bit of good.
Wow, and I thought Josh Lucas was low rent. Greenwood is fine but underwhelming at best. I loved the idea of a “big name” as Pike because a huge star could come in, add some star power to the relaunch and not bog down the sequel budgets. I’ve said it before, Abrams’ challenge is to figure out how to get non Trek fans into the theatre. He has not achieved that objective with any of the casting so far. I’m a Trek fan and I’m pulling for a quality product, but I would’t sink a dime of my money into this production.
Bruce Greenwood is one of those actors who you have seen in many films but can’t name any of them, he’s probably fine in most of them but he can’t draw flies to shit to put it bluntly. Its the Star Trek brand which Abrams hopes will be the draw card thats why he has a B/C list cast. Have to see if it works.
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