On Pines And Needles

Hot on the heels of this Trek casting news, another name has surfaced as a possible contender to play James T. Kirk in the new Star Trek flick

Chris Pine (pictured) of Smokin' Aces is reportedly in negotiations to play the intergalactic captain

Mike Vogel was the last actor said to be the front runner for the role. And then he was quickly put on the back-burner, a few days later.

The Hollywood Reporter has the news about Pine, 27, playing Kirk, and adds that the actor is also set to re-team with Aces director Joe Carnahan in White Jazz (2009)--opposite George Clooney.

Don't get too excited though. Pine's casting may not be a sure thing ...

THR: "The biggest stumbling block to getting both roles at this point might be scheduling. Sources said Trek will shoot from November through March, while Jazz has a mid-January start. Although both sides are trying to sort out the date puzzle, it is possible that Pine and his camp could be forced to choose which role to take. Paramount is not sitting idle while negotiations are under way, with sources saying that the studio is looking for backup actors to have on deck".

I'm afraid I have the same reaction to the Pine possibility, as I had with Vogel...Meh. Pine's solid enough. He was fine in "Smokin'"...

Pine sorta already has a connection to the franchise though. His father, actor Robert Pine, best known for his role on the 70's TV series CHiPs, has appeared in episodes of the latter spin-off series. The elder Pine's co-star on CHiPs was none other than Star Trek: The Next Generation's resident Klingon actor, Michael Dorn.

Maybe daddy Pine can give the younger Pine some pointers on acting in Trek?

--In other Trek movie news: Co-screenwriter Roberto Orci spoke extensively with TrekMovie.com--prior to Bana/Pine stuff--about the new film...It's a-ahem-"facinating" discussion--filled with all kinds of neat stuff.

Here's the first part...and the second part--It's worth the double click...

Meanwhile, director J.J. Abrams shows no signs of slowing down once he's done with Trek, he's got another sci-fi series headed our way that sounds pretty cool.