Star Trek XI: In Theatres Soon

Yesterday Paramount Pictures officially announced the screen date for Star Trek XI will be Christmas Day 2008.

J.J. Abrams will direct. Abrams was the director of "Mission: Impossible III", co-creator and executive producer of the television series Lost, Alias, and Felicity, and screenwriter of such films as "Armageddon," "Forever Young" and "Regarding Henry."

Unconfirmed rumors appearing in Trek Today suggest that Matt Damon may play Captain Kirk, Adrien Brody may play Mr. Spock and Gary Sinise may play Dr. "Bones" McCoy. If these rumors turn out to be true, this will be a very good cast to me. Damon can bring his playful ("Oceans 11, 12 & 13") side out; Brody already looks the part, and Sinise will have to bring his witty-side (as opposed to acting persona in CSI:NY that is impassive and dull).

Separately, the original story appearing in IGN claimed that Lost's Daniel Dae Kim, who previously played Corporal Chang on Enterprise, may play Sulu. A good fit but not as challenging a casting call as filling the roles played originally by William Shatner (Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and DeForrest Kelley (Bones).