ROTTEN TOMATOES: Star Trek XI Gets Its Chekov

Star Trek XI Gets Its Chekov

Yelchin to search for nuclear wessels.

by Jeff Giles | August 08, 2007

It won't arrive on screens until Christmas of next year, but the casting dominoes for Star Trek XI are starting to fall -- fans recently received official word of Zachary Quinto as their new Spock, and now ComingSoon is reporting on who will be taking over for Walter Koenig as navigator Pavel Chekov.

Representing Mother Russia for the new Trek crew? Anton Yelchin, who can be seen with Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming Charlie Bartlett. Yelchin's filmography is slim, but he doesn't strike us as a bad choice; Koenig often maintained that Chekov's presence on the bridge was an effort to inject a little teen idol flavor into the show, and this should do the trick. We should hear more casting news soon, according to the article:

Casting is under way in New York and London for Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, the film's villain and the Federation captain. J.J. Abrams, who will direct the untitled film, is expected to sign bigger-name actors for the latter two parts.

Source: ComingSoon.net

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(1-20 of 21 posts) | Reply

ninjaandy writes:
on Aug 08 2007 08:55 AM

Wasn't Chekov in his early to mid-twenties during the original series, while Kirk was 35 or 36? They wouldn't even be in Star Fleet academy at the same time.

If nothing else, this seems to add a little bit more definitiveness to the idea that they're rewriting parts of the story. But I suppose you never know.

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jmo2ski writes:
on Aug 08 2007 09:04 AM

I'm not a big trek fan, but what in the hell is going on here. But i am sure they know what they are doing. I'm lost.

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dracus writes:
on Aug 08 2007 09:17 AM

Well, ya' gotta say one thing about Abrams and his Star Trek movie. When it comes to casting, he's sure as hell taking his sweet 'F**kin' time. Get on with it already!

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HeisLegend1231 writes:
on Aug 08 2007 09:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#1022141)
I'm really starting to doubt that they are going to do a Starfleet Academy movie, and I'm starting to feel like this is going to be the first voyages of the Enterprise with Kirk and crew, in essence a reboot of the orginal series. Abrams appears to be going in that direction, and also appears to be casting the roles alot younger than the orginals. I think Koenig was in his late 20's early 30's when he was cast as Chekov. This guy is only 18.

While Chekov doesn't appear until the second season of TOS, its never stated that he isn't aboard the Enterprise at a different position. So they really wouldn't have to do any rewriting to get him onboard the Enterprise.

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PrecentorEpsilonXVI writes:
on Aug 08 2007 09:48 AM

Perhaps this is a prelude to the TV series, but not Academy? My memory of the very beginning of the original series is fuzzy, to say the least, but perhaps this movie will be about Kirk first being assigned the Enterprise, and his first voyage?

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Movie person writes:
on Aug 08 2007 10:52 AM

I've never heard of this Yelchin guy, but Zachary Quinto is a great actor so I'm sure he'll do fine.

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HeisLegend1231 writes:
on Aug 08 2007 11:20 AM

In reply to this comment (#1022193)
Yeah that could be true b/c the 2nd pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" takes place after Kirk's 5-year mission is already underway. So this movie could take place around the time that Kirk took command of the Enterprise, and focus on their first mission.

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bigbrother writes:
on Aug 08 2007 01:08 PM

As long as he's still looking for the "Nuclear Wessels" I'm happy.

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bat-fink writes:
on Aug 08 2007 01:59 PM

SULU, what about Daniel Dae Kim, the guy that plays JIN from LOST ???? That was also abrams too. could be good choice?

UHURA, beyonce ?

SCOTTY, James McEvoy, ??? Last king of scotland.

noy sure who i would choose for kirk and bones yet. still thinking.

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blank blank writes:
on Aug 08 2007 02:26 PM

this kid? seriously? are kirk and spock and all the rest going to be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? wtf.

that being said, it all depends on who they cast as kirk.

(Reply to this)

bat-fink writes:
on Aug 08 2007 02:41 PM

SULU, what about Daniel Dae Kim, the guy that plays JIN from LOST ???? That was also abrams too. could be good choice?

UHURA, beyonce ?

SCOTTY, James McEvoy, ??? Last king of scotland.

not sure who i would choose for kirk and bones yet. still thinking.

Maybe VINCE VAUGHN as BONES ??

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jstrmereel writes:
on Aug 08 2007 02:52 PM

Beyonce and Vince Vaughn? With all due respect I hate it when movies try to inject all these well known actors into parts when all we really need is a kick *** story. Casino Royale anyone?!?!

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Darkness My Old Friend writes:
on Aug 08 2007 10:49 PM

bat-fink, you honestly could suggest Dane Cook for Captain Kirk and not make worse suggestions than those.

Ok, I give you a pass on McEvoy, that's simply stupid rather than awful. But come on, I mean dear god...

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WugDiet writes:
on Aug 09 2007 02:11 AM

Ryan Reynolds does a great Shatner-as-Kirk impersonation. I'm sure... he'd MAKE - ahhhhh - fine... CAP-tain, Kirk. SPOCK, doooo YOUuuu... disagree?

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Crenshaw writes:
on Aug 09 2007 08:05 AM

If they even try to cast Beyonce as Uhura I'll gouge my eyes out. I'm all 200% on board for a Star Trek redo, but that's beyond the pale.

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Huntressmoon13 writes:
on Aug 09 2007 10:16 AM

I mentioned this on the cameo thread:

For the Beyonce as Uhura wish- more acting lessons are in order, but remember when Nichelle Nichols as Uhura would belt out tunes in TOS? Hell yeah to Beyonce if just for a chance for a spacy ballad. It might just work- just as long as Spock is jamming on his lyre :)

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ninjaandy writes:
on Aug 09 2007 10:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#1022179)
I'm thinking the same thing.

As for Chekov, Walter Koenig was older than he looked back then, but I'm pretty sure the character was supposed to be the "fresh out of college" kid joining up with the experienced crew. I'm not going to geek out and go check the fan sites, but I seem to remember Chekov the character being much younger than Kirk and the others.

As for him being on board but off-screen during the first season, that's the more or less accepted explanation for how Khan could recognize his face in Star Trek II -- he was there somewhere, we just never saw him.

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tiganofamily writes:
on Aug 09 2007 05:32 PM

thay should cast william shatner as shaft so he an fight crime and colon cancer in space, rename the enterprise "clitoriffic" and then slaughter the entire cast of welcome back kotter with kitkat bars of death made in a black hole's gravitational pull. and while the're at it, have scottie come back to life as jason voorhees and kill everybody in the harry potter movies with a giant dildo made from elephant sperm

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msspurlock writes:
on Aug 13 2007 11:00 PM

God.
They don't even know that Chekov wasn't introduced until after the first season.
He'd have still been in the Academy.

Oh well, the kid can do Star Trek pimple cream endorsements.

When it doesn't sell, they can use it to polish up that Golden Turkey Award.

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