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The Official Announcement and Beyond
On April 20, 2006 it was announced by the Associated Press that a new Star Trek movie will be produced and directed by J. J. Abrams. Paramount also confirmed that the movie will be written and produced by Abrams teammates Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. They are aiming for a 2008 release date. The movie was said feature a young Kirk and Spock in Starfleet Academy and their first mission. [14]
However, Abrams reported a few days later that the initial report was premature: he would like to be producer and he was offered to also direct, but he has not confirmed that he would direct as well. Abrams said that he would like to make a movie featuring Original Series cast members like Leonard Nimoy, and the report that the movie would be a "Starfleet Academy" treatment was premature. [15]
There has been both support and opposition among the fan base for the movie being a prequel. However, the most widely expressed sentiment has been gratitude for the fact that Star Trek is again in production. In an interview with The Irish Times, Abrams was asked whether he had seen the online reaction to the official announcement. According to interviewer Donald Clarke, he replied, "'I have been on the road since the news came out...' suddenly looking somewhat fearful. "Is the reaction bad?" He was relieved--and happy--to hear that it was not. "Being involved with a series that has a passionate and vocal following makes me incredibly sympathetic. They have put up with so many incarnations along the way. These fans, they are a smart bunch. They are an intelligent group. We are very respectful and we have no intention of subverting the material." [16] These comments have been viewed not only as a great reassurance to fans fearful of being ignored by the new leader of Star Trek, but also as debunking widespread rumors of a Battlestar Galactica-style reboot.
Meanwhile, Trek fans were pleased to find Mr. Abrams listed among TIME Magazine's TIME 100 in the April 30, 2006 edition, earning the distinction by being one of "100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world." [17] The Abrams article, written by Mission: Impossible III star Tom Cruise, was entitled "The Double-Threat Storyteller" and contained such praises as "It's hard to convey with brevity the extraordinary experience of knowing and working with J.J. Abrams," and, "He's a creative juggernaut and someone who recognizes the joy of creating." [18]
Rumors
On May 2, 2006, Cinescape ran a story suggesting that Ben Affleck may be in discussions with J. J. Abrams about playing a lead role in Star Trek XI, possibly playing a young Captain James T. Kirk. The editorial was marked strictly as speculation based on an unconfirmed rumor. [19]
