This story contains potential MODERATE SPOILERS for the upcoming "Star Trek XI" film.
So, who is going to be the villain in the upcoming "Star Trek XI" movie? If you said "Russell Crowe," then think again.
Fresh off its scoop yesterday that J.J. Abrams was looking to cast "Cloverfield" actor Mike Vogel as Capt. James T. Kirk, IESB is at it again ... this time with a report on who will be the foe of the USS Enterprise and its valiant, younger crew.
It seems that New Zealand actor Karl Urban is in line to take on the role of the very Romulan, very bad guy in the eleventh Trek film.
"A while back, Moriarty over at AICN talked about Romulans messing with the timeline in Abrams' Trek universe," said IESB's Robert Sanchez. "From the story details we ehard today, he is right."
Apparently the Romulans are looking to destroy Earth in the past as a way to mess up the overall timeline, and are mildly successful creating what could be best described as an alternate timeline, according to reports.
New details about the film's storyline seems to explain why the casting of Zachary Quinto as Spock took on more of an importance than the casting of Kirk, and why Leonard Nimoy is definitely a part of the film while William Shatner is not. IESB says that the Spock portrayed by Nimoy will work with the Quinto's Spock to try and stop the Romulan plan, and their battle against the Romulan baddie makes them the overall focus of the movie, not Kirk.
How's that for a change?
Fans should recognize Urban as Eomer in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." He also played the characters of Cupid and Caesar in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess."
Urban is currently filming "Black Water Transit" from director Tony Kaye, and is in pre-production for "Run." However, that film looks to be on hold while director John McTiernan begins to serve a four-month prison sentence for lying to the FBI in a wiretapping investigation.
Of course, all of this is rumor and has not been confirmed by Paramount Pictures, so treat this as you would any rumor.
"Star Trek XI" is aiming for a Christmas 2008 release.
About the Author:
Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.
