With filming already well under way, Paramount Pictures has finally released who has been cast as the villain Viceroy in 'Star Trek: Nemesis,' to play alongside Tom Hardy, recently cast as Shinzon -- the clone of Picard.



Ron Perlman, whose most recent works include the soon-to-be-released "Blade II" starring Wesley Snipes, and Paramount's 2001 war film "Enemy at the Gates," will take on the role of Viceroy, the character who is rumored to be a mentor to Shinzon.



Perlman has made his way around film, especially as a voice actor. He provided voices for movies like "Titan A.E." and "An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island." He also appeared in the 1997 film "Alien: Resurrection," a movie which incidentally forced those at Paramount to change the name of the eighth Star Trek movie from "Star Trek: Resurrection" to "Star Trek: First Contact."



The character of Viceroy is apparently a Reman, a race that resides on the sister planet to the Romulans, and are "Nosferatu-like" with a horrifying appearance and long, grotesque fingernails. The Viceroy also is telepathic, apparently helping Shinzon at one point invade Counselor Troi's (Marina Sirtis) mind, according to reports about the script.



"Star Trek: Nemesis" is currently undergoing principle photography, directed by Stuart Baird, and is expected to be released during the holiday season in 2002.