We've heard the stories this week that director/producer J.J. Abrams is interested in having Matt Damon play Captain Kirk in an upcoming movie about Kirk and Spock. But something troubles me. All of the articles are saying that Damon will play a "young" Captain Kirk. Huh? Damon is going to be 36 in a few months, and will probably be 37 or 38 when the movie comes out. Shatner was 35 when he did the original Star Trek.
Now, sure, they could mean (like Keith says) that they mean younger than Shatner now, but they can't mean that or we could get someone 60 and compared to Shatner that would be "young." I think this is really a matter of everyone who's writing about it misunderstanding what exactly the plot will be and just repeating the same line about a young Kirk, as if it means young = before the original.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-22-2006 @ 6:20PM
LC said...
Well they can't go much younger than 35 otherwise he wouldn't be "captain" Kirk. Kirk was the youngest person to be a starfleet captain at 34.
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6-22-2006 @ 7:29PM
Akbar Fazil said...
LC- supposedly this new trek story is going to take place at the academy during Spock and Kirks time there (which if it is going to be within continiuty wont work since Spock and Kirk were NEVER at the academy together)
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6-22-2006 @ 8:00PM
TedSez said...
In "Ocean's 11" and "Ocean's 12," Damon's character is clearly supposed to be a young, inexperienced "kid." (At one point his parents have to come and get him out of jail.) I think the part was written for someone 22 or so, and he looks at least a decade too old in it. So I guess the folks in Hollywood think he's a lot younger than he actually is.
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6-22-2006 @ 8:56PM
MrsEldubya said...
Don't you know 36 is the new 25, so it should be okay!
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6-22-2006 @ 10:20PM
ttheTVaddict said...
I'm definitely looking forward to whatever JJ decides for Star Trek. After loving ALIAS, LOST and FELICITY - and even liking Tom (I'm Not Crazy) Cruise in MI3.. I fully trust JJ tot make an amazing film.
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6-22-2006 @ 10:21PM
Batmanuel said...
there is a lot of time between Cadet Kirk and Captain Kirk.
- Ensign Kirk
- Lt. JG Kirk
- Lt. Kirk
- Lt. Cmdr Kirk
- Cmdr Kirk
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6-22-2006 @ 10:26PM
Scott H said...
I commented on that in the original post. Damon's too old to be playing an Academy cadet. I don't care what they do with hair & makeup. I think he could do maybe even a good job at playing Kirk at the same age he was in the TV series. But everything that's been written about this JJ Abrams movie has it in the past, when they were back at the Academy.
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6-23-2006 @ 8:52AM
Michael said...
Hallelujah! Somene else realizes what I did....that Damon is too old to play a young Kirk!
Thank you!
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6-26-2006 @ 11:41AM
TV Series Finale said...
Depends at what point in his career they start from. If it's "academy days" then no. If it's as he starts his command (I think Kirk was supposed to have started as a very young captain), then I think he'd be great. I can't think of anyone that would be a better match. A good Spock is going to be tough.
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6-28-2006 @ 5:57PM
Sean said...
He's not casting for an "Academy Star Trek." He's casting Damon as a complete reimagining of Star Trek with new actors in the same roles. Think Battlestar Galactica on SciFi.
Dirk Benedict may have been in the original, but they cast a blonde hottie to play Starbuck in the new series.
This new version will NOT be Kirk at the Academy.
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7-07-2006 @ 9:13AM
Florence said...
I have to agree with Sean, above, a reinvisioning is the most logical.
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