'Trek' vs. 'Wars': The space battle heats up
Talking pictures
by
Jeff Vice
For those who don't recognize the terms, the former are devotees of the "Star Trek" television series and films. The latter are aficionados of George Lucas' "Star Wars" trilogies. And there's been a long-running feud between the sets of fans as to which science-fiction property is actually better.
Perhaps two upcoming movies will finally settle the score. Lucasfilm is involved in yet another series of "prequel" projects. A digitally animated "Star Wars: Clone Wars" feature will be released theatrically Aug. 15.
The film will be released in the 3-D format and is meant to be the lead-in for a "Clone Wars" series on Cartoon Network (as well as repeat airings on TNT).
"Clone Wars" fits between the second and third movie prequels and features Anakin Skywalker as one of the characters. Anthony Daniels will reprise his role as the voice of android C-3PO, but no other voice cast members have been announced.
Also, it's unclear how this movie and program differ from the Cartoon Network's earlier "Clone Wars" series, which was done by the creators of "Samurai Jack" and "Dexter's Lab." (The three "seasons" of that very good program are available on DVD, by the way.)
Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto star as the younger versions of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, respectively. (Leonard Nimoy is also set to appear as an older version of Spock, furthering the rumors that this "prequel" story also involves time travel.)
The rest of Enterprise crew includes Karl Urban (Leonard "Bones" McCoy), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), John Cho (Hikaru Sulu), Anton Yelchin (Pavel Chekhov) and Zoe Saldana (Nyota Uhura).
Bruce Greenwood will co-star as Christopher Pike, the man who captained the USS Enterprise before Kirk.
However, Paramount recently changed the opening date for the eagerly anticipated movie from Christmas to May 8, 2009. Apparently, the resolution of the 3 1/2-month Writers Guild of America strike will allow producer J.J. Abrams and the filmmakers to do a few script rewrites and some reshooting.
• HOLY BAT-PREQUELS!
Warner Bros. and DC Comics are also releasing "Batman: Gotham Knight," an animated anthology that is supposed to "bridge" the 2005 hit "Batman Begins" and its follow-up, this summer's "Dark Knight."
The direct-to-DVD feature will be released July 8, leading into the theatrical release of "The Dark Knight" July 18.
The six short films comprising "Gotham Knight" were made by some of the people behind the "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League Unlimited" programs, as well as Japanese anime directors.
And the scripts were written by comic book authors Brian Azzarello and Greg Rucka and "Batman Begins" screenwriter David Goyer, among others.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Recent comments
I want to know about this "rivalry" they keep talking about...
Agiani | March 5, 2008 at 3:26 p.m.
Trek is in need of time off. A decade or so. The bile-like taste...
The Authority | March 4, 2008 at 9:33 a.m.
Actually, Mr Authority, when the Trek release date shift was announced...
Garlonuss | March 3, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.
