Amber Heard, Anton Yelchin & Amanda Seyfried in ALPHA DOG(2007).
© Universal Pictures

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Checkov is Cast for STAR TREK XI

Two days ago, AICN released a casting sheet from JJ Abram's Bad Robot productions for STAR TREK XI. The casting sheet for which they said was "confirmed" ask for some young actors to fill in the spots of the old TOS crew. Here's what they leaked out.

[JAMES KIRK] 23-29 Handsome,cocky self assured and earnest. Great physical condition. 6 ft or less

[LEONARD(BONES)MCOY] -28-32 Medic on the Enterprise. Smart, clever and a bit danger-loving. Dark hair, blue eyes.

[UHURA] 25ish -African American. Brilliant, beautiful, heroic and FUN!, Uhura is almost tom-boyish - as if she grew up in a houseful of brothers.

[SULU] 25-32 -Asian American male (preferably Japanese). Helmsman on the Enterprise. Extremely fit, capable and dedicated. A bit of a wildcat

[MONTGOMERY(SCOTTY) SCOTT] -28-32 a brilliant ship's engineer. Must be able to do a flawless Scottish accent!

 There is no mention of Spock there because that role was already taken by Zachary Quinto (Sylar from Heroes).

So the question a lot of people had from that leaked casting call was "Why isn't Checkov" on that list?".

That question has been answered. Hollywood Reporter has announced that Abrams has cast Russian born actor, Anton Yelchin, to portray the the role of Pavel Checkov. No confirmed plot details thus far but the common belief is that it chronicles the early days of the Enterprise crew during their time at Starfleet Academy and perhaps has a flash forward which would explain an older Nimoy and Shatner reprising their roles. If this speculative plot is true in anyway, it will lead to some questions from "Trekkies" considering the mythology surrounding the character of Pavel Checkov within the Trekverse.

It should also be noted that two nights ago, IGN rekindled the wildfire rumor going last year about Tom Cruise having a cameo as "Capt Pike" in the film. JJ Abrams and Cruise worked together last on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III lending to why this rumor has gone as long as it has. IGN insists once again that they have a credible source inside saying JJ Abrams really wants Cruise to do this cameo. As to whether he will or not, that's the real question. Everyone knows the bad blood that went on last year between Paramount and Cruise after their movie contract severed under the public spotlight & scrutiny. As to whether the actor is willing to let bygones be bygones with the studio and do this cameo for the director Abrams, who really knows. I know his publicist has insisted once again that the rumor is not true. Until the confirmation has been given, it's still the same wild rumor it was back last year.

STAR TREK XI begins filming on November 5. It's expected to be released December 2008 somewhere around Christmas.