Boy, doesn't that look like nonsensical crap.

I like the groundwork laid for this series as well, but I'm not so crazy about the idea of throwing another Kirk at the helm of the Enterprise.  It seems to me to be done as a fan service more than serving the overall storyline of the series.  Obviously there aren't enough details to show how or why Alex Kirk is the center of everything this time around, but I don't like the idea of having another Captain Kirk just so this series is automatically connected to the rest of Trek lore.  There are plenty other ways to connect the themes and events in the series in order to do that, so why not have a whole new character?

Having said all that, I also like the ways the various major alien races have shifted philosophies and perspectives, though I wonder how they'd sell the audience on the idea of a more threatening Ferengi than how they'd been portrayed in the past.  I also suppose it's somewhat ironic (and fitting) that the Cardassians would be more philosophical and spiritual tone after having conquered Bajor and occupied it in the past. 

I am VERY interested in the concept of Diz, though.  One thing that Trek always did well was have an outsider character on each series to learn more about the human condition - Spock, Worf, Data, Odo, The Doctor, Seven of Nine, and T'Pol all were unique in that aspect.  I think Diz would fit into that lineage well, and the stories that could arise from a truly non-humanoid alien could be near limitless.

Having said all that, I doubt most audiences would be able to handle this series in conjunction with Abrams' films.  The mass public probably would be confused as to which storyline is "real" - the movies or the TV series.  The Sarah Connor Chronicles successfully managed to keep its mythology intact within the films by starting off between T2 and T3 and then jumping forward in time.  I don't see how this series could be connected to both the original mythology and Abrams' mythology.

I would have much rathered a sequel to the original film than a remake.  Have it start off with Quaid waking up at Recall and the audience discovers the entire first film was all a dream, but then his dream comes true with everyone thinking he's an undercover agent. 

 I'd like to add one other TV event for Sunday night: The Killing on AMC.  The pilot aired last night, and it's simply stellar.  I'd highly recommend watching it on demand or find a repeat airing of it prior to the next episode airing Sunday night.  It's really, really excellent.

The real question is, who's going to be the three-breasted woman this time?

Give me Hugo Strange or give me death.

I....I....sweet Jesus I can't believe how awful their casting ideas for Tetsuo are.  Americanizing the storyline is fine (and makes logical sense since it'd likely be in poor taste to set the story in Japan given the recent earthquake disaster), but couldn't they find better choices than these guys?  McAvoy isn't bad, but I'd humbly suggest Aaron Stanford or Ben Foster (both were in X-Men The Last Stand; Stanford was Pyro and Foster was Angel) for Tetsuo.  Hedlund or Pine would make for a decent Kaneda, but for the life of me I can't figure out why they'd consider Joaquin Phoenix.  He strikes me as too old for the role since Kaneda is in his early twenties.  And are they planning on renaming the characters as part of Americanizing the storyline?  Keep Akira as is, but I can't see two American guys named Tetsuo and Kaneda running around.

Then again, while we're talking casting ideas, Joaquin Phoenix could make for a good Ryu....

I find it super hard to argue with any of the movies on this list, though I'd say Jurassic Park would belong on an Honorable Mention.  I don't know about you, but the concept of seeing live dinosaurs at a zoo sounds fun, but it's just bound to go horribly, horribly wrong.

 Uhh guys....you are aware this is from the same writer/director of Legion, right?  

Arnofsky's statement reeks of being filtered through PR personnel.  Anyone else suspect that Fox - GASP! - wasn't going to let him make the X-Men movie he wanted to make, leaving him with the only option of leaving?  I mean, it's only happened to Matthew Vaughn (twice), Bryan Singer, Gavin Hood, and Brett Ratner.