The Metwork geek department is getting pretty hot and bothered as casting of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek "reboot" nears completion.   A few days ago we were all blown away to learn that Eric Bana had signed on to play to the film's villain, but today J.J. went boldly where know man has gone before---casting Shaun of the Dead's Simon Pegg as Scotty.  Sure, there's zero resemblance, but you have to admit that's some pretty inspired casting.  Also announced today:  Harold and Kumar's John Cho has been cast to play Sulu. 

As for Kirk---all signs point to relative unknown Chris Pine.   Still no word on Bones.

Here's a complete list of the casting to date complete with imdb profile links:

Spock:  Zachary Quinto

Uhura: Zoe Saldana

Chekov:  Anton Yelchin

Sulu: John Cho

Scotty:  Simon Pegg

Old Spock:  Leonard Nimoy

Nero (The Film's Villain): Eric Bana


In Final Talks:

Kirk:  Chris Pine

Unknown:
Leonard Bones McCoy

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. The Gameplan $16,262,000

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson goes Disney.  Audiences still giddy.  $42,811,000 to date.

2. The Heartbreak Kid $14,031,000

Next up for the Farrelly brothers?  A motion picture devoted entirely to jizz jokes.

3. The Kingdom $9,345,000

Oscar and all, Jamie Foxx still can't open a movie.   $31,368,000 to date.

4. Resident Evil: Extinction $4,300,000

Milla Jovovich.  Mmmmmmmm.....  $43,474,000 to date.

5. The Seeker:  The Dark is Rising $3,725,000

Harry Potter pretender limps out of the gate.

....and with another Sports themed movie no less.   Not that I'm complaining or anything....

Check out the teaser-trailer for "Semi-Pro"

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. Resident Evil: Extinction $24,000,000

Thanks a lot America, you've just guaranteed Resident Evil IV.

2. Good Luck Chuck $14,000,000

I've said it before and I'll say it again, rather than making another bad movie why not just charge admission to view this photograph of Jessica Alba.

3. The Brave One $7,425,000

Plot somehow less believable Jodie Foster's heterosexuality.  $25,115,000 to date.

4. 3:10 to Yuma $6,350,000

Russel Crowe rumored to be cast as villain in J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek reboot.  Interesting.  $37,911,000

5. Eastern Promises $5,747,000

Leave it the Russian mafia to finally muscle Superbad out of the top 5. 

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. The Brave One $14,015,000

Jodie Foster "wants her dog back", but she can probably afford a new one now.

2. 3:10 to Yuma $9,150,000

Nice to see a western doing well.  Maybe we'll see a few more come down the pike now.   My modern favorite remains Silverado. $28,549,000 to date.

3. Mr. Woodcock $9,150,000

You know that screenwriters are reaching when they have to insert a penis joke right into the title itself. 

4. Dragon Wars  $5,376,000

The fact that this independently financed/hardly promoted film pulled in $5 million dollars means that every single American with an unhealthy dragon fetish bought a ticket.

5. Superbad $5,200,000

And the Judd Apatow beat goes on...   $111,336,000.00 to date. 

After registering names like Indiana Jones and the City of Gods and Indiana Jones and the Destroyer of Worlds, Lucas Films has decided to go with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

While I'd love to say this is going to be an awesome movie.  There's a pretty good chance I'll leave the theatre going, "Meh." and wishing they had just left it alone.  Let's hope it does a Rocky Balboa and not a Star Wars.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. 310 to Yuma $14,100,000

Perfunctory filler between Batman films for Christian Bale proves the western genre still has legs.

2.. Halloween $10,034,000

Yet another remake of a John Carpenter classic.   Next up on the remake slate, Escape From New York starring Gerard Bulter (300) and directed by Len Weisman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard).   $44,230,000 to date.

3. Superbad  $8,000,000

Judd Apatow has the midas touch.   $103,668,000 to date.

4. Balls of Fury $5,693,000.00

The highest grosing ping-pong movie of all time.   $24,281,000

5. The Bourne Ultimatum $5,478,000

Holy Dramamine Batman.  Say this flick last night and I'm still nauseous from the shaky camera.  Someone get Paul Greengrass a steady-cam.  $210,099,000 to date.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. Halloween $26,503,000

Rob Zombie reimagines Michael Myers.  I've been "re-imagining" Jamie Lee Curtis' breasts since 1978.

2. Superbad  $12,200,00

Judd Apatow's coming of age teen comedy continues to get lots of McLovin' from audiences.  $89,305,000 to date.

3. Balls of Fury $11,605,00

I had Balls of Fury once.  Lotrimin Ultra cleared it right up.

4. The Bourne Ultimatum $10,183,00 

Matt Damon is officially the $200,000,000 dollar man.  Welcome to A-list.   $199,603,000 to date.

5. Rush Hour 3 $8,560,000

At this point I'm resigned to believe that people would pay $10 bucks to see Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan play Jai Lai.    $120,416,000 to date.

The Comebacks, a comedy from the producers of Wedding Crashers, is billing itself as "the greatest sports spoof ever."

You will beg to differ.

Check out the trailer and experience all the Guillermo Mota-like awfulness for yourself.

Wow.  I don't even think this is going to qualify for a desperation Netflix rental.

Might you be a fan of the classic 80's television show Magnum, P.I?

If so, you've probably heard rumors over the years about the show being adapted into a major motion picture.  Initial rumors had Tom Selleck reprising his role as the lothario private dick solving mysteries in paradise,but with so many years gone by and Selleck approaching his 63rd birthday... well, it was necessary to find an actor in his pre-Cialis years.

And the obvious choice is clearly...

...Nic Cage?!?!?!?

That's what the tea leaves are saying according to the T.V. Squad.

Curious what John Rambo would look like as he approached 70?

Check out these stills from John Rambo (Rambo IV).

Oscar-nominated director John Singleton accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian, a Los Angeles police spokesman said late Friday.

Constance Russell, 57, of Los Angeles, died at a hospital a few hours after the accident Thursday evening, Los Angeles Police Officer Jason Lee said. Russell was not using a crosswalk when she stepped in front of Singleton's car, Lee said.

According to a preliminary police investigation, Singleton was not under the influence of drugs, alcohol or any other substance and was permitted to leave after being questioned.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1.  "Superbad" $31,200,000

Based on the success of the 40 Year Old Version, Knocked Up and now Superbad, Judd Apatow could probably get "The Ricky Ledee Story" green-lit.

2. "Rush Hour 3" $21,831.000

Proving that Americans will gladly eat sh@t for at least two weeks in a row.  $88,184,000 to date.

3. "The Bourne Ultimatum" $18,986,000

Good flick, but two hours of hand-held camera almost made me barf on my wife.   $163,806.00 to date.  

4. "The Simpsons Movie" $6,675,000

The Simpsons will always be cool, but my favorite animated movie is still Heavy Metal.  $165,117,000 to date. 

5. "The Invasion" $6,000.000

Invasion of the Body Snatchers has now officially been remade more times than Madonna.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. "Rush Hour 3" $50,237,000

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are back and the joke is on us, again.  Next up for the dynamic duo?  Perhaps a live-action remake of Sh#tpickle?

2. "The Bourne Ultimatum" $33,672,000

Jason Bourne now officially owns Jack Ryan.  Sort of like how Matt Damon owns Ben Affleck. $132,345,000 to date.  

3. "The Simpsons Movie" $11,125,000

Nude scene for Bart.  NAMBLA rejoices.  $152,237,000 to date. 

4. "Stardust"  $9,011,000.00

Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe says, "The movie goes right exactly once: When De Niro shows up as a closet-case pirate..."   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Wesley Morris Ill-Advised Commentary Fund.

5. "Underdog" $6,456,000

Directors cut DVD to include Underdog humping a throw-pillow.   Fido wants this one in your Netflix Queue.   $24,747,000 to date

With the success of Live Free or Die Hard and the good worth of mouth on the upcoming Rambo and Indiana Jones sequels, you knew it wasn't going to be long before studios starting taking other action movie characters out of mothballs.

I was really hoping someone would finally ante up with a Remo Williams sequel (it was, after all, called Remo Williams:  The Adventure Begins), but next up may be Lethal Weapon 5. 

There are rumblings that director Richard Donner has a good script, and Mel Gibson is (needless to say) in need of a friendly vehicle to help him reacquire some goodwill with movie audiences. 

Danny Glover is not committing until he sees a script.

I am not committing until Mel Gibson is Bar-Mitzvahed...

In the second major piece of casting news out of the Star Trek universe, 18 year old actor Anton Yelchin has been cast in the role of Pavel Chekov in the J.J. Abrams mega-budget reboot of the Star Trek franchise.   In the original series, the role of Pavel Chekov was played by actor Walter Koening. 

Like Chekov himself, Anton Yelchin is actually from Russia. Yelchin was most recently seen in Alpha Dog, playing Zack, the doomed younger brother of Jake Mazursky.

Heroes actor Zachary Quinto has already been cast as Spock.

The film, simply titled "Star Trek", starts filming this November for a Christmas 2008 release.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. "The Bourne Ultimatum" $70,181,00

Jason Bourne remembers who he is.   Now Matt Damon can finally forget about Ben Affleck--just like the rest of us.

2. "The Simpsons Movie" $25,600,000

A cartoon with a production budget of $75 million.  In Queens, $75 million could guarantee every single audience member a "happy ending." $128,550,000 to date.

3. "Underdog"  $12,009,000

Audiences cheer as Underdog waterboards Michael Vick in act three. 

4. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" $10,528,000.00

Adam Sandler getting more mileage out of sexual ambiguity than Prince.  $91,697,000 to date.

4. "Hairspray" $9,325.00.00

Joke omitted at request of Mr. Travolta's representatives.  $78,954,000 to date.

So you're thinking about entering a solo, non-stop, round-the-world, boat race in an unfinished boat despite the fact that you know next to jack about sailing?

I'm thinking maybe you should check out the trailer for the documentary Deep Water first.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. "The Simpsons Movie" $71,850,000

Because Simpson's properties haven't made enough money for FOX....here's your major motion picture.  Next up from the FOX merchandising team--"Sim-pons" - the feminine product shaped like Marge's hairdo.

2. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" $19,603,000

Again proving that literally any project with Adam Sandler attached will be greenlit.  Maybe we can get him to take a look at our Mackey Sasser script.  $71,610,000 to date.

3.  "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" $17,065,000

Daniel Radcliffe turned 18 last week and finally gained access to his $40 million Harry Potter trust fund.  Better get those last two films in the can quick before the kid turns himself into this. $241,771,000.00 to date

4. "Hairspray" $15,500,000

A movie based on a Broadway musical based on a movie.   Talk about milking a fat gay cow for everything it's worth--and we're just talking about John Travolta.  $59,307,000 to date.

5. "No Reservations" $11,755,000

A smokin' hot Catherine Zeta-Jones and a ton of delicious looking food that I can't eat.   Just how I like to walk out of a movie theater---horny, hungry and 20 bucks lighter than when I walked in.

After much rumor and speculation as to whom would be cast as Kirk and Spock in the upcoming Star Trek reboot from director J.J. Abrams, it seems that at least the casting of Spock's role is out of the bag.

After initial rumors of the role going to Adrian Brody, Trekmovie.com is reporting that Heros actor Zachary Quinto is in final negotiations for the part.

I first came across Quinto when he had a small role on the 2003-2004 season of 24.  In addition to being cranky, his character was wardrobed like an Urban Outfitters clerk.  Consequently, I couldn't help but find the guy annoying.  That said, he did a really impressive job on last season's Heros as uber-villain "Sylar" and I grew to really like the guy as an actor.  It will be interesting to see what he does with such an iconic character.

In related news, Matt Damon recently denied the rampant rumors that he had landed the role of Captain Kirk, claiming that he had talked with J.J. Abrams and was told that they were looking for a "much younger Kirk." 

At 37 years old, Damon is only 7 years older than Quinto.  I'm not sure I'm buying his denials...might just be some misdirection before the official announcement. 

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" $34,775,000

Our only complaint with previous Sandler films:  Not homoerotic enough.  Complaint withdrawn.

2.  "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" $32,185,000

And our parents told us nothing good would come of playing with our magic wands...  To date, $207,541,000 reasons to beg to differ.

3. "Hairspray" $27,800.00

Pay $10 to see John Travolta in drag and a fat suit.... or try the bungalows behind the Beverly Hills Hotel to see him in the same getup for free.

4. "Transformers," $20,506,000   

Sequel in the works, nerds everywhere already transforming in their pants... $262,969,000 to date.

5. "Ratatouille," $11,000,000   

After four weeks in the top five our rat humor archive is just about cashed.  Supply your own mildly amusing witticism.  $165,628,000 to date.

The truth is out there...

....and hopefully it won't suck as bad as X-Files: Fight the Future.

Reuters is reporting that David Duchovney is expecting a script this week for the the long awaited second installment of the X-Files film series, based on the popular sci-fi television series that ran for nine years from 1993-2002.

Will the alien conspiracy finally be revealed?  Who cares.  I want to know if David Duchovney finally gets to hit it with Gillian Anderson after 15 years. 

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  $77,410,000

We still prefer David Blaine.   Will Harry buy it in the "final" book?   We think not.  Why? 140 million to date...  (The Harry Potter brand is worth an estimated 4 billion dollars and has made author J.K. Rowling a billionaire, perhaps richer than Queen Elizabeth II)

2. Transformers $36,000,00

How many Transformers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?  Two--one to screw in the lightbulb and one to explain to me how a shi##y kids cartoon from the 80's gets turned into a two hundred million dollar blockbuster.  GI Joe fans aren't going to have to wait long... $222 million to date.

3. Ratatouille $18,019,000

An animated rat in a kitchen?   I'm avoiding this movie like the plague, but apparently I'm the only one.  $143 million to date.

4. Live Free or Die Hard $10,875,000

We need this movie to fall out of the top five already... We're all out of "how many times is this going to happen to John McClane" jokes...  As an aside, John McClane has now killed more terrorists in 4 movies than the U.S. Military has killed in 5 years in Iraq...$102 million to date.

5.  License to Wed $7,440,000

Here's an idea for a Robin Williams movie we'd pay to see: Williams chugs 5 espressos and someone puts a camera on him.   Tranquilizer darts on standby.   $30 million to date and fading fast...

Dishonorable Mention:

12.  Captivity:  Ouch $1,550,000

A mere glimpse of one of Elisha Cuthbert's nipples would have bumped this movie up to $15 million.   I should be running a studio. 

Kevin Bacon may be a lot of things... the city boy who saved dancing and rock n' roll in Footloose, the guy who got paddled by Niedermayer in Animal House, the male prostitute snitch in JFK and maybe even a seriously screwed astronaut in Apollo 13...

....but a homicidal vigilante avenging the death of his son in a film from the director of SAW?

A little hard for us to swallow, but check out the trailer for Death Sentence and decide for yourself.

We crossed paths with The Baconater in a Santa Monica coffee-house a month or two back, and the dude can't be more than 135 pounds soaking wet.  We wanted to give him a piece of our biscotti, but he took off too fast.   Nice hair though...

Daniel Craig is talking about what to expect out of the next 007 film.

More women? More action? More gadgets?

How's about more jokes.

"They [the producers] just want more gags. The next one's going to be a lot funnier," says Craig.

Well, I guess that's what you can expect from a producer with a name like Barbara Broccoli...