STAR TREK is a massive risk... $150-160 million is the budget!

18 months ago, Star Trek looked dead and buried. The whole concept of a crew going on a mission through space seemed to have run it's course and studio's wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Star Trek was a thing of the past. Like the VHS, dial-up Internet, black and white T.V. and The Beatles. Star Trek was no for those who watch their old tapes, in their Star Trek uniform.. the 30-40 odd year old guy who lives on his own and only ventures out of the house for work (where he talks about Trek all day) and for conventions. But in the nostalgia climate that we live in, when people are constantly remembering how good things use to be and the bringing back of things that we held dear to our hearts in our childhood, Star Trek was never going to stay like this for long. Last Summer, J.J. Abrams... the man with the big idea's who wasn't afraid to shake things up with Mission Impossible III and the man who gave us Lost and Alias... came aboard to the project and we all knew that it would never be the same again. A restart was talked about, which would forget the whole 40 year history of a franchise which has the most loyal and obsessive fans. This outraged many, including myself but Abrams has since slowly changed his stance on this, and with the addition of Leonard Nimoy into the storyline... the new film will not forget the current continuity and will tie in... somehow... we think. The whole idea of a remake probably still angers many but isn't it fucking exciting? If your a Trek fan like me, you have to be pleased that at least something in the series is currently being made and if it's the blockbuster hit Abrams thinks it can be... then don't be surprised if a new television series quickly get's commissioned and spin-off shows, etc. Moviehole are today reporting that Star Trek will have the biggest budget of any Trek film in history, as Paramount Pictures have given the go-ahead to a $160 million budget for the film and it will now NEED to rely on attracting the bigger audience. This ain't just a movie for those in Star Trek PJ's who visit all the conventions and can speak Klingon.. this is now a huge Christmas tentpole release... that NEEDS to attract the bigger audience, otherwise it will be a huge flop. It has to be able to attract people like Peter (the guy who keeps the shields up and the warp drive running on this site) and my girlfriend, who either hate Star Trek or at best have just dismissed it for the length of their life... just like Transformers did... or it's doomed to be a financial failure for Paramount. This now looks to be the CREW for Star Trek, although the roles of Kirk and Bones have not yet been confirmed (looks very likely at this point)... With the following role uncast.... The role of Christopher Pike as a Federation Captain is somehow we expect going to be included in the storyline and personally I think it has to be Tom Cruise who ends up with this part as rumored in the past. The movie needs some star power. A Star Trek movie even at the height of it's popularity has never generated $160 million. This is a massive risk... and it now has to get the Spider-Man audience. The Batman audience. The Transformers audience, just to stay afloat. If not Cruise, then surely Abrams, despite the age problem... HAS TO GO FOR MATT DAMON AS KIRK

Damon is now at the height of his popularity, having just starred in the $400 million worldwide hit The Bourne Ultimatum... a movie he carried on his own. Damon is yes starting to show his age a little but remember, he is still the same age as Shatner when he first took on the role... and Shatner carried on playing the character for years and years. Abrams has just 35 year old John Cho and 37 year old Simon Pegg for roles in the film, why not 36 year old Matt Damon? And the thing is with all this... Damon has said he in the past he wants the part. The fans want him, he is that big star they need for the wider audience... not some Chris Pine who no-one has ever heard of or who anyone gives a shit who he is. They got a strong actor for the villain... Now they NEED a strong actor to up against him or this movie is going to flop like no other and Star Trek will be dead again... with no hope of a revival for many years to come. Bottom line: STAR TREK now needs a huge star for the lead role... or it's never going to be make it's money back without some kind of miracle. Cast Matt Damon... NOW!

P.S. The film also needs another female part. I think you should have made Chekov a villain, but you didn't... so you need to add the character of Janice Rand. She was in 8 episodes of the very beginning of the original series and she will help the male/female dichtonoty of the film.... Cast a Blonde bombshell for the part and make her have a relationship with someone... whatever. But this film needs another female I think, even if she is there just to be killed off. Thoughts?