Variety reports that Simon Pegg — the co-writer and co-star of the genre spoofs Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz — has been hired to play Scotty in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movie.
Pegg has worked with Abrams before, on Mission: Impossible III (2006) — and that was rather amusing at the time, because several months before he took the role, a reporter asked Pegg if England had become too small for him, following the success of Shaun of the Dead, and Pegg replied, “It’s not like I’m going to be starring in Mission Impossible 3.” And, well, now look what he’s doing!
Anyway, Pegg will turn 38 while the film is in production, whereas James Doohan was 46 when he created the role back in 1966.
Meanwhile, the part of Kirk has been offered to Chris Pine, who is 27; William Shatner was 35 when he created the role.
OCT 15 UPDATE: Joe Carnahan, the writer-director of Narc (2002) and Smokin’ Aces (2006), writes at his blog that Pine will not be starring in his next film, White Jazz, because Pine has accepted the role of Kirk. There is no official announcement yet, though.
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