This exclusive behind-the-scenes render shows Zoe Saldana wearing the latest technological upgrade to Star Trek. Gone is the oversized earpiece worn by Nichelle Nichols in the original series, replaced with a holographic projector that will display up-to-the-minute information in a manner emulating the “Heads-Up” display being used in today’s fighters! Can’t wait to see it in action!

While light has been made of Tom Cruise’s recently-released Scientology recruitment video, the Hollywood hunk continues to be a presence in Los Angeles, most recently appearing on the set of Star Trek while shooting additional scenes for Valkyrie. Says one of our spies, BlinkyLightPike:

Tom Tom was on-set the other day, visiting his friend J.J. Abrams. The two had a few laughs while talking about the video tape “scandal,” but things got really quiet when when Chris Pine approached the superstar. After a few hushed words between the new Kirk and Tom-Tom, the pair walked off-set for about an hour.When Pine returned, he seemed jovial enough, and shooting proceeded normally. Still, it seemed odd.

Says our spy “9 of 60″:

The film opens with a 007-like mini-adventure where we see Commander Kirk resisting being taken over by a certain familiar technological race. When asked how he was able to fight off the cybernetic implants, Kirk responds by saying “Only a Frenchman wouldn’t be able to beat those robots,” while winking at the plucky Lt Jean-Pierre Picard.

Sounds like the gauntlet is being thrown down, TNG fans. Whose side are you on?

 

The exterior may have the classic lines, but the interiors of the spankin’-new U.S.S. Enterprise are getting a 21st-century makeover courtesy of the film’s design team. Synopsis pages leaked to us by our Loyal Spies mention virtual control panels a la Minority Report, “hard light” holographic spacesuits, “nanoscopic brain implant lattices” for universal translation, and a special crimson “target fabric” that draws enemy fire away from the imperiled heroes.

Lots of hits coming in from io9 today! Welcome aboard, and be sure to check back often for the latest and best in uncensored, unrestricted, unmissable Star Trek XI rumors!

FLASH! Our man inside found a batch of production photos that, um, er, fell off a truck on the studio lot. Most of these weren’t very enlightening, although we did enjoy the ones labeled “Tribble Hive” and “Smoke Monster’s Lair.” However, one pic that caught our attention: this exclusive first sighting of Zachary Quinto in full costume as Mr. Spock.

Curiously, the photo seemed to have been damaged in the developing process, deforming the Heroes hunk’s ears and giving a sickly greenish cast to his skin. Your humble editors have corrected these flaws so our beloved readers can experience the effect as intended by the film’s creators.

We just received this from one of our spies who saw the teaser trailer this morning at a Cloverfield screening on the lot:

Slow Paramount logo.Bad Robot logo.

SPACE. Sparks. A welding iron touching plate metal.

We hear an old NASA radio countdown: “30 seconds and counting.”

Close up of SIMON PEGG’S SCOTTY welding something in space. There is an REVERSED Apple Logo on the inside of his helmet and he’s talking to CHRIS PINE’S KIRK. “It’s lookin’ good, sir.”

ON SCREEN TEXT:
From director J.J. Abrams

CAMERA pulls back as we hear Kennedy’s speech about the new frontier: “We stand at the edge of a New Frontier – the frontier of unfulfilled hopes and dreams.”

HUNDREDS of workers on the exterior of ENTERPRISE. Welders, etc.

We hear the speech continue “It will deal with unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

The camera pans across the the ship and into deep space.

Title: “The future begins”.

We move into warp speed, the stars flying past.

Neil Armstrong: “One small step for man…”

Then we hear Chris Pine intone: “Space. The final frontier…” as the familiar Star Trek theme horns swell underneath.

The POV drops from warp speed and we’re hovering over a small frontier world. A Klingon warship destroys a small freighter.

We hear: “Choo wanna piece of us, Esse?”

HARD FADE TO BLACK.
Then: just the familiar Starfleet logo.

Title card: “Under construction”.

“Christmas 2008.”

Are you getting that Tingle? We are.

A studio document obtained by our sources shows that the following brands have paid for on-screen placement in Star Trek:

• General Motors (Specifically Chevrolet)
• Red Bull
• Samsung
• LG
• Motorola (for the communicators?)
• Swanson’s Frozen Dinners
• Culligan Water
• Bose Home Audio

While this may look like an invasive amount of endorsement, the memo we’ve obtained discusses making the placement in the feature as seamless as possible as to not detract from the audience experience.  While fans may protest sight unseen, it’s obvious why such things have to take place. Star Trek XI’s budget, when combined with fiscal concerns on Paramount’s part, means that the studio needs to take every chance it can to get outside financing.

Despite the on-set media blackout, sources close to the Star Trek production have let slip an exciting tidbit: geek icon Kevin Smith and his frequent on-screen companion Jason Mewes will be appearing in a brief on-screen cameo as two ensigns operating under the command of Montgomery Scott. While Smith’s character will maintain his trademark silence, Mewes will be heard asking Scotty “What the hell is a bairn? If it’s a slutty chick, can I f**k her?”

Smith has frequently referred to the Star Wars films in his movies, so his Star Trek-related appearance is well worth noting.