Paramount Pictures is breathing life into its Star Trek franchise by setting Mission: Impossible III helmer J.J. Abrams to produce and direct the 11th Star Trek feature, aiming for a Christmas 2008 release..

Zachary Quinto ( TV’s Heroes ) will play Spock, while Leonard Nimoy will return to play an older version of the character for the last time.. Abrams says they are ‘ desperately ‘ trying to find a way to get William Shatner into the film, but will not just ‘ shove him in..’ At present, the role of James T. Kirk and Bones haven’t been casted yet..

James McAvoy ( The Last King of Scotland ) has officially signed on to star as Montgomery ‘ Scotty ‘ Scott.. McAvoy is Scottish, which would certainly qualify him for the role..

Russian - born Anton Yelchin ( Alpha Dog, Charlie Bartlett ) as Pavel Chekov.. Chekov is the Russian - born navigator of the USS Enterprise..

Zoë Saldana ( Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black ) Pearl has been offered the part of Uhura just recently - the USS Enterprise’s communications officer originally played by Nichelle Nichols.. Apparently the deal is not yet final and one outstanding issue may be related to her schedule starring in the James Cameron sci - fi mega movie Avatar which is still in production.. Sources indicate that Avatar will be doing location shooting starting in October and Star Trek is slated to start shooting in November..

The new Star Trek film that posits much of the film takes place in an alternative timeline ( Possibly as a way to avoid canon violations).. The film will involve Romulans going back in time to kill James T. Kirk and change history with older Spock ( Nimoy ) doing what he can to fix the timeline.. Beyond the notion that the older Spock character is central to the film’s plot, ” Tomorrow’s Entertainment ” cannot confirm any more details, as most news are just rumors, about the upcoming Star Trek movie.. One of those rumors is that they are looking at trying to get Russell Crowe to play a lead baddie.. Be sure to stay tuned, as we will be posting the latest film and cast news, as they come to light..