One of Hollywood's best-loved and most enduring relationships is about to enter its fifth decade as it emerged that Leonard Nimoy will don the Vulcan ears yet again in Paramount Pictures' upcoming Star Trek film.
Director J J Abrams, a rising star in Tinseltown following his success with Mission: Impossible III and the TV series Lost, announced the Mr Spock casting to a euphoric crowd on the first day of the annual Comic-Con convention in San Diego yesterday.
Abrams confirmed the rumour reported here earlier in the week that Zachary Quinto, one of the stars of the hit US series Heroes, will portray the USS Enterprise's fastidiously logical first officer in his younger days.
Precise plot details remain under wraps, however it is understood the story will explore the USS Enterprise's origins. More casting news is expected to follow shortly, however Matt Damon fans can forget about seeing their man portray a young Captain Kirk: the Bourne Ultimatum star has already said he's too old for the role. Star Trek will boldy go into the world's cinemas in December 2008.
Ray Winstone, Cate Blanchett and newly anointed US heartthrob Shia LaBeouf also star alongside Ford's whip-cracking adventurer, who arrives in cinemas in May 2008.
Footage of Winstone as a muscle-bound Beowulf in Robert Zemeckis' high-tech rendering of the epic poem, meanwhile, has also been wowing the crowd. The film opens later this year.
