Confirmed: Zoey Saldana Joins ‘Star Trek’ Cast

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 17, 2007

For some reason I have always gotten actress Zoe Saldana confused with Thandie Newton. Zaldana, star of films such as Guess Who, Haven and The Terminal bears a striking resemblance to Newton, who was a key player in 2005’s Best Picture Crash. But that is neither here, nor there, as I am absolutely certain that it is Saldana who has been cast in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek film. How do I know this? Because Variety told me so.

Saldana will play Uhura, a member of the bridge crew on the U.S.S Enterprise who rose to the rank of commander. It is a role that was originally played by Nichelle Nichols. Saldana will obviously play a young Uhura, as the script (written by Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci) centers around the crew’s early days fresh out of Starfleet Academy.

Saldana joins the previously announced Zachary Quinto, who will play Spock, and Leonard Nimoy, who will also play Spock, as the only official cast members that have been announced. Rising young star Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog, Charlie Bartlett) is currently in negotiations to play Pavel Checkov.

Star Trek is set for a Christmas 2008 release date.

| | Read more articles by Neil Miller