Free Star Trek wallpaper! The “Colors DS9” series is now available! Download for a wide range of desktop resolutions and mobile devices in Command Red, Science Blue, and Engineering Gold.
If the release of TNG season 3 on Blu-ray wasn’t enough for Trekkies today, fans in the US and the UK can now pre-order TNG season 4 on Blu-ray from Amazon. The scheduled release date for the US is July 30, with the UK release date coming a day earlier on July 29. Right now the US preorder price is $90.99, a 30% savings from the suggested $129.99. If the past is any indication, customers can expect that price to plunge even lower as the release date nears.
While on Amazon, US fans can also preorder their copy of Redemption on Blu-ray for $17.49, also a 30% savings from the suggested retail price of $24.99. For a closer look at the cover art and special features to be included on the Redemption discs, check out TrekCore.
Although the TNG season 3 Blu-ray hasn’t yet been released (due out April 30), details are emerging about the TNG season 4 Blu-ray. According to TrekCore, the release is set for sometime in July and will include a multi-part documentary, gag reel, audio commentaries on several episodes, as well as deleted scenes.
Similar to Best of Both Worlds, there are plans to release TNG’s season 4 cliffhanger (and 100th episode) Redemption as a single feature, seamlessly edited together for a single-disc release. View the season 4 trailer below.
Abrams says directing third Trek film a “possibility”
Photo credit: TrekMovie.comDon’t take your bets off J.J. Abrams yet. According to an interview he did with Playboy magazine, Abrams still considers taking the role of director for the next Trek movie a “possibility.” He went on to say, “We’re trying to figure out the next step. But it’s like anything: It all begins with the story.”
While Abrams might be concerned with the story, fans seem obsessed with the timing. It only makes sense that Paramount might try to target a 2016 release date to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. To hit this anniversary with Abrams in the director’s chair, however, TrekMovie.com concludes that the third Trek film would have to aim for a holiday release, which would still likely overlap Star Wars post-production and Star Trek pre-production.
If Paramount decides to forgo the anniversary and indulge in another four-year gap, that sets the movie back to 2017, which should be plenty of time for Abrams to direct the film. Then again, no matter what the release date, there’s always the chance that another director will take the helm.
Esurance is sponsoring a daily ticket giveaway for fans to see Star Trek Into Darkness. Winners receive two tickets to see Into Darkness in a regular or 3D cinema. All you have to do is “like” their page on Facebook and you’re entered to win in their independent, daily sweepstakes. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. The contest ends May 19.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to listen to a love ballad sung in Klingon, check out Jen Usellis, an actress and classically trained vocalist, in full cosplay belting out “HIchop!” You’ll recognize this song as the classic ’90s hit “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. The best part is the inclusion of subtitles, which translate the Klingon verses back into English. Ah, Klingon love. Watch and listen below.
Image credit: StarTrek.comGive your bill-paying experience a personal touch with Star Trek-themed checks. The company, Checks in the Mail, is offering four sets of checks for purchase: classic (which features TOS), captains, ships, and colorful quogs (which features bold artwork of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and McCoy). If you’re not satisfied with just checks, Trek-themed covers and address labels are also available. Click here to purchase.
Star Trek fans mourn the passing of Peter Duryea this week. Best known for playing Lt. Jose Tyler in TOS’s The Cage (scenes from which were later reused for The Menagerie), Duryea also had credits from Daniel Boone, Bewitched, and Dr. Kildare, to name a few.
Duryea died on March 24, leaving behind his longtime partner Janice Bryan, daughter Star, and brother, Richard Duryea. Trek.fm wishes to extend its condolences to Duryea’s friends and family.
AIA wants to air space program trailer before Into Darkness
Photo credit: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America has launched a crowdfunding campaign in order to place a 30 second NASA spot into 50 theaters around the U.S., starting with the premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness.
The spot will be edited from a video released by NASA (see below) showing how our space program did not end when NASA retired the shuttle program. However, NASA is legally barred from purchasing advertising time for the video, so the AIA has stepped in to make the information available to interested audiences. Your donation, which is not tax-deductible, will go towards the total goal of $33,000. Once these funds are reached, the ad spot is guaranteed. If the goal is exceeded, the AIA plans to buy ad time in more theaters.
If you use the Paramount Pictures Star Trek app, you have until March 31 to enter to win a uniform used during the making of the Into Darkness movie. You can enter once a day by clicking the “Sweeps” button within the app.
Don’t have the app yet? You can download it through the App Store or Google play at www.StarTrekMovie.com/App
Borg, eh? The Best of Both Worlds feature comes to Canada
Photo credit: StarTrek.comGreat news for Star Trek fans in Canada: The two-part TNG episode, The Best of Both Worlds, will also be playing in select theaters in Canada on April 25. The episodes have been edited into a seamless feature and digitally restored. The run time will be approximately two hours and will include parts from “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg,” a Blu-ray behind-the-scenes extra.
The IRS is in hot water with Congress. While attempting to “determine whether and to what extend taxpayer resources were devoted to activities unrelated” to the IRS “core functions,” Congress looked into IRS training videos, which are made in parody form. One video that raised a red flag due to the $60,000 production price tag was a Star Trek parody made in 2010 for a training and leadership conference.
At Congressman Charles Boustany’s request, the IRS released the video, along with a statement that indicated the video was a mistake to make because it “does not appear to have any training value.”
Photo credit: TrekNews.netMarina Sirtis will be joining the cast of NCIS to play the role of Orli Elbaz, who will take over the Israeli intelligence organization Mossad, following the death of the character Eli David. According to showrunner Glasberg, “She’s everything I wanted for the role and then some. We are lucky to have her.” The first episode with Sirtis will air in April.
Photo Credit: ET OnlineAfter careful consideration, Ashley Judd has decided against seeking the democratic nomination for a Senate run in 2014. She made the announcement via Twitter and followed with a statement on her official website saying, “It would be the greatest honor of my life to be entrusted as a public servant to our beloved Kentucky. Perhaps someday I will be. However, with the help of my pastors and mentors, I have thoughtfully and prayerfully concluded that I won’t run for the United States Senate at this time.”
Given that Judd had met with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and hired experienced campaign consultants, her decision comes as a surprise to her supporters.
J.J. Abrams decision to direct Star Wars explained (blame Spielberg!)
Photo credit: IMDB.comAccording to J.J. Abrams, his initial response to directing the next Star Wars movie was a “knee-jerk reaction” to turn it down, due to being in the middle of filming Star Trek. However, once the “heavy lifting” was through on Into Darkness, he had more time to consider the proposition and apparently had a voice whispering in his ear…Steven Spielberg. Abrams says, “I will say that Steven [Spielberg] was very encouraging of Star Wars. It’s funny because I talked to him about it and it turned out he knew all about what was going on.”
The ironic part is that according to Bob Orci, it was Spielberg’s s influence that caused Abrams to accept directing the 2009 Star Trek movie.
Regardless of whom ends up directing the third Star Trek movie, Abrams will still be involved since his company, Bad Robot, will be producing the movie.
Star Trek emblem flies over London to mark Earth Hour
On March 23, thirty LED-carrying quadcopter drones flew in the formation of the Star Trek emblem over the Tower Bridge in London. The feat was carried out by Ars Electronica Futurelab in the moments leading up to Earth Hour. As the lights of the buildings went out around the city, so did the Star Trek emblem.
Earth Hour is a yearly event to raise awareness of climate change.
Photo: Canadian Space AgencyOn Thursday, William Shatner called real-life astronaut Chris Hadfield, who is currently living and working aboard the International Space Station. This call culminated the conversation Shatner instigated in early January when he tweeted, “@Cmdr_Hadfield Are you tweeting from space?”
Although short on time (the whole call lasted roughly 13 minutes) Shatner managed to ask Hadfield several questions, some of which delved into the philosophical when Shatner posed the question, “Do you find yourself in the space station, observing as a scientist a part of it, removed from it, or are you able to see the unifying parts of it so that you become at one with the universe?”
Hadfield responded, “Luckily I think, Bill, the answer is both.”
The two ended their time by agreeing to meet in person at Hadfield’s cottage in Ontario once he returns home.
It is with regret that we report that Robin Sachs, who played Annari General Valen in the Voyager episode “The Void,” passed away on February 1. Having also played roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Galaxy Quest and Babylon 5, he was a popular character actor within the sci-fi genre and will be missed.
If you are really impatient for May 17, does May 15 sound better? If so, the next question should be, are you willing to shell out the cash for a 3-D IMAX movie? If you are, then you’re in luck: You’ll be able to see Star Trek Into Darkness a whole two days before everyone else. Just please, when you inevitably hit the Internet to brag that your speculation on John Harrison’s identity was correct, do the rest of us a favor and use spoiler tags.
Benedict Cumberbatch studied terrorism for Star Trek role
In a recent interview with MTV, Benedict Cumberbatch stated plainly that John Harrison “is a terrorist.” With that in mind, Cumberbatch then studied “certain terrorist groups of the past” to see how they operated in order to gain inspiration for the role.
While this small insight into the character of John Harrison is, well, fascinating, it’s hardly a real clue and will not assuage any Trek fan’s curiosity. May 17 can’t come fast enough.
New Into Darkness trailer released during Super Bowl
If you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?
As if echoing the thoughts of every Star Trek fan out there, Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk demands of Benedict Cumberbatch’s John Harrison, “Who the hell are you?” at the beginning of the latest Star Trek Into Darkness trailer, which was released during the Super Bowl last Sunday. From that moment to the end of the 30 second spot, viewers are treated to a visual smorgasbord of lens flares and destruction. This includes what looks like the Enterprise plummeting to Earth and annihilating buildings in its wake, as well as a disheveled Lt. Uhura, who looks like she may actually do some of the fighting this time around. (She was only set dressing in the first movie, right?)
On April 30, Star Trek: The Next Generation fans will be able to purchase season three of their favorite show on Blu-ray. As with the previous seasons already released, each episode will be remastered in HD and will carry a slew of special features. The set will retail for $130 and is available on Amazon to pre-order at a reduced rate.
That’s not all. The two-part episode “Best of Both Worlds” will also be released on its own Blu-ray on April 30, cut together as a single feature. There will be extras included with this disc, including a gag reel.
But wait, there’s more! If “Best of Both Worlds” on Blu-ray isn’t enough, watch it on the big screen. On April 25, the episode will be shown in select theaters for one night only. Check Cinemark Theaters to see if it will play near you.
Photo: StarTrek.comOn February 12, La-La Land Records will release a 4-CD soundtrack set that will feature music from all seven seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Each disc will have a different focus, with the first featuring only the music of composer Dennis McCarthy, and the second featuring only the music of Jay Chattaway. The third and fourth discs will feature a mix of artists.
If the release of TNG season 3 on Blu-ray wasn’t enough for Trekkies today, fans in the US and the UK can now pre-order TNG season 4 on Blu-ray from Amazon. The scheduled release date for the US is July 30, with the UK release date coming a day earlier on July 29. Right now the US preorder price is $90.99, a 30% savings from the suggested $129.99. If the past is any indication, customers can expect that price to plunge even lower as the release date nears.
Charlynn Schmiedt | 
