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Eric Bana says no to any more Star Trek
Star Trek's Eric Bana won't be back in any way, shape or form as the vengeance-seeking Nero whenever a proposed sequel goes before the cameras, but the Australian actor said it's possible that deleted Nero scenes could turn up as extras on the upcoming Star Trek DVD and Blu-ray.
"It was an unbelievable experience, and it's such a great group of actors on that movie," Bana said in a group interview this past weekend while promoting his latest film, the sci-fi/romance The Time Traveler's Wife, in New York. "I didn't get to work with all of them individually, but I got to know them on this massive junket that we went on, which was a lot of fun. There's nothing about that film that wasn't an amazing amount of fun and a great experience."
Asked flat-out if he'd do another Star Trek adventure if the filmmakers found a way to work Nero in, Bana replied, "It was just a one-time for me."
The actor then confirmed that several scenes he shot ended up on the cutting-room floor, scenes that might be among the extras when the Star Trek DVD is released on Nov. 17. A glance at the Star Trek DVD spec sheet reveals that one of the deleted scenes is referred to as "Prison Interrogation and Breakout." As previously reported, this scene involves Nero and his crew fighting Klingons to escape from the ice-planet penal colony of Rura Penthe.
"I'm sure there will be," Bana said. "There are always [scenes cut]. There were a few scenes, some detail, but nothing really that leaves you with any less clue who Nero is. I mean, there was a sequence in jail and me escaping from jail. Yeah, you're kind of bummed when your fight sequences go, because you work on them and stuff, but I could totally see—I understand the editor's pains—and I could see why they dropped things."
By ccraig at 9:10 AM ON 08/03/09
This guy is an idiot, if they ask you to do another star trek you'll say no? what a fool
By ripleybsx at 10:05 AM ON 08/03/09
Actually, I think he made a good choice as an actor. The character felt as though he was written in merely as a plot device. There was no depth to him at all and no actor worth his salt would be stuck with such a thing the second time around.
By AngryJonny at 10:07 AM ON 08/03/09
Is the deleted Klingon prison escape scene supposed to tell us where Nero and his crew were for 25 years? Interesting.
How much of those 25 years were spent in prison? What became of their ship, the Narada, during that time? How were the Romulan crew captured? They must have left the Narada at some point because it couldn't have been during a ship-to-ship engagement with the Klingons (unless the Narada was more damaged than we thought after being kamikazed by the Kelvin).
I'd love to see those scenes integrated back into a director's cut (as long as the new cut wasn't the only one available on Blu-ray, like Watchmen). I'm fine if a longer cut messes up the pacing some; as long as I get to see more, more, more of this awesome movie!
Or how about making a Black Freighter-style animated straight-to-DVD that gives us some insight into Nero's 25 year absence? Perhaps Bana would be willing to at least reprise the role as a voice (or just recast the voice with a soundalike). Or at least give us a novel!
By scifi at 11:12 AM ON 08/03/09
Hope they included the deleted scenes into the dvd.
By jbs780 at 11:22 AM ON 08/03/09
ccraig...I think Bana was saying "That's it for Nero." He was totoally unrecognizable in the roll,m and could therefor play some other parts in future Trek movies...but they probalbly won't go that way in casting future parts.
By Muldfeld at 12:23 PM ON 08/03/09
Exactly, ripleybsx.
Bana's either an idiot or a liar, and I'm sure it's the latter. This was a terrible movie with no heart, soul, courage, or depth -- no artistic integrity, all commercial focus. Too shameless for his skills.
By Gabriel Angeles at 1:30 PM ON 08/03/09
The new movie sucked anyway and im sure if JJ has anything to do with any subsequent movies they will suck too !!
By jpl1976 at 2:38 PM ON 08/03/09
Why in the hell would Eric Bana be back anyhow? His ship was destroyed with HIM on it! This is just silliness
By Horrid at 10:14 PM ON 08/03/09
No look here ... Bana is an Aussie, the most sarcastic race on the planet .. right!? I'm sure when he was asked that dumb question he had a bag of really good responses but relented to polite reproach. Anyway to bring Nero back they'd have to drag him from the original Start Trek universe into the new Star Trek universe before the Romulan home world even looked like being destroyed & explain to all of us why, including the character. mmm maybe I should write that script & submit it to JJ just so we can all see Bana have another crack at it. Sheesh!!
By Scott at 11:14 PM ON 08/03/09
As an Aussie, I take umbridge at the suggestion we "are the most sarcastic race on the planet..."
I mean, like, americans aren't sarcastic at all, are they? (sarcasm dripping from every word..."snicker, snicker, gufaw, gufaw...")
By Horrid at 1:24 AM ON 08/04/09
Hey Scott .. Mate, Cobber, Drongo. I are an Aussie too. Like we am the only race who can laugh at themselves (he said refusing to use proper english) ... aint we!? No worries.
By Beren at 8:51 AM ON 08/04/09
I can sympathize with Bana here--he's got an amazing career in many other ways, the Nero character was pretty thoroughly destroyed (I suppose an "earlier" version of him could be brought back, but I think the writers are smart enough not to overuse that device).
On the other hand, I can really see one of the better ST novelists doing a wonderful novel about his backstory. That's honestly what I'm hoping to see.
By Jeff77042 at 2:13 PM ON 08/04/09
I want to know just one thing: in the next _Star Trek_ movie will there be full frontal nudity of the green Orion slave girls? This is very important; issues like global-warming, nuclear weapons proliferation and health-care reform pale in comparison.
By Scott at 11:06 PM ON 08/04/09
Hey Horrid... too bloody right me ol' china!
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