Tom Cruise as Captain Pike

Good news. Casting on the new Star Trek movie continues, as does JJ Abrams' efforts to write Captain Kirk into the script. Leonard Nimoy has already signed on, having liked the script, which, incidentally, is an outstanding sign for the movie because he turned down acting and directing in Star Trek Generations on account of its awful script. Sources tell me that William Shatner is playing his usual routine of holding out for more money on Star Trek films, however.

All that aside, we have received some exciting news: Tom Cruise may play Captain Christopher Pike, the Captain who is relieved by Captain Kirk!!

...these new rumors only claim Abrams is looking at Cruise for a cameo role, which might be a favor the star would be willing to grant to his Mission: Impossible III director. IGN stressed that at this point there only seems to be a proposal from Abrams, and that there's no indication as to whether Cruise will actually accept the role.

In addition to their Cruise rumor, IGN noted that Paramount is trying to land an "A-lister" to play the film's main villain, but the site didn't reveal the name of this actor.

Again, I am heartened at the progress being made on this movie. Abrams is top quality, as are his screenwriters. If they are able to persuade Nimoy, who ran Star Trek with Harve Bennett for 9 years, then we are all in for a real treat come X-mas 2008.