Pegg to join Star Trek cast

Simon Pegg is to play Scotty in the next Star Trek film.

The Hot Fuzz actor will play the USS Enterprise’s chief engineer in the new film about he crew’s early days at Starfleet Academy

The cast also includes comedian-turned Hulk star Eric Bana as the villain, Heroes star Zachary Quinto as the young Spock, and the original Spock actor, Leonard Nimoy.

Work on the Paramount film, to be directed by Lost creator J.J. Abrams, starts next month, and it is scheduled for release on Christmas Day next year.

However, Star Trek gave the casting news a mixed reaction, with many fearing Pegg would play the role for laughs.

On The Trek forum, a user called Saul wrote: ‘OK he probably can do a good parody of Scotty since he is a big sci-fi fan. But I think he is totally unsuited for the role’ while Turbo said: ‘UGH! He's a good actor, but totally wrong for Scotty.’

But JacksonArcher was more optimistic, posting: ‘This is AWESOME news! Simon Pegg is a fantastic, fantastic actor. Totally out of left field, but I loved him in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, so bloody awesome!’

Pegg’s next film to be released is the satire How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, based on British author Toby Young’s memoirs about his time working on New York magazine Vanity Fair.

Published: 12 Oct 2007