Earlier this week, twelve new images from J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek XI were released online. One of them shows Chris Pine as the young James Kirk climbing out of what seems to be an escape pod from the USS Enterprise which landed within an icy crater.
At first I didn’t think anything of this scene, of which producer Damon Lindelof confirmed occurs midway through the film. Lindelof also alluded that this does not take place on Earth — not so surprising for the Trek universe.
But then pictures taken of this film set in Los Angeles appeared online, namely one that shows a cardboard stand-in of a creature (which most likely will be inserted with CGI later) that looks suspiciously like the Wampa Ice Creature. (A cropped, tiny watermarked version of the image is here at right, but you get the picture.)
Don’t know what the Wampa Ice Creature is? [gasp] It’s the abominable snowman-like creature that attacked Luke Skywalker on Hoth at the beginning of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (and no, I don’t include the “Episode” number, I’m old school). It’s obvious from the images so far that the young Kirk will encounter some kind of creature on that icy surface.
What could make it even more Empire-like is if Kirk gets swiped in the face by said creature, giving him some facial injuries, much like Luke. It’s possible, considering that two other publicity shots from the film released this week (see it one of them here at right) shows Kirk on the bridge of the USS Enterprise looking a bit beaten up, as does John Cho’s Sulu. For this scenario, Lindelof hinted that Kirk and Sulu may have gotten into a fight, leading people to believe it was with each other — but the producer never said that! It could be that the shipmates got into a fight with the creature and got slapped around, hence the bruises.
There’s so much secrecy around the plot of this movie, so at this point we can only guess what the scenario is and what kind of creature this will be (and if that piece of cardboard is positioned in front of maybe an emergency campsite set up by Kirk?).
If you don’t mind the movie-making illusion of this icy scene ruined for you, check out the brief video below taken via newscopter of the set in Los Angeles.
@Jimeee
Umm, I think you need to take that back, sir. There’s nothing for me to have forgotten. It was NOT officially called Episode 5 back in 1980. “Episode V” appeared in the opening crawl text, NOT in the official title. The official title was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — NO Episode V. Go look at the movie poster or the original VHS box and tell me where it says Episode V. Do you have the storybook like I do, which I’ve had since I was little? Check it, NO Episode in the title. The Episode listing in the title came later AFTER the prequels.
Sorry, I cant take that back. You said it yourself:
“Episode V appeared in the opening crawl text”
Since it is included in the crawl text it, this makes it official and canon and “old school”.
We are getting into semantics – it can be called either The Empire Strikes Back or Episode V, nothing wrong with either.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
But then pictures taken of this film set in Los Angeles appeared online, namely one that shows a cardboard stand-in of a creature (which most likely will be inserted with CGI later) that looks suspiciously like the Wampa Ice Creature. (A cropped, tiny watermarked version of the image is here at right, but you get the picture.)
Captain Kirk would put a MAJOR hurting on him for sure!
Jif
www.privacy-center.be.tc
“and no, I don’t include the “Episode” number, I’m old school”
Probably the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day. Have you forgotten the fact that it was officially called “Episode 5″ back in 1980 too?
@Jimeee
Umm, I think you need to take that back, sir. There’s nothing for me to have forgotten. It was NOT officially called Episode 5 back in 1980. “Episode V” appeared in the opening crawl text, NOT in the official title. The official title was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — NO Episode V. Go look at the movie poster or the original VHS box and tell me where it says Episode V. Do you have the storybook like I do, which I’ve had since I was little? Check it, NO Episode in the title. The Episode listing in the title came later AFTER the prequels.
Are you sure it’s not The Bumble?
http://www.gagglefrak.com/images/TheBumble.jpg
Sorry, I cant take that back. You said it yourself:
“Episode V appeared in the opening crawl text”
Since it is included in the crawl text it, this makes it official and canon and “old school”.
We are getting into semantics – it can be called either The Empire Strikes Back or Episode V, nothing wrong with either.
We all knew it… but no one called it Episode V in 1980… or Episode 5, Episode Cinco – or even “I’m This Many!” (not pictured: child’s open hand).
NO ONE. That’s the context, and all of us who were there know it… thus it’s old school. That is all.