James McAvoy cast to play Scotty in the new Star Trek movie!
James McAvoy is to play Scotty in a new Star Trek film, it was reported yesterday. The 28-year-old is understood to have won the role of the Starship Enterprise’s famously dour chief engineer. Scotty was played in the iconic TV series by Canadian James Doohan and was immortalised in Captain Kirk’s phrase “Beam me up, Scotty”. Glasgow-born McAvoy, who starred in the Oscar-winning The Last King of Scotland and hit TV series Shameless, will appear in the 11th film of the hit sci-fi series. The movie reportedly takes the crew back to Starfleet Academy.
A source reportedly said: “McAvoy had to go through a full casting process – and was up against famous names and total unknowns. “He was called back a couple of times before getting the phone call from one of the producers to say he had won the role.”
It is believed that William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, now both 76, have signed up to play Captain Kirk and Mr Spock once again in flash- forward scenes. It will be directed by the creator of TV series Lost, JJ Abrams, and shooting begins this autumn with release planned for Christmas next year.
