bones new star trek actor

‘Star Trek’ Cast, Including Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, Returning for Fourth Film

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

• Why ‘3 Body Problem’ John Bradley Could Literally See Himself in His Character 4 days ago
• ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ Season 9 Queens Revealed, Will Compete for Charity for the First Time 6 days ago
• ‘The Blair Witch Project’ Cast Asks Lionsgate for Retroactive Residuals and ‘Meaningful Consultation’ on Future Projects 1 week ago

They’re boldly going back.

Paramount is planning to enter negotiations for “ Star Trek ” stars Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho and Simon Pegg to return to the Enterprise for their fourth tour of duty in the venerable sci-fi franchise.

The announcement was made by J.J. Abrams during the Paramount Investors Day Presentation on Feb. 15.

“We are thrilled to say that we are hard at work on a new ‘Star Trek’ film that will be shooting by the end of the year that will be featuring our original cast and some new characters that I think are going to be really fun and exciting and help take ‘Star Trek’ into areas that you’ve just never seen before,” Abrams said. “We’re thrilled about this film, we have a bunch of other stories that we’re talking about that we think will be really exciting, so can’t wait for you to see what we’re cooking up. But until then, live long and prosper.”

The six actors first stepped into their respective iconic roles as Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Bones, Sulu and Scotty in 2009’s “Star Trek,” directed by Abrams, which reset the “Trek” timeline and allowed for the reboot to exist unencumbered from the hundreds of hours of “Trek” continuity that had come before. The actors returned in two sequels, 2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness,” also directed by Abrams, and 2016’s “Star Trek Beyond,” directed by Justin Lin.

Popular on Variety

Abrams is producing the new, as-yet-untitled film through Bad Robot, with Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”) directing from a screenplay by Josh Friedman (“Avatar 2”) and Cameron Squires (“WandaVision”) based on a earlier draft by Lindsey Beer (“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser”) and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Captain Marvel”).

Paramount was close to bringing back this cast once before: In 2018, S.J. Clarkson (“Jessica Jones”) had signed up to direct a sequel that would have reunited Pine’s Kirk with his late father, played by Chris Hemsworth reprising his performance from the 2009 “Star Trek.” That film never materialized, however, after Paramount reportedly couldn’t close a deal with Pine and Hemsworth.

Since then, insiders say the studio has done market research to determine audience interest in the rebooted cast, given the long wait period between “Beyond” — which lost money for Paramount — and a prospective new “Trek” film. Execs determined that there was still lasting audience enthusiasm for Pine, Quinto and the rest of the cast in their established roles, which allowed the studio to feel comfortable with moving forward with bringing them back.

Paramount has also explored several other avenues for “Trek” features, none of which seem to have ultimately borne fruit. Quentin Tarantino reportedly cooled on a “Star Trek” script he was pursuing with “The Revenant” screenwriter Mark L. Smith. In late 2019, Paramount tapped “Fargo” and “Legion” creator Noah Hawley to write and direct a “Trek” movie that Hawley planned to feature new actors playing new characters. But when Emma Watts became president of the Paramount Motion Picture Group a few months later, insiders say she paused all “Trek” development, including Hawley’s film , to decide how best to move forward with one of the studio’s crown jewel franchises. With Watts’ departure from Paramount in September, it’s unclear what the current “Trek” film portends for other development for the franchise, including a screenplay by “Fear the Walking Dead” co-executive producer Kalinda Vazquez .

Bringing the 2009 “Trek” cast back could prove a challenge given they’ve all had busy schedules since “Beyond.” Pine added the “Wonder Woman” franchise to his resume and he’ll next appear in Olivia Wilde’s thriller “Don’t Worry Darling” and the black-ops film “Violence of Action.” Quinto headlined the AMC series “NOS4A2,” and starred in the Broadway revival of “The Boys in the Band” and its 2020 Netflix film adaptation. Saldana continued her run as Gamora in several Marvel Studios films, including “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Avengers: Endgame”; she’ll star in “Avatar 2” this year and in “Guardians Vol. 3” in 2023. Urban appeared in 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok” and he’ll continue his performance as Billy Butcher on Season 3 of Amazon’s “The Boys” in June. Cho starred in acclaimed indies “Columbus” and “Searching,” and he starred in Netflix’s live-action adaption of the anime series “Cowboy Bebop.” And Pegg starred with Nick Frost on Amazon’s horror comedy series “Truth Seekers,” and he’ll reprise his role as Benji in “Mission: Impossible 7” in 2023.

One member of the 2009 “Trek” cast, however, sadly cannot join them. Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov, died in an accident in June 2016, a month before “Beyond” opened in theaters. At that film’s premiere at San Diego Comic Con, the cast, filmmakers and invited guests sat in a full minute of silence in tribute to the late actor.

Brent Lang contributed to this story.

More From Our Brands

Hunter biden is gearing up to sue fox news ‘imminently’: report, a top music producer just listed his fully customized l.a. mansion for $11.5 million, real estate firm lvxp proposes new venue for las vegas nba team, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, will trent’s ramón rodríguez tees up high-stakes wedding episode — and potential conflict with uncle antonio, verify it's you, please log in.

Flip through today’s papers

AMNY Newsletter

Tackle the city, with our help..

Manage your settings.

Karl Urban in ‘Star Trek Beyond’: Becoming the real McCoy

Stepping into an iconic role is never an easy task, and the re-cast crew of the “Star Trek” franchise get to do it for a third time.

Karl Urban, a New Zealand actor famous for playing Eomer in the last two “Lord of Rings” movies, took over the role of belovedly grumpy Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy from DeForest Kelley, who originated the character in the original “Star Trek” television series.

“Star Trek Beyond,” in theaters July 22, marks Urban’s third turn in the role, and the actor says he believes that it’s “probably the most well-defined version of the character that I’ve had the pleasure of playing.”

In this film, we get to see his true friendship with [Captain James T.] Kirk; you get to see him be a consigliere and adviser. … And through the course of the movie, I spend an amazing amount of time with Zach Quinto’s Spock, and that’s a real opportunity to explore the relationship between those two characters, for both of those characters to come to an understanding on a deeper level what the other represents and where the other’s coming from. For Bones, there were just a lot of wonderful shades of the character that I was able to bring forward, whether it was his compassion and understanding emotionally for where Spock was at, or his bravery and courage in looking after Spock and not abandoning him, his fear of the situation they were in and his use of humor to keep the morale of the both of them up. And his willingness to live and survive — there’s a lot of wonderful shades.

I think my favorite aspect of his relationship with Kirk is represented in the bar scene between the two of them, where you see two good friends sharing a drink and Kirk being able to sort of express his existential dilemma and Bones being able to listen and offer a sound piece of advice. And as far as Bones’ relationship with Spock, I enjoy any time that they get to argue, or the two of them get to have that great banter, it’s always a lot of fun. I particularly like the scene in the transporter where Bones discovers Spock has sold him down the river and requested that Bones accompany him on a dangerous mission. And Bones’ response to that is typically Bones.

I can. The character of McCoy is somebody who has experienced his share of pain and loss through life. And I feel like there is somewhat of an irascible shell that he wears to protect himself, but the great thing about the character in this movie is you really get to see what’s beneath that. You get to see a softer side of the character. He lets his guard down in this film, and I think for me, probably, it was part of the process of making the character my own. It was important for me to still imbue the character with those familiar elements of DeForest, it was also an opportunity to take the character in a new direction.

That’s the great thing about McCoy, he’s really a bit of a jack of all trades. You can throw him into any situation. He might grumble about it, but he’ll thrive. In this one, I get to fly an alien spaceship and do heroic things, and that’s kind of a part of the fun.

It was an enjoyable experience. Justin came in and was very sensitive to respecting the core of this cast and he brought in a real passion for “Star Trek” — he was a fan of it growing up as a kid. He was able to take that knowledge and infuse it with this wonderful visual action style that he’s synonymous for and deliver an action-packed fun ride full of special effects and thrills and also some poignant emotional moments, and I think he’s done a fantastic job.

Yeah, I think that the challenge was to not only honor the 50 years that had come before, but to also explore new territory, and “Star Trek” has always been a cult of personality. It’s about the characters, and I think Justin did a great job of infusing the story with an energy and a dynamism, and I think he was successfully able to build upon what J.J. established in ’09. … It’s about this eclectic group of diverse characters who work together, and that’s the essential message of this film — we are stronger together than we are apart.

Simon emailed us an early draft and he said, “Look, if there’s anything you’d like to see in this that’s not in there, please let me know and we’ll work together.” That was really the basis of the working relationship for having one of our own who was there for us and accessible and a great conduit for us to really be able to express these characters on a deeper level. There are many beats, and in some cases scenes, that came from that that are in the film and it was a wonderful collaborative experience. It’s just a shame that Simon gets the credit for it. [Laughs]

Well I think the most profound change, and the thing that I value the most, is the friends that I’ve made. This cast is unlike anything I’ve worked with in the past, apart from “Lord of the Rings,” which was a very similar experience. But we’re a tight group, and there’s a real bond between us. We really are a family and we’ve now experienced coming up on 10 years of this phenomenon and there’s been highs and lows. Some of us have families now, some of us were married and are no longer married and of course we’ve recently lost, a devastating loss, of losing Anton [Yelchin]. We’ve been through a lot together.

It’s absolutely devastating. There’s nothing that can prepare you for the loss of a family member and certainly we all continue to mourn him and grieve him and it hits you in the most unexpected ways and most unexpected times.

I’m about to go down to Australia for “Thor: Ragnarok” with Chris Hemsworth and directed by Taika Waititi, and I’m really looking forward to that. A lot of my stuff is with Cate Blanchett, and even though we were in “Lord of the Rings” together, I never shared any scenes with her and I have such a huge respect for her and her work and I’m really excited for that and I look forward to that.

About the Author

Things to do in nyc.

Post an Event

Experience Awesome – Exploring Blue Man Group Astor Place Theatre

Sail Away by Treehouse Shakers Ailey Citigroup Theater

Sesame Street Live! Say Hello Kings Theatre

New Dorp Christian Summer Camp New Dorp Christian Academy

The Carousel For All Children Grand Opening 2024 Willowbrook Park

Bluey’s Big Play Kings Theatre

View All Events…

Jobs in New York

Add your job.

• The 13th Child Behavior Analyst, P.C. ABA Therapist
• Cardinal McCloskey Community Service Administrative Director of Educational Services
• The Rubin Museum of Art Visitor Experience Associate, Part-Time/Temporary

View all jobs…

Related Articles

More from around NYC

Column | Coming to theaters this May: the 52nd annual Bronx Ball

Queens Plaza set for transformation with over 1,400 new luxury units by 2026

Hundreds without power in Manhattan Beach after truck tears down 8 telephone poles

Biden administration finalizes rule restoring LGBTQ healthcare protections

Karl Urban Struck A Careful Balance When It Came To Playing Star Trek's Bones

JJ Abrams' "Star Trek" reboots were a bold and largely successful attempt to bring the franchise back into mainstream relevancy, reimagining the classic sci-fi series as action/adventure blockbusters. Naturally, for a franchise with one of the oldest fandoms , many people were nervous at the prospect of not only putting a new spin on this universe, but reintroducing these legacy characters with different faces. Though the adventurous nature was there, "Star Trek" has always been a slow and philosophical series more than an action-oriented one. Trekkies felt a legitimate fear that the curious spirit of the original show would be watered down in favor of Hollywood spectacle. 

That's why one of the bolder casting choices was Karl Urban as Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy, the gruff and hot-headed right-hand man to Captain Kirk, portrayed by Chris Pine in the Abrams reboot. Up to that point in his career, Urban had established himself as an action veteran with roles in " The Lord of the Rings " franchise, "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Chronicles of Riddick," and "Doom." Though he certainly had the rugged look to him that was similarly characteristic of Bones McCoy originator DeForest Kelley, it was still up in the air whether or not Urban could capture the nuances of the character based on what audiences had seen in his previous credits.

Urban felt the weight of playing Bones

Abrams encouraged the 2009 cast to approach these characters in a way that felt natural to them first, rather than working towards imitation. In fact, Chris Pine once explained  that the worst thing he could do for his performance was try to replicate William Shatner's Captain Kirk, and he deliberately avoided fan discussion or expectations when crafting his version of that character. 

Urban, however, felt great responsibility when handling the challenge of embodying such a beloved character and making his performance feel as authentic as possible:

"Stepping into such an iconic character that was played so wonderfully well by the late great DeForest Kelley, and really a beloved character ... I felt like as a long-term fan of 'Star Trek' that it was important to see some sort of recognizability, particularly in the character of Bones. For me, it was really about sort of cherry-picking some of the essence of what DeForest Kelley did, and sort of imbuing it into the character, without sort of slipping into some kind of imitation, which wouldn't have been a good move."

Leonard Nimoy cried watching Karl Urban's Bones

Urban's performance as Bones exceeded expectations, and it is a role he still credits as essential in shaping the rest of his career. The highest praise Urban would receive was from the late Leonard Nimoy, originator of the role of Spock, who opened up  at a press conference that he was brought to tears watching Urban onscreen. "That performance of his is so moving, so touching and so powerful as Doctor McCoy, that I think D. Kelley [DeForest] would be smiling, and maybe in tears as well."

Three films later, the whole cast of Abrams' reboots have been so wholeheartedly welcomed by the fandom that it's hard to remember there ever being any hesitation. While there's no dearth of "Star Trek " projects to engage with right now, Trekkies are anticipating the return of the Kelvin timeline with Abrams' fourth film, which was recently announced to the surprise of the cast themselves . Whether the project gets out of pre-production or not, it is clear the excitement to see this new cast is still high, and Urban's commitment to Bones is a key piece of a stronger ensemble.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The Boys star Karl Urban on potential Star Trek 4 return

"I would love to work with those guys again."

The actor boarded the franchise in 2009, portraying Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, Kirk's trusted friend and later on the chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise.

The role had previously been played by DeForest Kelley in the original 1966 series.

Related: Zoe Saldaña reflects on making Star Trek 4 without Anton Yelchin

The reboot trilogy ended in 2016 but, as of recently, there has been talk of a fourth addition to the popular sci-fi franchise that has had fans buzzing with excitement.

In February, JJ Abrams confirmed that Paramount was going ahead with Star Trek 4 and it would be including the return of actors Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña.

Since the announcement, Pine and Saldaña have reacted to the news , expressing their excitement about trying on their characters' shoes once more.

Speaking to Variety , Urban gave his own reaction to a potential reunion. The actor admitted that, despite feeling excited, he was as much in the dark as everyone else for the time being.

Related: Chris Pine confirms he didn't know Star Trek 4 news before announcement

"I haven't seen a script, I know nothing," he said. "But I would love to work with those guys again, so much fun, the best hang. We'll see."

Urban's latest role has been as Billy Butcher on the Amazon Prime show, The Boys , which just released its season 3 trailer at SXSW . Despite the series not having received the greenlight for a fourth season, the actor recently confirmed the news that the season is already in production .

His character's season 3 official poster and the new trailer also hinted at a big change for Billy . New footage has hinted that the anti-hero might be acquiring some new powers this season, based on the intense yellow-red glow of his eyes in the promotional images.

The Boys seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch in full on Amazon Prime Video . Season 3 will premiere on June 3.

Amazon Prime Video The Boys - Season 1

Amazon Prime Video The Boys – Season 2

Sony Pictures The Boys season 1 [DVD]

Sony Pictures The Boys season 02 [DVD]

Dynamite Entertainment The Boys Omnibus Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Funko Pop! The Boys - Starlight Funko Pop! figurine

Funko Pop! The Boys - Homelander levitating Funko Pop! figurine

Pop! Vinyl The Boys - Billy Butcher Funko Pop! figurine

Funko Pop! The Boys - A-Train Funko Pop! figurine

Pop! Vinyl The Boys - Queen Maeve Funko Pop! figurine

.css-15yqwdi:before{top:0;width:100%;height:0.25rem;content:'';position:absolute;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#51b3e0,#51b3e0 2.5rem,#e5adae 2.5rem,#e5adae 5rem,#e5e54f 5rem,#e5e54f 7.5rem,black 7.5rem,black);} star trek.

Star Trek 4: Everything you need to know

Star Trek 4 gets a promising update

Whoopi Goldberg on why she joined Star Trek: TNG

Star Trek Discovery sets final season release date

Star Trek: Discovery star opens up on show's end

New Star Trek movie adds Ted Lasso and Power stars

Star Trek getting prequel movie from JJ Abrams

Star Trek spin-off saved from cancellation

Patrick Stewart surprised by Tom Hardy's success

Patrick Stewart was advised not to do Star Trek

First trailer for AHS star's R-rated gay comedy

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Jun 7, 2023

The Best of Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy

'I told you people, I don't need a doctor. Damn it, I am a doctor.'

StarTrek.com

Karl Urban and I have something in common; we were both born on June 7. However, considering that Urban has contributed much more to the Star Trek franchise than I have, let us focus on his accomplishments.

Faced with inheriting DeForest Kelley's beloved role as Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy in 2009, Urban expertly tackled the daunting task by crafting a persona that harkened back to Kelley's creation and infused the ship's surgeon with the New Zealander's own charm and acting talents.

With three films set in the Kelvin Timeline under his belt, Urban has gifted fans with scene-stealing humor and an array of memorable, character-defining moments.

Star Trek (2009)

" i told you people, i don't need a doctor. damn it, i am a doctor. ".

What better way to introduce Karl Urban's Bones to the galaxy than with a clever riff on the classic "I'm a doctor, not a..." catch phrase ? The cantankerous encounter with a Starfleet officer aboard a shuttlecraft introduced McCoy's aviophobia, reminiscent of Prime McCoy 's distaste for transporters and his irritable (and bearded!) disposition as he arrived on the U.S.S. Enterprise in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Urban made an excellent first impression on audiences...

" I may throw up on you. "

... which continued throughout his initial conversation with James T. Kirk . Despite his argumentative state, McCoy quickly established a cordial repertoire with Kirk. Urban superbly blended a colorful description of stellar perils with a generally welcoming attitude toward the younger cadet. The conversation's easy flow foreshadowed the lifelong friendship that ultimately emerged during their tenure at Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek Into Darkness

" you just stunned our ride ".

As usual, Kirk's fondness for improvisation spelled certain doom for McCoy's well-prepared exit strategy on Nibiru. The doctor's annoyance swiftly subsided as the furious natives pursuing the captain sprinted closer. Leonard's loyalty overrode his analytical mind, sending the doctor on a frantic footrace that ended with an unwelcome plunge over a cliff's edge into Nibiran waters. This brief scene demonstrated McCoy's willingness to follow Kirk's lead, regardless of the unpleasant consequences that often arose.

" I once performed an emergency c-section on a pregnant Gorn. "

Granting Bones and Dr. Carol Marcus their own scene on a planetoid in Klingon space provided an interesting dynamic, one not possible with the typical Kirk/McCoy pairing. Bones' transparent flirtations contrasted superbly with Marcus' calm professionalism, leaving the chief surgeon's commentary about his medical exploits to fall on uninterested ears.

Nevertheless, as the situation transitioned into a dire plight to prevent a torpedo from exploding, the doctors demonstrated their selfless natures as they proved willing to sacrifice themselves in order to save one another.

" Oh, don't be so melodramatic. You were barely dead ."

McCoy's flippant remark downplayed the relief he felt upon seeing his captain return to consciousness following a deadly encounter with the Enterprise 's warp core. Of course, McCoy's cool exterior evaporated when Kirk attributed his resurrection to Spock 's victorious brawl with Khan . Normally tolerant of Jim's remarks, Bones clearly drew the line when it came to giving Spock sole credit for Kirk's recovery. While brief, the trio's interaction in the hospital perfectly summarized their complex friendship's essence.

Star Trek Beyond

" you know me, mr. sensitive. ".

Dr. McCoy's aptitude for assessing Kirk's state of mind allowed him to offer a comforting ear when the captain expressed melancholy over the anniversary honoring both his birth and his father's death. Bones perceived Kirk's self-doubt as a malady that required treatment from a physician and a friend. The doctor's use of alcohol to spark the conversation paralleled his Prime counterpart's Romulan Ale delivery to a pensive Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

" Feeling philosophical, huh? "

Star Trek Beyond scribes Simon Pegg and Doug Jung brilliantly chose to pair Dr. McCoy with Spock following the Enterprise 's destruction at Altamid. This decision, along with masterful performances from Urban and Zachary Quinto, rewarded fans with a heartfelt scene that memorialized Ambassador Spock 's passing. The rare moment of raw emotion between the two began to uncover their mutual respect, setting the stage for their relationship's continued development throughout the film's remaining acts.

" You gave your girlfriend a tracking device? "

Leave it to Bones to break a situation down to its bare components. During the search for Uhura , Sulu and the Enterprise' s surviving crew, Spock surmised that their colleagues could be found by configuring the U.S.S. Franklin 's sensors to identify the Vulcan mineral vokaya.

In addition to fashionably adorning a necklace that Spock had bestowed upon Uhura, vokaya emitted innocuous, yet detectable, radiation. By describing the jewelry as a tracking device, McCoy secured a minor victory in his ongoing verbal sparring match with Spock.

" I'll keep an eye on him ."

Spock's emphatic plea to join Kirk, McCoy and Jaylah on the away mission to rescue Uhura did not fall on deaf ears. Recognizing Spock's love for Nyota, Bones convinced Kirk to permit the injured Vulcan to accompany the team by assuring the captain that monitoring the science officer's condition presented no problems. This marked yet another evolutionary step in the increasing level of trust between Spock and McCoy.

" You really want to head back out there, huh? "

Bones' simple comment, made as Kirk and Spock looked out upon the U.S.S. Enterprise -A's newly constructed frame, resonated on two wavelengths. On one hand, the words represented McCoy's disdain for space exploration and a disbelief that his comrades wished to resume their journey. On the other, the rhetorical question signified Bones' resignation to the notion that he would continue to stand by his friends and tend to their medical needs on their trek through the stars.

This article was originally published on January 4, 2019.

Get Updates By Email

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Meet the Cast of the New 'Star Trek'

Chris Pine channels Kirk, Zoe Saldana gets the looks and John Cho's dream comes true

A brand-new cast is beaming into the iconic roles of the crew of the starship Enterprise as the revamped Star Trek lands in theaters May 8. PEOPLE has your guide to the Starfleet’s finest and their first forays into the enduring sci-fi phenomenon:

NAME: Chris Pine CHARACTER : Capt. James T. Kirk WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2 ; 2006’s Smokin’ Aces NEXT UP : The indie drama Small Town Saturday Night.

“As an actor you search for great roles,” says Pine, 28. “This one just happened to be named James Kirk.” While figuring out ways to make the part his own, he also watched William Shatner in the original series looking for “things that I felt that I could use without hitting people over the head with a bad impersonation,” Pine says. “He’s got a very theatrical quality that just made me smile every time.” He admits donning Kirk’s familiar gold uniform “was a fun day … [but] as for the part being mine, I think people will always and forever connect Mr. Shatner to that role.”

NAME : Zachary Quinto CHARACTER : Lt. Commander Spock WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : As the evil Sylar on NBC’s Heroes ; season three of 24. NEXT UP : Back bedeviling the heroes for season four.

“I was sporting a Spock bowl cut when I was 12,” confesses Quinto, 31. “I have pictures to prove it.” He didn’t think re-adopting the Vulcan’s signature hairstyle for six months “would alienate me from myself as much as it did, but that alienation is exactly what the character is experiencing. It actually deepened my character and was certainly a sacrifice well worth making” Even more helpful? Having original Spock Leonard Nimoy, “as a resource and such a generous available support system made it much easier for me to step into the experience.”

: Zoe Saldana CHARACTER : Lt. Nyota Uhura WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER BEFORE : Crossroads ; Drumline ; Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl . NEXT UP : James Cameron’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller Avatar.

At first, Saldana, 30, wasn’t sure why “for some reason every man on set noticed when I was working. It was like ‘God, I don’t know. Was it my line?'” Then she realized: It was Uhura’s trademark short skirt. “Oh – okay .” Her first fan encounter was with a hired driver who was once a stand-in on a Trek sequel series. “He had his entire memorabilia in his trunk,” she remembers. “This could have been really freaky, but he was so respectful. But to this day I’m wondering whether he knew he was picking me up and that I was doing Star Trek , or that he happens to [always] drive his town car filled with memorabilia.”

NAME : Karl Urban CHARACTER : Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : In The Lord of the Rings trilogy; The Bourne Supremacy . NEXT UP : The crime drama Black Water Transit opposite Laurence Fishburne.

The New Zealand-born actor, 36, playing the ship’s irascible doctor, proclaims himself a genuine Trekkie. “I am definitely the resident geek,” says Urban, who toted a childhood Trek toy along on the cast’s international press tour. “I watched it as a boy, religiously, every Saturday morning.” Two days after being cast, he was at a Santa Monica stoplight when “a gentleman in a Star Trek outfit walked across the road. And I think it was just on a random day! It struck me at that point, the effect of this wonderful series has had in our popular culture.”

NAME : Simon Pegg CHARACTER : Lt. Commander Montgomery “Scotty” Scott WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : As the star and co-writer of the BBC sit-com Spaced and the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. NEXT UP : Voicing the one-eyed weasel Buck in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Pegg insists he’s an even more avid Trek fan than Urban and is willing to challenge him in a duel, name-checking references from the original series. “We can sort of fight in an ‘Arena’-style battle where I’m wearing the Gorn mask – which makes me the bigger Trekkie!” he laughs. The 39-year-old Brit, best known for comedic roles, says he understands why die-hards might be worried about his take on the chief engineer, but explains, “Scotty is definitely a lively character, and his humor is his own – it’s not at the expense of him or the film. So I hope I’ve done them proud.”

NAME : John Cho CHARACTER : Lt. Hikaru Sulu WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : The American Pie trilogy; Harold in the Harold & Kumar films. NEXT UP : The comedy St. John of Las Vegas opposite Steve Buscemi and Sarah Silverman.

“My primary connection to the show was just being excited about George Takei being on television, and yelling across the house: ‘There’s an Asian guy on TV! Come quick! He may disappear!'” laughs Cho, 36, who was born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles. He calls the role of the swashbuckling helmsman “a dream come true for me. What I did in this movie – flying a spaceship and having a sword fight – is exactly what my young brother and I would do for hours and hours as children, so it’s weird to get paid to do that. We received no payment, oddly enough, as children to do that.”

NAME : Anton Yelchin CHARACTER : Ensign Pavel Chekov WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM BEFORE : 2007’s Charlie Bartlett ; Showtime’s Huff. NEXT UP : As young Kyle Reese in Terminator: Salvation.

Yelchin, 20, was actually born in Leningrad, giving him Russian roots like his character, known for his slightly exaggerated accent. “You have to stay true to the accent,” says Yelchin. “It’s more of a stereotype of a Russian accent than it is a Russian accent. It was fun playing around with that.” Born 20 years after the original series went off the air, he didn’t grow up watching Star Trek but admits, “I’m a fan now. There’s just something so great about it that you can’t help but really love it.”

Related Articles

• The Inventory

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy Was the True Heart of Star Trek

When most people think of Star Trek , they of course think of Kirk and Spock . This isn’t surprising, as they were the star and the break-out character of the series, but it’s easy to forget that they were two members of a triumvirate that made up the essence of the show. Ship’s doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy was the third, and just as integral in making Star Trek a joy to watch.

Related Content

While Spock was all cold logic and Kirk was fiery passion, Bones was the heart of the Enterprise crew. He was the one who made the plea to do the right thing, who reminded the others of the potential cost of obeying logic or the Prime Directive. McCoy also was the true audience surrogate of the show, saying the things we yelled at the TV. The crew of the Enterprise did run into some completely ridiculous phenomena, and none of it would have worked if McCoy wasn’t there to say “Of course you save their lives, you idiots!” and “How in the universe is this happening to us?”

What makes Bones so fascinating is that he clearly didn’t want to be there. He wasn’t a full believer in the Starfleet mission. He hated space and ships and Starfleet, but he went out there and did his job every single time, no matter what insanity he encountered. Remember “The Devil in the Dark?” Can you imagine starting out life as a doctor in your home state and then finding yourself being asked to treat this?

McCoy complained, but he did it. Because he was a doctor and that was his job. And Kirk ordered him to. McCoy’s history isn’t epic and tragic like Kirk’s or unique like Spock’s. Which is why he, despite being an actual genius, insisted over and over that he was just a country doctor.

And when I say McCoy complained, I mean he complained all the time. About everything, but mostly Spock. Just think about how much life Star Trek would have lost without Bones for Kirk to talk to or for Spock to spar with:

Spock: I’m happy the affair is over. A most annoying emotional episode. McCoy: Smack right in the old heart. Oh, I’m sorry. [pointing to his side] In your case, it would be about here. Spock: The fact that my internal arrangement differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.

(I would literally watch Spock and McCoy trade barbs over any other duo in all of Star Trek ’s 50 years.)

In between insults, grumpiness, and straight-up bitching, McCoy was also responsible for delivering messages about the human condition more than anyone else on the show. Kirk had the mission, Spock his logic, but what McCoy cared about was his patients—and that made him closer to people than he was to anything else.

One of Star Tre k’s primary messages is about the importance of the balance within ourselves. (It’s why several episodes revolve around characters splitting into two halves.) McCoy was an integral part of that equation for TOS, just like DeForest Kelley was integral is making Bones the perfect mix of grumpy and compassionate, prickly but still so essentially humane.

Kelley may not have received the same level of fame as William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy, and Bones might not have gotten the flashiest scenes. But Dr. McCoy was still the heart of the whole show, and it would have never taken off without him. Bones may not have wanted to be in space at all, but thank goodness he was.

Advertisement

Star Trek: There's a Good Reason Kirk Calls McCoy 'Bones'

Star Trek's Leonard "Bones" McCoy had his nickname even before he was a character, and there's a fairly simple reason behind its origin.

Dr. Leonard McCoy forms the third part of Star Trek ’s “holy trinity,” along with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. He’s also the only one of the three with a nickname: “Bones,” a references to his role profession as a physician. The The 2009 film reboot was very specific about the origin of McCoy's nickname, but the original character never received an official explanation. It was part of the original concept of  Star Trek  – predating even the character of Leonard McCoy – and was another early sign of the kind of attention to detail that made the show a classic.

Roddenberry’s original pitch for the show included a specific reference to a doctor named “Bones.” It wasn’t Dr. McCoy, but instead Philip Boyce (played by veteran actor John Hoyt), who served under Christopher Pike in "The Cage," and who was replaced, along with most of the rest of the cast, for the show’s second pilot. Nevertheless, the nickname transferred over, and was used in almost every episode when Kirk referred to his chief medical officer. Clearly, it held some especial importance to creator Gene Roddenberry.

RELATED:  Star Trek: Next Generation's Weirdest Episode Was Basically Just Copied From The Original Series

“Bones” is short for “sawbones,” a term from the early 19th century that referred to a doctor’s often-gruesome practice of amputating injured limbs. The implications provide a great deal of character development in a single word. In the first place, it suggests the Enterprise’s mission is a dangerous one, akin to combat, and that the ship’s surgeon is there to repair injuries as much as study new diseases or find new medicines.

But it also suggests something about the character himself, a self-described “country doctor” who can be cantankerous and difficult at times. The “sawbones” name suggests a figure devoted to “practical” medicine, who does what works without necessarily following medical procedure. It’s very much in keeping with McCoy. In fact, before Star Trek , actor DeForest Kelley, like many of his fellow cast members, was largely known for his roles in Westerns ( Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , Warlock, Death Valley Days ), the predominant TV and film genre of the era. So, a gruff country doctor was certainly in keeping with his onscreen persona. And Roddenberry, who famously pitched Star Trek to NBC executives as " Wagon Train to the Stars," was no stranger to Westerns, having written for such TV series as Have Gun - Will Travel , Jefferson Drum and The Virginian .

RELATED:  Star Trek: How Picard Homaged One of Sci-Fi's Most Important Writers

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot was more explicit about the nickname, however. In a conversation with Kirk (Christopher Pine) on their way to Starfleet Academy, McCoy reveals the only reason he’s joining Starfleet is because he lost everything in a divorce. “All I got left is my bones,” he mutters before offering Kirk a drink. In the DVD commentary for the film, Abrams claims the moment was improvised by Karl Urban, a longtime Trek fan.

It’s unclear whether this explanation applies to the Prime Universe’s Bones, but it’s certainly in keeping with the character’s personality: contentious, passionate, grumpy, and forced into a vessel he considers less than safe by circumstance. Either way, it does the same job as the Prime Universe’s nickname by putting a human face on the character and allowing audience members to better identify with life aboard a 23rd century starship .

There is no official word on whether Boyce will appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , along with the rest of Pike’s crew, or whether the show will address his nickname of “Bones” if he does. Given how closely the name is associated with McCoy at this point, it seems unlikely. Roddenberry’s commitment to detail paid off in an iconic character, and the nickname remains an inseparable part of that package.

KEEP READING:  Star Trek: William Riker Only Exists Because of Q Interference

DeForest Kelley (1920-1999)

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• 3 wins & 1 nomination

• 1966–1969 • 76 eps

• Viking 1 (voice)

• Dr. McCoy (voice)

• Dr. Leonard McCoy (voice)

• Adm. Leonard McCoy

• Prof. Hal Schaffer

• 22 episodes

• Jack Potter

• Dr. Goldstone
• performer: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (uncredited)

• performer: "Cindy"

Personal details

• De Forest Kelley
• 5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
• January 20 , 1920
• Toccoa, Georgia, USA
• June 11 , 1999
• Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (stomach cancer)
• Carolyn Dowling September 7, 1945 - June 11, 1999 (his death)
• No Children
• Parents Ernest David Kelley
• Relatives Calvert DeForest (Cousin)
• Other works (mid-1970s) Album: Appears on Gene Roddenberry 's LP "Inside Star Trek" on which he is interviewed by Roddenberry.
• 2 Print Biographies
• 9 Interviews
• 1 Pictorial
• 6 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia He was the most well-liked of the Star Trek (1966) cast and the only one that no one had a feud with at any point.
• Quotes [on why he chose to play Dr. McCoy instead of Mr. Spock on Star Trek (1966) ] I wouldn't have been anywhere near Leonard Nimoy . He's marvelous.
• Trademarks Catchphrase: "I'm a Doctor, not a..." said whenever McCoy was forced to do something he was unfamiliar with.
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ( 1991 ) $1,000,000
• When did DeForest Kelley die?
• How did DeForest Kelley die?
• How old was DeForest Kelley when he died?

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

How much have you seen?

Recently viewed

• View history

" Bones " was a nickname for Doctor Leonard McCoy in multiple realities.

In the prime reality, "Bones" was short for "Sawbones"; this long version was used by James T. Kirk only rarely, usually using the shortened version "Bones" during their service together. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " A Piece of the Action "; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

During a 2267 landing party mission on Pyris VII , Kirk made a special point to avoid calling McCoy "Bones", instead using the nickname "Doc", after finding themselves in shackles hanging alongside a skeleton . ( TOS : " Catspaw ")

After watching a recording by the presumed-dead Kirk in 2268 , Spock used the nickname by telling McCoy " Forget it, Bones ", although he called it something Kirk would have said. ( TOS : " The Tholian Web ")

In the alternate reality , James T. Kirk referred to Leonard McCoy as Bones because, as mentioned by the doctor the first time they met, all his ex-wife left him after their divorce was his bones. ( Star Trek )

• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

DNA of DeForest Kelley, Dr. 'Bones' McCoy from 'Star Trek,' will fly to space with original cast on memorial spaceflight

Kelley's DNA will join Nichelle Nichols and others on this bold Celestis space mission

Last month we delivered news of an upcoming memorial space flight from the space burial firm Celestis that was going to be carrying the cremated remains and DNA of "Star Trek's" Nichelle Nichols, who died on July 30 at the ripe age of 89.

Now there's been word of another beloved " Star Trek " alumni hitching a ride aboard Celestis' remembrance Enterprise Flight along with other well-known deceased "Trek" luminaries as the reunion will now include the late DeForest Kelley's DNA. 

The Texas-based company provides respectful "memorial spaceflight services" for persons who hope to celebrate and honor the life of loved ones with an extraordinary off-Earth experience. 

On August 25 it was revealed that Nichelle Nichols was selected to fly on the first-ever Celestis deep space mission. Official announcements of Kelley’s addition were made on Thursday in honor of Star Trek Day .

“I donated the lock of hair so 'De' could join his shipmates on their eternal journey into interstellar space," said Kris M. Smith, Kelley's friend who submitted the DNA sample via a lock of his hair. "The mission just didn't feel complete without Dr. McCoy aboard. I think 'De' would have loved to 'go hopping galaxies' again with his cast and crew mates. So, "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning,” De! Loving you was easier than anything we will ever do again!"

Launching later this year inside United Launch Alliance 's appropriately named Vulcan Centaur rocket , Kelley's DNA will be accompanied by remains of Nichelle Nichols, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, "Star Trek" engineer James "Scotty" Doohan, and "2001: A Space Odyssey" VFX wizard Douglas Trumbull, among many others.

Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999 and made his debut on "Star Trek" in 1966 where he played  the irascible Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on NBC's hit sci-fi series for three seasons and co-starred in six "Star Trek" feature films. Beyond his physician's duties aboard the USS Enterprise , Kelley was a distinguished Hollywood veteran of dozens of TV shows and films, especially westerns.

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

— NASA celebrates the life and career of 'Star Trek' star Nichelle Nichols

— Documentary explores 'Star Trek,' Nichelle Nichols and NASA's 1970s astronaut search

— Nichelle Nichols, a 'Star Trek' icon, trailblazer and space advocate, dies at 89

"It's particularly notable that we announce DeForest Kelley's addition to our Enterprise Flight on Star Trek Day," said Charles M. Chafer Co-founder & CEO of Celestis, Inc. "No mission to deep space would be complete without a ship’s doctor."

Looking at the trajectory of this Enterprise Flight, the spacecraft will journey from 93 million miles to 186 million miles (150 million to 300 million kilometers) into deep space outside the Earth-moon system. The memorial mission will haul more than 150 flight capsules containing cremated ash remains, personal messages and greetings, and DNA samples from global clients on a timeless odyssey into space. 

Besides shuttling this precious cargo out beyond Earth orbit, the primary purpose of the Vulcan flight will be directing the Pittsburgh aerospace company Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander in the direction of the moon . The Vulcan Centaur's upper stage will continue into deep space, entering an orbit around the sun , becoming humanity's most remote outpost, to be renamed Enterprise Station.

Follow us on Twitter  @Spacedotcom  and on  Facebook . 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

SpaceX launching 23 Starlink satellites from Florida this evening

SpaceX's 30th Dragon cargo mission departs the ISS, heads home to Earth

Mars exploration, new rockets and more: Interview with ESA chief Josef Aschbacher

Most Popular

• 2 Everything we know about James Gunn's Superman
• 3 Sneak peek: Browncoats grab victory in Boom! Studios' upcoming 'Firefly: 'Verses' comic (exclusive)
• 4 SpaceX launching 23 Starlink satellites from Florida this evening
• 5 NASA's mission to an ice-covered moon will contain a message between water worlds

Screen Rant

Star trek: the origin of mccoy’s “bones” nickname (& why abrams changed it).

Dr. McCoy's "Bones" nickname is an enduring part of the original Star Trek mythos, but where did it come from, and how did J. J. Abrams alter it?

Where did Dr. Leonard McCoy's "Bones" nickname come from in  Star Trek , and how did J. J. Abrams alter its origins for the 2009 movie reboot? Despite premiering over half a century ago, the  Star Trek franchise has rarely been in ruder health. Progress may have stalled on the big screen (although Quentin Tarantino may soon see to that) but on television, there are no fewer than 6  Star Trek projects currently running or in production, and the release of a  Star Trek: Picard trailer at San Diego Comic Con 2019 proved that Gene Roddenberry's creation captures the imagination as strongly as ever.

Even before Jean-Luc Picard's  Star Trek  debut, however, the franchise's success began with William Shatner's James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy's Spock and DeForest Kelley's Dr. McCoy, travelling through space in the trusty Enterprise to meet alien races, fight alien races and, more often than not, watch Kirk romance women from alien races. While only running for 3 seasons, the cultural impact of  Star Trek is almost immeasurable and a large part of that success rests of the shoulders of its central trio. The friendship and chemistry demonstrated between Kirk, Spock and McCoy encapsulated the  Star Trek ethos - 3 beings with different backgrounds, personalities and beliefs coming together for the common good and building lifelong friendships.

Related: Star Trek: Everything That Picard Is A Sequel To

While each character dynamic within that triangle was different, Kirk and McCoy's relationship represented the Enterprise's humanity, with both men largely ignoring the boundaries of captain and doctor. One way this partnership manifested on-screen was with Kirk's endearing nickname for McCoy: "Bones." Used in even the direst of situations, the nickname demonstrated familiarity between the duo and became a recognizable, oft-quoted line from  Star Trek: The Original Series .

Like several other elements within the  Star Trek universe, the "Bones" nickname is taken from U.S. military tradition. In the 19th century, Civil War surgeons were often referred to as "Sawbones" because of the many battlefield amputations they would carry out. Captain Kirk truncates this phrase to "Bones" for his chief medical officer - an ironic sleight given the technology and expertise available on the Enterprise.

This 19th century military callback fits in neatly with Kirk's established interest in U.S. history, and the captain's admiration of Abraham Lincoln proves his knowledge of the Civil War period. The evolution of the "Sawbones" tag is just one of many instances where Starfleet mirrors the structure and traditions of the real-life U.S. military and season 3's "The Savage Curtain" makes several allusions to the Civil War in particular, including a comparison between the tactics of Kirk and Ulysses Grant.

J. J. Abrams rebooted the original  Star Trek crew for his 2009 movie, casting a crop of younger characters in the iconic 1960s roles and, once again, Chris Pine's Kirk refers to Karl Urban's McCoy as "Bones." On this occasion, however, an explanation is provided for the nickname, and it doesn't derive from U.S. military lore. When Kirk and McCoy first fly out to space, the good doctor explains why he signed up to Starfleet, joking: " Yeah? Well, I got nowhere else to go. The ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones. "

In Abrams' alternate reality  Star Trek , it's this line that inspires Kirk's nickname, but the deviation wasn't intentional on the director's part. In the DVD commentary track for  Star Trek 2009, Abrams explains that Karl Urban added the line during filming, with the "Bones" reference not originally scripted. As a fan of the Star Trek  franchise , Urban was aware that the original McCoy character was a divorcee and worked this trait into his updated iteration, simultaneously giving Kirk a motivation to call him "Bones."

While  Star Trek purists may prefer Kirk's original Sawbones reference, both stories behind McCoy's nickname fit neatly within the canon and the updated version of events works better for the Abrams' movie. In the 2009  Star Trek , the audience sees Kirk meet McCoy for the first time, and it would be jarring for the future captain to immediately develop a nickname for his new pal without a clear explanation.

More: Why Kirk Replaced Pike In Star Trek: The Original Series