carl urban star trek

Star Trek (2009)

Karl urban: bones.

• Photos (16)
• Quotes (18)

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Quotes 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Are you actually suggesting they're from the future?

Spock : If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : How poetic.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Permission to speak freely, sir?

Spock : I welcome it.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Do you? OK, then. Are you out of your Vulcan mind? Are you making a logical choice, sending Kirk away? Probably. But, the right one? You know, back home we have a saying: "If you're gonna ride in the Kentucky Derby, you don't leave your prize stallion in the stable."

Spock : A curious metaphor, doctor, as a stallion must first be broken before it can reach its potential.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : My God, man, you could at least ACT like it was a hard decision.

Spock : I intend to assist in the effort to reestablish communication with Starfleet. However, if crew morale is better served by my roaming the halls weeping, I will gladly defer to your medical expertise. Excuse me.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [as Spock leaves]  Green-blooded hobgoblin.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : How the hell did they do that, by the way? And where did the Romulans get that kind of weaponry?

Spock : The engineering comprehension necessary to artificially create a black hole may suggest an answer. Such technology could theoretically be manipulated to create a tunnel through space-time.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Damn it man, I am a doctor, not a physicist!

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I may throw up on ya.

James T. Kirk : I think these things are pretty safe.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Don't pander to me, kid. One tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. Solar flare might crop up, cook us in our seats. And wait'll you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles, see if you're still so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding. Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.

James T. Kirk : Well, I hate to break this to you, but Starfleet operates in space.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : 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.

James T. Kirk : [on Spock]  Who was that pointy-eared bastard?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I don't know, but I like him.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Well, congratulations, Jim. We've got no captain and no god-damned first officer to replace him.

Kirk : Yeah, we do.

[Kirk sits himself into the captain's chair] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : What?

Hikaru Sulu : Pike made him first officer.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : You gotta be kidding me!

Kirk : Thanks for the support.

Lt. Nyota Uhura : I sure hope you know what you're doing...

Lt. Nyota Uhura : [sarcastically]  ... CAPTAIN.

Kirk : So do I.

Spock : [on intercom]  Dr Puri, report.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : It's McCoy. Dr. Puri was on Deck 6. He's dead.

Spock : Then you have just inherited his responsibility as Chief Medical Officer.

[McCoy looks at a burning medical room full of casualties from the attack] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Yeah, tell me something I DON'T know!

James T. Kirk : [still suffering from the vaccine]  My mouth is itchy. Is that normal?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Well, those symptoms won't last long. I'm going to give you a mild sedative.

James T. Kirk : Oh, I wish I didn't know you.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Don't be such an infant.

[He jabs Kirk with a hypodermic needle] 

James T. Kirk : OWW! How long's it supposed to...

[he suddenly collapses on the bed] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [Shaking his head]  Unbelievable.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Wait a minute, kid. How old are you?

Pavel Chekov : Seventeen, sir.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Oh... oh, good, he's seventeen.

Spock : Doctor... Mr. Chekov is correct.

Kirk : [highly agitated and suffering side effects from McCoy hypospray]  Uhura! Uhura!

Lt. Nyota Uhura : Kirk? What are you doing here?

Kirk : The transmission from the Klingon prison planet. What exactly...

Lt. Nyota Uhura : Oh, my God, what's wrong with your hands?

Kirk : [waves off the question with his bloated hands]  I-i-it's... Look, who is responsible for the attack...

Lt. Nyota Uhura : What?

Kirk : ...and was the ship walullaa?

Lt. Nyota Uhura : And was the ship... WHAT?

Kirk : [to McCoy]  Whass happening to my mouth?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : You got numb-tongue?

Kirk : NUM-TUNG?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I can fix that!

[hurries off to find another hypospray] 

Lt. Nyota Uhura : Was the ship what?

Kirk : Womulan!

Lt. Nyota Uhura : What? I...

Kirk : WOMULAN!

Lt. Nyota Uhura : Romulan?

Kirk : Yeah!

Lt. Nyota Uhura : Yes!

Kirk : Yes?

[Bones injects him with another hypospray] 

Kirk : ACK! ACK!

[trying to say 'stop it'] 

Kirk : STAHHMIT!

Lt. Nyota Uhura : [During the Kobayashi Maru test]  We are receiving a distress signal from the U.S.S. Kobayashi Maru. The ship has lost power and is stranded. Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them.

James T. Kirk : [clearly enjoying himself]  "Starfleet Command has ordered us to rescue them... CAPTAIN."

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [rolls his eyes]  Two Klingon vessels have entered the Neutral Zone and are locking weapons on us.

James T. Kirk : [Smugly]  That's okay.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : "That's okay?"

James T. Kirk : Yeah, don't worry about it.

Test Administrator : Did he say "Don't worry about it?"

Test Administrator : Is he not taking the simulation seriously?

Flight Officer : You need a doctor.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I told you people I don't need a doctor, dammit - I AM a doctor!

Flight Officer : You need to get back to your seat.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I had one. In the bathroom with no windows.

Flight Officer : You need to get back in your seat, NOW.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I suffer from aviophobia - it means fear of dying in something that flies!

Flight Officer : Sir, for your own safety, sit down or else I'll make you sit down!

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Three more Klingon warbirds decloaking and targeting our ship. I don't suppose this is a problem either.

Simulator Tactical Officer : They're firing, Captain.

James T. Kirk : Alert Medical Bay to prepare to receive ALL crew members from the damaged ship.

Lt. Nyota Uhura : And how do you expect us to rescue them when we're surrounded by Klingons, Captain?

James T. Kirk : [not taking anything or anyone seriously]  Alert Medical

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Our ship's being hit. Shields at sixty percent.

James T. Kirk : [nonchalantly]  I understand.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [exasperated]  Well, should we - I dunno - fire back?

James T. Kirk : [pulls an apple out of nowhere and starts munching]  No.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Of COURSE not.

[the entire simulation suddenly shuts down, then starts back up] 

Test Administrator : What is this? What's going on?

James T. Kirk : Hm. Arm photons. Prepare to fire on the Klingon warbirds.

Simulator Tactical Officer : Yessir.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Jim, their shields are still up!

James T. Kirk : Are they?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [checks again]  No... They're not.

James T. Kirk : Fire on all enemy ships. One photon each should do. Let's not waste ammunition.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Target locked and acquired on all warbirds. Firing.

[the simulation shows the birds being destroyed one by one] 

Simulator Tactical Officer : All ships destroyed, Captain.

James T. Kirk : Begin rescue of the stranded crew.

James T. Kirk : [grandstanding his victory]  So! We've managed to eliminate all enemy ships, no one on board was injured AND the successful rescue of the Kobayashi Maru crew is... underway.

[takes a large bite out of his apple] 

James T. Kirk : What are you doing?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : I'm doing you a favor. I couldn't just leave you there looking all pathetic. Take a seat. I'm gonna give you a vaccine against viral infection from Melvaren mud fleas.

James T. Kirk : OW! What for?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : To give you the symptoms.

James T. Kirk : What are you talking about?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : You're gonna start to lose vision in your left eye.

James T. Kirk : Yeah, I already have.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Oh, and you're gonna get a really bad headache and a flop sweat.

James T. Kirk : You call this a favor?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Yeah. You owe me one.

Kirk : [Bolts out of bed suddenly from being sedated]  Lightning storm!

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Ah, Jim, you're awake. How do you feel?

[He looks down, suddenly growing alarmed] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Good God, man!

Kirk : What? AH!

[He yelps and raises his hands, which are now twice their normal size] 

Kirk : What the hell's this?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : A reaction to the vaccine, dammit! Nurse Chapel, I need 50 cc's of cortizone!

Nurse Chapel : Yes, sir!

[He starts scanning Kirk while Kirk replays Chekov's message] 

Pavel Chekov : [on the computer]  ... appeared to be a lightning storm in space.

Kirk : Bones! We gotta stop the ship!

[He takes off running down the hall] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [running after him]  Jim! I'm not kidding, you need to keep your heart rate down!

[he fumbles through a first aid kit while Jim accesses another computer console] 

Kirk : Computer, locate crew member Uhura.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : You know, I haven't seen a reaction this bad since med school!

Kirk : We're flying into a trap!

[He starts running again] 

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Dammit, Jim, stand still!

[injects him yet again] 

Kirk : [yelps in pain]  OW! STOP THAT!

[he runs through the engine room, looking for Uhura] 

James T. Kirk : Where are we?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Medical Bay.

James T. Kirk : This isn't worth it.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : A little suffering's good for the soul.

James T. Kirk : Bones, doesn't it bother you that no one's ever passed the test?

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Jim, it's the Kobayashi Maru. NO one passes the test, and no one goes back for seconds, let alone thirds.

James T. Kirk : [leaving]  I gotta study.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Study, my ass.

Security Officer : [McCoy is half-carrying a loopy Kirk after injecting him with a vaccine. Kirk is scanned]  Kirk, James T. He is not cleared for duty aboard the Enterprise.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : Medical code states "The treatment and transport of a patient is to be determined at the discretion of his attending physician" - which is me! - so I'm taking Mr. Kirk aboard, or would you like to explain to Captain Pike why the Enterprise warped into a crisis without one of its senior medical officers?

Security Officer : As you were.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [irritably]  As YOU were!

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy : [to Kirk]  Come on!

[He drags Kirk onto the ship] 

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‘Star Trek Beyond’: Karl Urban on the Relationship Between Spock and Bones

He also talks about philosophical discussions, Bones' interactions with Kirk, and more.

Last year when Star Trek Beyond was filming in Vancouver, I got to visit the set with a few other reporters. During a break in filming, we got to speak with Karl Urban . He talked about what Bones is dealing with in the upcoming sequel, his reaction to the script, how the film focuses a less on the bromance between Kirk and Spock and a little more on the relationship between McCoy and Spock, the new sets which shake and rotate, and more. Check out what he had to say below. Star Trek Beyond opens July 22.

Question: What was your reaction when you got Simon’s script and saw the new stuff?

KARL URBAN: I loved it. As someone who had a longstanding appreciation of Star Trek , I think what Simon and Doug have done has really managed to capture the essence of the original series. And it’s much more of an ensemble piece. I think there’s great character development for everybody, and fantastic action. Then the heart of the picture is quite resonant… Which is just a way of saying fucking nothing. [Laughs.]

Are you running for office?

URBAN: Vice President. [Laughs.]

Kirk’s dealing with getting older. What kinds of issues is Bones dealing with?

URBAN: Yeah, this film’s great for me. We get to push Bones into a territory that we haven’t seen him in before. There’s a lot more action for Bones. I think he’s forced to cross certain lines that he never thought he would. To me that’s particularly fertile and interesting territory. As a doctor, it’s his job to save life. He’s so compassionate about life. And in this film that core foundation of his belief is tested. It’s really, really interesting.

The scene you just shot, does it normally take that long, or did you guys just get the giggles?

URBAN: We always get the giggles. It’s a fun set… No, that was just a complex one. It took a bit to get the camera in sync with the action, for us to find the right pace.

Simon said this film focuses a little less on the bromance between Kirk and Spock and a little more on the relationship between McCoy and Spock.

URBAN: Yeah, well, that’s one of the things that I really responded to in the script. As you know, the crew gets fractured, and I end up spending quite a bit of time with Spock. We really developed that relationship; and experience things and events together that bring us close together, and allow for a deeper understanding. To me, that’s what makes this so interesting.

Do you guys have a lot of philosophical discussions? We’ve heard that part of this movie is a deconstruction of what it means to be in the Federation.

URBAN: Yes, interestingly enough. I do, I have interactions with Kirk about that as well as Spock. It’s very much, thematically, “What is the relevance? What is the meaning of our trek? What is important?” Yeah.

At the beginning of the film you’re two years into the journey, everyone is a little stir crazy. How does Bones deal with being stir crazy?

URBAN: Yeah, Anton sounded a bit stir crazy. [Laughs.]

He told us about the end of the film. He and Sulu get a rainbow connection.

URBAN: I’m not gonna be that loose with ya. [Laughs.] The interesting thing for Bones is he’s obviously a doctor, and the welfare of the crew is very much at the forefront of his mind. So he’s very centered and he’s very aware that it’s his responsibility to make sure that everyone’s not only physically but psychologically well. So he’s kind of got his finger on the pulse of the crew, doing his job.

Can he afford to be losing his shit if everyone else is?

URBAN: Well as I said before, this is in the story, he’s tested. Doctor McCoy gets pushed into territory that he’s never been in before. Certainly not in these movies.

We know that you guys get to go to a Starbase and experience new aliens. I’m curious if you’re looking forward to doing those scenes, getting into that stuff, shooting in Dubai.

URBAN: Yeah, I’m looking forward to Dubai. I’ve never been there. What can I say? I hope it’s not too hot.

Do you have many scenes with Idris? If so, what is your dynamic?

URBAN: No. [Laughs.]

You have the new sets where everything moves 360, and it’s not J.J. giving the lens a hand job, as Zoe said…

URBAN: Oh my God. [Laughs.] I miss J.J. I used to go into his trailer every day after work and steal his hair product. I miss that now. [Laughs.]

The new sets allow for more physical action on stage…

URBAN: Yeah. It’s interesting. We’re still using those old in-camera techniques. But they’re just augmented by the fact that we have these sets that move and shake and rotate. It certainly makes our job a lot easier. I think it’s one of the great things about Justin — he’s got his eye keenly on the macro. It’s all about enhancing the performance and enhancing the visuals and actually bringing space into the bridge. Whereas, perhaps in J.J.’s version, the bridge was really brightly lit and stuff but space is out there. Justin really wants to bring space to us. I think that’s a really interesting concept.

For more on Star Trek Beyond :

• ‘Star Trek Beyond’: 30 Things to Know About Justin Lin’s Film From Our Set Visit
• New ‘Star Trek Beyond’ Trailer Scatters the Crew
• Simon Pegg on ‘Star Trek Beyond’ and the Difference between ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Star Trek’
• ‘Star Trek Beyond’: Director Justin Lin on How His Approach Differs from J.J. Abrams
• ‘Star Trek Beyond’: Chris Pine on Kirk’s Psychological Battle

Den of Geek

Star Trek Beyond: Karl Urban and John Cho interview

Karl Urban and John Cho chat to us about playing Bones and Sulu in Star Trek Beyond and the franchise's meaning on its 50th anniversary...

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Appropriately, the opening of Star Trek Beyond sees Kirk (Chris Pine), now a little older and wiser, wearily pondering what the point of his five-year mission really is. “My dad joined Starfleet because he believed in it,” he says to his old friend Bones (Karl Urban). “I joined on a dare.”

With Star Trek as a whole celebrating its 50th birthday this year, perhaps it’s the right time for a film that takes stock of the Federation, the Enterprise, and even the franchise itself. Is the world now too divided and cynical for something as idealistic and utopian as the United Federation of Planets? As fans of the series, I think we know the answer to that question, but it was exciting to be able to ask the cast of Star Trek Beyond what they thought about the franchise’s relevance in the 21st century.

We found Karl Urban and John Cho in a relaxed and thoughtful mood when we met them in a London hotel earlier this month, and even their responses to heavy and not particularly junket-friendly questions were thoughtful and movingly personal. Here’s what they had to say…

I liked that the film suggested that space exploration can be exciting, but sometimes also repetitive and tedious.

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John Cho: Ha, yeah! That was pretty cool, huh?

It’s sort of claustrophobic.

Karl Urban: It’s a great way to open the film, to deal with the day-to-day reality of a five-year mission. Yes, there’s exciting stuff that happens, and we all see that, but it’s interesting to see the bits in between.

JC: And I think it was such an interesting coda to the first movie, which is the genesis story. It’s all bangs and explosions and how they get there, and to start [this film] with a moment of… really, boredom [Laughs] and an existential crisis as well…

KU: …it’s a bold way to start a movie, isn’t it?

JC: I really do think so!

KU: “We’re so bored!” [Laughs]

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JC: You know, there’s a shot that they didn’t use, of Kirk eating a breakfast burrito.

KU: Yeah, yeah. [Laughs] That’s very [Chris] Pine.

JC: Yeah, it’s very Pine. It’s all Pine. There’s a Star Trek mug, a Starfleet mug in there. A coffee mug.

I did notice that.

KU: On sale at K-Mart for $9.99!

JC: Does K-Mart exist anymore?

I don’t know!

KU: Yeah, they do.

We don’t have K-Mart in this country.

KU: You don’t?

No. I’d probably have to buy them at Asda or Londis or something like that. Anyway, so yeah – this film feels like it really evolves your characters – that they’ve moved on from being the young trainees from the Academy. You’re two and a half, three years into your mission. Was that good to get your teeth into as actors?

KU: It was. And that comes across in subtle ways. When the ship’s under attack, Spock and I, we leave and I’m doing my job and he’s doing his and [snaps fingers] you snap into being a professional. It was nice to have that evolution of character. For me, I felt that this version of McCoy was the most dynamic version that I’ve had the benefit of playing to date.

JC: It’s a Bones picture!

KU: You can see a lot of different aspects to the character, and it was a real treat. 

It’s more of an ensemble this one, isn’t it?

JC: I think it’s interesting too, because the typical set-up for Star Trek is that each character is relating to Kirk and he’s the centre of his wheel. And to split us up, I think, it naturally feels more ensemble-y because we’re relating to one another in different pairings. Then also, you get different emotional stuff as a result. For me, the emphasis on protecting the family, getting to Yorktown to save them – those personal stakes and so on… there’s just some more flavours in there.

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Do you have much input into the tone of your characters?

KU: Definitely. Early on, Simon [Pegg] emailed us an early draft and said, “Here it is. Let me know what you think.” And, you know, “If there’s anything you’d like to see in it, let’s work on it.”

JC: And we did.

KU: That’s exactly what we did. I can look at that picture and see many different beats from that collaboration up on the screen. I’m quite proud of that.

Can you describe any of the bits that got into the film that were yours?

KU: Yeah, well the sequence where Bones finds out that he has to go and fly a space ship and he’s not happy about it. That thing about, [huffily] “The next time you need a doctor…” To me, that was a throwback I’d seen DeForest [Kelley] get to do. I was always looking for the opportunity to sprinkle a little bit of that in there.

The themes of Star Trek are very much unity and inclusivity. Do you think it’s timely, having a film like this out?

KU: Yeah, and for a multitude of reasons. Not only because it’s the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, but also because it’s what makes it relevant today. There’s the Brexit that’s just gone on, the rise of extremism. The constant outbreaks of violence in the States. Star Trek represents a vision of hope, hope for humanity, that we can move beyond these times. We can work together and that we will no longer persecute each other and destroy each other and kill each other. That we will be unified, and I think that’s why Star Trek resonates – I think that’s why it’s important, culturally.

JC: [Star Trek] came about at a similarly tumultuous time in America. It was a time of great optimism, but also marred by great tragedy as well, so it was an interesting portrait of the hope of modernist America. Sadly, there are some parallels that are happening right now. We’re dealing with some… [trails off] incidents that are striking at the very heart of what we believe right now, at least in America. And it’s testing our values as a society. Not to read too deeply into it, but I just feel like Star Trek is a nice answer culturally speaking. It’s not a political answer, it’s just a cultural answer. The theme of this one is that family bends but doesn’t break, you know? There’s something beautiful about it. I hope people have an appetite for that message. 

As you said, when Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek 50 years ago, it was a utopian vision of the future. Now we’re in the 21st century, do you think we’re any closer to that vision?

KU: Personally, no. I don’t believe we are. It’s pretty disheartening to see what’s going on in the world, not only the way we treat each other as human beings, but also the way we treat this planet. We were flying over here, and we passed over a country and it was pointed out to us that they were burning the forests. It’s sad, but I think that’s part of why Star Trek’ s important. It’s a beacon, it’s a lighthouse, as it were, a vision of humanity. It shows how we can operate at the highest level and be the best that we can be. And in some ways, because it is about earthlings, it resonates more on that level than say, something like Star Wars.

JC: Careful! [Laughs]

KU: I love them both. I’m not…you know.

JC: I don’t know. I think I disagree. I think the Earth may be in bad shape, [but] it does seem like there’s an assumption… we’re more in agreement that there should be equality amongst genders. That’s an assumption. In the 60s, there was not consensus on that. There was a debate about the superiority of the races or something, but that was still a debate. Now, at least, maybe culturally we’re policing that more. There are dissenters, but generally, there seems to be an agreement that one life is worth one life. Now, in practice, that’s not happening, but at least there’s not that debate. I don’t know.

KU: Alright, look… the ideology’s always been there. It was present in the 60s, that’s why Star Trek was created. But you asked whether we’re closer to this utopian vision? I just don’t think we are.

But like you say, John, the sense of inclusivity is much more clear and present. Like your character – it’s a tiny moment in the film, where it emerges that Sulu has a husband. But that doesn’t define your character, it’s just a part of who he is, and nobody bats an eyelid…

JC: Yeah. And listen, George [Takei] was saying that he had a discussion with Gene Roddenberry about Sulu’s sexuality back then, and Roddenberry was frank and said, “You can’t do that. Not at this time.” But now we can. And ironically, George is the one who’s objecting, but that doesn’t seem to be the case worldwide. So it seems there is some marker…

KU: I know what you’re saying. There is some progression, yeah. In terms of certain microcosmic changes in society, for sure. But still, globally? We’re a mess. [pauses]

What a downer.

JC: What a downer! Yeah! [Laughs] Star Trek Beyond – in theatres July 22nd!

KU: Go check it out! [Laughs]

JC: Go check it out, so much action! From the director of Fast & The Furious!

I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’ve brought everything down haven’t I? No, but this is why it’s such an interesting franchise, because you can have these conversations within an action-packed movie.

KU: That’s always been the point of Star Trek.

JC: That’s its lasting power. Roddenberry developed a really delicious set-up. It can hold so much. You can do so much to it, you can discuss so much with it. It’s a big bowl into which you can put just about anything. It’s fascinating.

You probably wouldn’t tell me if you knew, but where would you like to see the franchise go next?

KU: It’s very difficult to gaze into a crystal ball at this juncture and hypothesise about what might be. Obviously, they’re doing a new television series – Alex Kurtzman’s a producer on that, and he was involved in the writing of the first two films, so there’s a great brain trust there. But for us, we don’t know. We love working together, that’s definitely a fact. It’s just a question of us getting this film out there and we hope that people enjoy it and have fun.

What about the things you’ve been working on separately? Karl, you’ve been trying to get Dredd 2 off the ground, and that’s been difficult, but how about an extended version of the first Dredd , on DVD, perhaps?

KU: No. We literally used every scrap of footage that we had to make that. But I’m constantly blown away by the fan response to that film, and here we are years later still talking about it. It’s really wonderful to see how it’s become this cult classic. 

How about you, John? Do you think there’ll be another Harold & Kumar any time soon?

JC: I didn’t think so. But I thought of a really great idea, and I pitched it out to the director when we happened to be having dinner one night. And I don’t know… I think we’re gonna get this made.

KU: I think you should make it. Those films were so much fun.

JC: We kept saying, “What’s the idea?” And I think I’ve got a good one.

KU: I think I know what it is. [The two exchange a glance, then burst out laughing]

JC: I’ll tell you in a minute.

KU: No, I’ll tell you and you tell me if it’s right.

JC: Okay, go ahead.

KU: Not here! [Motioning to me]

JC: Oh. Okay!

Aw. I thought you might let it slip. [Laughs] But no. Are you surprised at how enduring the [ Harold & Kumar ] films are? Like Dredd – they’ve been embraced.

JC: It’s so funny that Hollywood has become so entrenched in its formulas. Because what I’ve experienced is that the good stuff comes from places you don’t expect. You can never tell – well, actually, you can – fans really love originality. And that’s counter to the thinking that’s around right now. But they love things that are fresh and honest and interesting. And if you give them that, they’ll come back, I think. Hopefully there’s someone else who’s dreaming up these things, because if we just keep making films about board games, we’re in a bad space for cinema.

We’re on another down note! [Laughs]

JC: Dude, this interview’s gone off the rails, man! [Laughs]

Is the way of getting unusual, different films made to produce them or push them through yourselves. in some way?

KU: A few of us are at that juncture where we’re looking to take a more active approach to the material we want to get involved with. I’m certainly investigating avenues of interest – John and Zachary [Quinto] are as well.

JC: Yeah. To some extent it’s out of necessity. At the moment I’m producing and starring in a TV series on cable. We haven’t made an announcement yet. But to some extent it’s necessity, and to some extent it’s about being as enmeshed in the process as you can, and to enjoy it to the full extent. But yeah, that’s definitely where I’m headed more and more.

Well, it’s been a pleasure talking to you both.

KU: It’s been uplifting! [Laughs]

I’m sorry! John Cho and Karl Urban, thank you very much.

As John Cho said, Star Trek Beyond arrives in cinemas on the 22nd July. “Go check it out, so much action!”

Ryan Lambie

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.

Who Is Karl Urban?

Born in New Zealand in 1972, Karl Urban started starring in stage, TV and film productions in his home country. Introduced to American audiences in the series 'Hercules' (1996-98) and 'Xena' (1996-2001), he enjoyed new opportunities after joining The Lord of the Rings installments The Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003). Following a string of action-heavy parts in films like The Bourne Supremacy (2004), the actor capably filled the shoes of Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek (2009) and its sequels and delivered a winning comedic performance in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Beginning in 2019, Urban drew praise for leading the charge of vigilantes in Amazon Prime's dark comedy superhero series 'The Boys.'

How Old Is Karl Urban?

Karl-Heinz Urban was born on June 7, 1972, in Wellington, New Zealand, to immigrant German parents.

Early Years

While he was reportedly pressured to follow his father into the leather-goods manufacturing business, Urban instead was drawn to the profession of his mother, whom worked at a film production and equipment rental company.

From his first, brief television appearance at age eight, Urban began writing his own plays and took part in school theater productions. Enjoying a taste of professional success upon graduating from Wellington College in 1990, he soon dropped out of Victoria University to pursue an acting career full-time.

What Is Karl Urban Known For?

'Shortland Street'

Along with parts in various stage productions, Urban began his career in New Zealand with a recurring role in the police drama 'Shark in the Park' (1990) and appeared in the war film Chunuk Bair (1992). In 1994, he broke ground on 'Shortland Street' as Jamie Forrest, the first openly gay character in the popular soap opera's history, before showing off his equestrian skills in 'Riding High ' (1995-96).

'Hercules,' 'Xena'

Urban first became known to American audiences in the mid-1990s via his multiple roles , including the love god Cupid and Roman dictator Julius Caesar, in the fantasy series 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and its spinoff 'Xena: Warrior Princess.' Meanwhile, his big-screen career was also building steam, as he garnered best supporting actor nominations at the New Zealand Film Awards for his work in the dysfunctional-family dramedy Via Satellite (1998) and the romantic fantasy The Price of Milk (2000).

'The Lord of the Rings'

Urban's performance in The Price of Milk also caught the attention of director Peter Jackson , who cast the rising actor in The Lord of the Rings ’ second and third installments, The Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003). Although his part of the warrior Éomer was fairly minor in an epic filled with A-list stars and stunning special effects, Urban nevertheless made his presence felt with his physicality and fierce glare.

'The Chronicles of Riddick,' 'The Bourne Supremacy,' 'Doom'

The mega-success of The Lord of the Rings paved the way for a slew of action roles for Urban: He stared down Vin Diesel as Commander Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004); stalked Matt Damon as a Russian assassin in The Bourne Supremacy ; and gunned down mutants alongside Dwayne Johnson in the video game-inspired Doom (2005). Following a return to his home country to star in Out of the Blue (2006), about a mass shooting in a small New Zealand community, Urban resumed his Hollywood career as the lead of the Viking-era Pathfinder (2007).

'Star Trek'

Urban's career took another defining turn when he played Leonard "Bones" McCoy alongside Chris Pine 's James Kirk and Zachary Quinto 's Spock in a reboot of Star Trek (2009). Along with winning over the members of a devoted fan base, Urban's performance showcased a sense of humor that was largely unknown to those who'd witnessed his previous fare.

"I have no doubt that some people perceived me as just being simply an action guy, but playing 'Bones' went a long way toward convincing them otherwise," he told Tulsa World in 2010. "I can judge that by the number of offers and how often the phone rings since Star Trek came out."

Urban went on to reprise the character for the film sequels Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016).

'Red,' 'Priest,' 'Dredd'

Part of a star-studded cast assembled for the action-comedy Red (2010), Urban wound up taking his during an extended fight sequence with Bruce Willis , though the pain was offset by the film's critical and commercial success. However, his two follow-up roles, as a vampire hunter in Priest (2011) and as the titular justice-dispensing judge of Dredd (2012), both failed to make a significant impact at the box office. Similarly, Urban's return to television in 2013 as the lead of the futuristic crime drama 'Almost Human' fizzled out after one season despite strong early ratings.

'Thor: Ragnarok'

Following the family films Walking with Dinosaurs (2013) and Pete's Dragon (2016), Urban delivered another fan-favorite performance in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) as Skurge , the weary guard forced into servicing Cate Blanchett 's bloodthirsty Hela. He then appeared in supporting roles in Acts of Vengeance (2017) with Antonio Banderas , and The Hangman (2017), with Al Pacino , before taking the lead in the gritty crime thriller Bent (2018).

Once again diving into comic/graphic novel-inspired property, in 2019 Urban landed the role of vigilante Billy Butcher in Amazon Primes's subversive superhero series 'The Boys.' While part of an ensemble cast, Urban emerged as a clear standout thanks to his cutting one-liners and butt-kicking prowess, his performance helping to drive the popularity of the show through multiple seasons.

Wife and Children

Urban has two sons, Hunter and Indiana, with his ex-wife, makeup artist Natalie Wihongi. The two announced their separation in 2014 following a decade of marriage.

Charities and Personal Life

Urban has been involved with KidsCan, a New Zealand-based charity that assists children mired in poverty. In 2022, he was named a UNICEF ambassador for his native country.

The actor has resisted the urge to plant roots in Hollywood, preferring to make the long flight from his New Zealand home when it comes time for a film or TV project. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities between shoots, especially fishing and surfing.

Is Karl Urban Related to Keith Urban?

The two celebrities are not related, although the shared last name and birth country has prompted questions about family ties and occasionally a case of mistaken identity: According to Karl Urban, a foreign newspaper once incorrectly reported that he, not the country-music singer Keith Urban, had married actress Nicole Kidman.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Karl Urban
• Birth Year: 1972
• Birth date: June 7, 1972
• Birth City: Wellington
• Birth Country: New Zealand
• Best Known For: New Zealand-born actor Karl Urban won over audiences with his roles in 'The Lord of the Rings,' 'Star Trek' and 'Thor: Ragnarok' before emerging as a star of the popular Amazon Prime series 'The Boys.'
• Astrological Sign: Gemini
• Wellington College
• Occupations

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Karl Urban Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/karl-heinz-urban
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 11, 2022
• Original Published Date: July 11, 2022
• To me, that's the most important thing in life: building a solid connection with people and having a great time doing the thing that you really love.
• Often people say, 'Wow you are really lucky, look at your career.' To which I respond, 'It's funny, the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get.'
• If I had a dollar for every time I heard that another 'Star Trek' movie was happening, I'd be mortgage-free.

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Exit Interview: Karl Urban Is Excited to Be One of The Boys

By James Grebey

Karl Urban is very happy that he’s finished filming the second season of The Boys , Amazon’s darkly funny, anti-corporate take on superheroes. He’s happy because he’s very excited about how the sophomore season shaped up. He’s happy because the show’s first season was a massive success for the streaming service, and because it became one of the most talked-about freshman series of the year. But Urban is also happy because wrapping season two meant he got to leave Toronto, where the series is filmed, and head back to his home in New Zealand before the weather got bad.

“We just wrapped last week, and truly, the day after I left, it snowed,” Urban tells GQ over the phone in late November, enjoying the Southern Hemisphere’s spring weather. “I got out at the right time.”

The Boys isn’t the first time that the 47-year-old actor has been at odds with a costumed superhero. In 2018, he played the gun-toting Asgardian Skurge in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok , and he played the hyper-serious super-cop Judge Dredd in 2012’s Dredd . He’s also racked up scene-stealing roles in big fantasy franchises ( Lord of the Rings ) and sci-fi tales alike (he played Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Chris Pine-led Star Trek films).

The Boys, though, feels distinctly relevant to this moment in time. Urban plays Billy Butcher, a powerless human who launches a violent vendetta against superheroes, who enjoy the public’s adoration and respect despite all the collateral damage they leave in their wake. Butcher blames Homelander—a hero with the abilities of Superman, the patriotism of Captain America, and the psychopathy of most Batman villains— for his wife’s death, but as the show’s first season progresses, it becomes clear that the corporations behind the “heroes” might just be the real source of evil in the world—you know, like in real life.

Over the course of our chat, Urban walked us through his time on The Boys, his career in almost all your favorite genre franchises, his hopes for 2020, and… well, you’ll see.

GQ: Why do you think The Boys struck such a cord? When I first saw the trailers, I was expecting it to be another entry in the “dark and edgy” take on the superhero genre, but it ended up being about much, much more.

Karl Urban : It's a complex question and it predominantly deals with audience reaction. I think one of the main reasons the show resonates to the degree that it has is because it's a character-driven show and that's really a testament to the quality of writing that [show runner Eric Kripke] and his team have delivered. And then also stellar performances from the cast. I believe that the audience also really responded to an alternative narrative in the superhero genre than [that which] had been predominantly portrayed in mainstream cinema for the last decade-plus.

And you've obviously been a part of that very trend with Thor: Ragnarok . How was making The Boys different from your experience making a Marvel movie?

Well, here's the thing: On the ground, the experience was fundamentally the same. Obviously tonally the material is extremely different. From my perspective, it was another opportunity to collaborate with excellent partners. For me, you know, the destination is not what's important. The journey is everything. Once I've finished working on a piece, then it's not mine anymore. It's the audience’s.

What was it like to play Billy Butcher? He feels like a very specific type of character for our time, both in terms of his fairly righteous anger and his possibly too far extreme ways of reacting to it.

Well, Butcher is a fun character to play, because of the degree of internal conflict that wages within him. There is a war inside of Butcher, and to get to the dawn, you must first travel through the night. Butcher has both the tendency to be the villain and the hero, which makes him a hell of a lot of fun to play. Looking at season two, some of the shit that Butcher gets up to is truly diabolical. And I pray that I personally don't get the karma payback for what he does. I didn't think of it, I didn't write it, but I'm definitely guilty of doing it.

One thing I noticed about the “villain” of The Boys is that the bad guy was, really, the corporation behind the superheroes themselves and, to a certain extent, capitalism. What was playing in that theme like for you, and do you think it resonated especially well in 2019?

The great thing about the writing of The Boys is that there is a lot of gray area when it comes to the characters. It's not black and white. It's not just as simple as heroes and villains. What we come to understand more of in season two is the actual true power behind the superheroes, in terms of the corporation. That definitely resonates today, as it has historically. Audiences are a lot more switched onto the industrial-military complex that it's actually working at a level far higher than the highest office in the land. The Boys is certainly representative of that.

Do you see superheroes sticking around as the dominant cultural force for much longer? Or do you think that there's going to be a turn at some point?

It's an interesting question. It is difficult for me to see a point of super-saturation because I think audiences will continue to respond to quality. And if the quality movies within the superhero genre continue to sell, audiences will continue to watch them. Certainly when directors like Todd Phillips are putting out films of such high caliber, like Joker —which I know is not superhero movie per se, but certainly sitting in that universe—yeah, it's difficult to see an end to it. Within the landscape of American cinema, if you look back at the last 50 years, it's really traversed quite a bit of territory. It's gone from westerns to gangsters to superhero films. They're all really just an opportunity to explore morality tales.

By Sam Schube

By Michella Oré

By Gabriella Paiella

You've been in a lot of big genre franchises, like Lord of the Rings , Star Trek, and the MCU. Do you have a favorite genre that you've been a part of, or a favorite specific franchise?

To me, what defines a great experience, is the company as the people that I'm working with, and I've been very, very blessed. I think for me the best experiences I've had would definitely be Lord of the Rings , Star Trek , and The Boys . When you're working for so long with a group of people and you become like a family, it elevates the experience above and beyond what you would normally experience when you're only working with a group for a relatively short amount of time.

Did it help with Lord of The Rings that you didn't need to travel relatively as far from home?

Well, actually—yes, we did shoot it in New Zealand, but I ended up traveling to the far reaches of the South Island and being flown into the most remote parts of the country that I'd never even been before. That was part of what made the experience so incredible.

Do you have anything that you'd like to see from Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series?

Oh, wow. I mean, I haven't even thought about that. I couldn't possibly give some comment about it. But, as a fan of Tolkien, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what they do. And I would like to add that I'm thrilled that they're shooting in New Zealand because the character of Middle-earth is an indelible part of that world. It's really cool to have that continuity.

I'm sure you're probably a little tired of this question, but I have to ask, because just last night there was news that the next Star Trek movie might actually be happening once again. Do you know anything about that? Do you have another "Dammit, Jim" in you?

Mate, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that another Star Trek movie was happening, I'd be mortgage-free.

Fair enough. Is there a franchise that you would like to be a part of one day, like a Star Wars or Harry Potter?

If they were to make another one, I would love to be a part of any Blade Runner movie. For me, it's really about the story and the characters as much as who I'm working with. But there are certainly a plethora of directors who I would love the opportunity to work with them. You know, probably near the top of that list would be someone like Ridley Scott, James Mangold, Todd Phillips. Kathryn Bigelow.

Looking back at this year more broadly, what's the best thing that you've done?

If I had to pin it down... one of the coolest things that I did this year was surf Cloudbreak in Fiji.

And what's the best thing you've seen this year?

That's a very interesting question. I think the best thing I've seen is probably a generation of young people standing up and uniting behind Greta Thunberg and demanding that the generation that is currently running their lives stop to take some responsibility for future generations.

Are you feeling optimistic about 2020?

I think it's an interesting time, to tell you the truth. I said this before and I'll say it again, but to get to the dawn, we have to travel through the night. And I definitely feel like globally there's a tremendous amount of conflict at the moment, certainly politically in the States and obviously on the ground conflict seems to be never-ending certain areas of the world. But I remain wholly optimistic. I would like to believe that there is a growing sense of empowerment happening on a collective and an individual level. Mankind is at a threshold where we're well past the date where we need to take responsibility for our actions. It feels like the pendulum is going to start shifting the other way, and it's an exciting time to be alive.

Before I let you go, is there anything else that you want to say about your year?

There are two things that I want to say. One of my favorite quotes—and I'm going to paraphrase it—but it's from Hunter S. Thompson and it is "The difference between a professional player and a rabid fan; one is a performer in a harsh, unique corner of reality. The other is a cultist, a passive worshiper and an occasional sloppy emulator of the style that fascinates them." I spent 20 years thinking about that and 20 years working to be on the right side of that equation, sometimes with more success than others. When I was younger and first inspired to take this path and to be on this trajectory, I was a fan of the medium and also the art. The journey for me has been transitioning from a fan and into something else.

The other thing is just an anecdote. I once worked on a movie called Red with Ernest Borgnine, who was 92 at the time. And I asked him what the secret of his longevity was. And he looked at me, he smiled, and he said, "Well, I masturbate twice a day." I'm always looking to pick the brains of the elders and to learn where I can. So I'm not quite sure where to place that one, but I'm passing it on.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

It was a year of peak storytelling, cruel cancelations, and a whole lot of new .

By The Editors of GQ

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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.

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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.

Karl Urban Shares His Reaction to Star Trek 4's Surprise Announcement

Following the surprise announcement of Star Trek 4, Dr. 'Bones' McCoy actor Karl Urban shares his reaction to rejoining the crew of the Enterprise.

With Star Trek 4 officially on the horizon, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy actor Karl Urban recently shared his reaction to the film's unexpected announcement.

While Urban admitted to knowing as little detail about the fourth modern Star Trek film as the fans themselves, the actor still expressed his excitement for reuniting with fellow stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg and John Cho. "I haven’t seen a script, I know nothing," Urban said in an interview with Variety . "But I would love to work with those guys again, so much fun, the best hang. We’ll see."

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Urban wasn't alone in being caught off guard by Star Trek 4 's surprise announcement , as industry sources reported "most, if not all, teams for the franchise's primary players [were] not aware that an announcement for another film was coming." Representatives of the returning cast echoed these comments, with sources saying the film's script is "still being worked on" and "there is no green light or budget in place. In fact, the budget will now likely have to account for talent deals that may be supersized."

Although Paramount Pictures has yet to say which members of the returning cast will be reprising their roles in Star Trek 4 , the studio has confirmed they have entered talks with Pine, Quinto, Saldana, Urban, Simon and Cho to return as Capt. James T. Kirk, Spock, Nyota Uhura, Bones, Hikaru Sulu and Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, respectively. Paramount exec Brian Robbins and Star Trek producer J.J. Abrams revealed the studio is aiming to begin production later this year with WandaVision director Matt Shakman set to helm the first new Star Trek movie since 2016's Star Trek Beyond .

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Saldana shared her thoughts on what it will be like filming Star Trek 4 without the late Anton Yelchin , who played Pavel Chekov in all three of the modern Star Trek films so far. "Obviously, it's bittersweet because we are coming together for a fourth time and one of us is no longer with us with Anton's passing," Saldana said. "But we honestly feel that going back and keeping the Star Trek family together is a way to keep him alive in our thoughts and in our hearts, because he was such a fan and he was such a devoted artist to the craft, and also to Star Trek . So it would be great to go back to work and be together with the gang.

After Star Trek 4 was delayed by six months  late last year, the film is now on course to release Dec. 22, 2023.

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Source: Variety

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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.

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Karl Urban Would “Love” To Reunite For ‘Star Trek 4,’ But Has A Scheduling Issue

| March 14, 2022 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 52 comments so far

Paramount has announced plans to move forward on a fourth Star Trek film set in the Kelvin Universe with producer J.J. Abrams. Now another member of the cast is weighing in with a potential wrinkle. Karl Urban’s performance as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the three Kelvin Universe Star Trek movies has been lauded by fans, and he is up for doing more, but he may have an issue with his schedule.

Karl ready for more Trek, if it can work with his schedule

Over the weekend, Karl Urban was at SXSW promoting the upcoming season of his Amazon Prime Video superhero series The Boys . During a cast chat with Variety , they talked to the actor about the upcoming Star Trek project and  like Chris Pine, Urban said he had yet to see a script for the film. The latest reports on the film is that it’s to be directed by WandaVision ‘s Matt Shakman, with the latest draft of the script being written by Josh Friedman ( Avatar 2 ) and Cameron Squires ( WandaVision ), based on an earlier draft by Lindsey Beer ( Sierra Burgess Is a Loser ) and Geneva Robertson-Dworet ( Captain Marvel ).

Urban, who is a big Trek fan himself, echoed the recent sentiments expressed by co-stars Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana about looking forward to reuniting with the Trek cast, but when asked about his schedule, he told Variety he may be busy:

I’m shooting  The Boys  through the end of the year. So, I literally don’t know. I would love to work with those guys again. They are so much fun. The best hang. We’ll see.

Karl Urban as McCoy in Star Trek Beyond

Paramount has already set a release date of December 22, 2023, for the next Star Trek movie, with Abrams planning to start shooting this fall. Even if Urban is working on The Boys , it’s still possible for a Star Trek film to be produced simultaneously, accommodations for actors working on two projects are not uncommon—for example during the production of 2009’s Star Trek , Zoe Saladana was also working on Avatar . However, The Boys is filmed in Toronto, Canada, so if Chris Pine gets his wish and the next Star Trek is shot in Los Angeles, that would make it more difficult for Urban to do both. But Star Trek Beyond was shot in Canada, and Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are also shot in Toronto.

There is also the practical matter that Urban’s  The Boys character Billy Butcher has a beard, and trying to remove that digitally for Dr. McCoy in Star Trek wouldn’t be practical, and possibly creepy . However, there is precedent for McCoy to have a beard in a movie, as he was seen when he was “drafted” in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Giving Urban’s Bones a groovy medallion would also be a nice touch.

DeForest Kelley in Star Trek: The Motion Picture

You can watch the Variety discussion with Urban below.

Urban in The Boys

Here is the new trailer released along with The Boys panel at SXSW featuring Karl Urban and Jack Quaid (Boimler on Star Trek: Lower Decks ). Warning: for mature viewers.

Keep up with all the news on Star Trek 4 and upcoming Trek films at TrekMovie.com .

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If things finally are moving, when is this likely to be released? Winter 2023? Summer 2024?

The release date is in the article.

The release is currently penciled in for Xmas 2023. It’s likely to move, though.

I have no issue with a bearded Bones. :)

Just give him a medallion and it’ll be canon compliant.

Agree. Not an issue at all

OMG the beard makes all kinds of sense in relation to the timeline #BeardedBones

Regarding potential schedule conflicts Bones dosnt necessarily have to have much to do (like ID) just be there for a few scenes (with beard) . the main focus will be Kirk Spock Uhura again (there’s no way Saldana will get sidelined post Infinity Saga/Guardians 3/Avatar2)

The next ST movie will take place in the mirror-universe, where each male member is bearded. Problem solved.

Hell, give Zoe a beard, too, and make it all really strange.

The Boys, excellent show. And Urban is great in it.

More of what we already know – this announcement was more about getting investors excited, rather than having any actual plan. This movie will be delayed, if it comes out at all.

Pretty much. Everyone says they want to do it, but it’s obvious no one has been signed on to anything either. The whole thing is utterly odd when they had months to talk to these guys if they knew they wanted them back beforehand for this movie.

Yup, I believe I had this discussion in another thread here about how Urban was gonna be busy with The Boys for the foreseeable future. Lets hope they can find a way round it. Even if its for a short appearance Urban needs to be there.

Just as I expected….we’re about a month past JJ’s announcement, and while the cast conceptually loves the idea, no one, anywhere has seen or heard squat. Urban is the first to look at his calander and comment that there are scheduling issues, assuming JJ actually expects to be in principle photography in the forth quarter.

Karl Urban Is Bones.. Bearded Bones.. is Fine..

LOL sooooo many predicted this! How do you announce a film including shooting date if you haven’t worked it out or officially signed anyone yet? Just so bizarre.

I really hope they work something out even if they have to delay filming (it will already be over 7 years since Beyond if the film hits its release date, what’s another few months?). For me, Urban/Bones makes these movies. Absolutely loved him in Beyond . And yeah it’s a beard. In the Kelvin universe, he simply decided to keep it. Crisis solved. Spock wore a beard for all off season 2 of Discovery, the internet didn’t implode over it.

BTW, I’ve never seen The Boys. But I know, It’s supposed to be really good. Will give it a chance at some point.

If you decide to check out The Boys just a heads-up that it’s definitely not a family friendly show. Ultra violent and lots of profanity.

Yeah I know. But I also watched GOT, so I will be fine on that end. But thanks for the heads up!

Profanity is just words. People make WAY too much of a deal about that.

No disagreement from me. I don’t care about the profanity but there are people who do.

Urban is essential & lots of screen time also! He is the fans no1 favourite character & actor!!! He can wear a fake beard in the boys anyway! Sure they can work it out I do not expect to see the movie in winter 2023 more like summer 2024!

Or he can just wear a real beard in the movie. ;)

I also agree, I see this movie being pushed back as well. I been saying that for awhile for a number of reasons. This might be another one.

Has anyone gotten a word from Zachary Quinto on how he feels recently?

My guess is, it’ll sound something like this….’Spock is an iconic character, and I’d look forward to returning to the role. I’ve not seen a script, so I can’t speak to how a potential role would play out. I can speak to a commitment when I know what is being asked of me”. Or something like that.

Well he was spotted with Chris Pine in NY a few days ago so I guess they are talking Trek between them & or their agents!

They looked like they were training together, getting in shape for STXIV

If Karl Urban is not in it I may die Bones has always been my favorite character and KU is perfect for the roll. And the man could be hairy as a monkey and I would still love his acting.

At the very best, this is going get delayed, most of the cast are busy actors with other commitments. Karl is just the first to comment on that aspect. Paramount/CBS are a bizzarely run company.

Just cast Sofia Boutella in the film, add Jaylah to the crew, and I’ll be sooo there! :)

Hear, hear!

In the wake of Anton Yelchin’s death, this would be the smartest move, imo. Simply write in an excuse why Chekov isn’t there (Reliant), and put Jaylah in his spot. She was one of the stand-outs in Beyond, I think, and it would add another female to the main cast. Win-win for the writers and the studio.

Thanks for the positive feedback on my suggestion! I’ve been for this casting idea since the first time I saw BEYOND with my beloved late wife (who was a bit jealous that I kept talking about Jaylah)! :)

I think Paramount needs to scrap this idea, the sooner the better. Lens flares, Kirk being cringy hiding under a female’s bed, a British Khan, and Fast & Furious in space has gotten old. Give us a thought provoking story with good drama and acting, and have a ship composed of crew from TNG, DS9, and Voyager.

They are going to stick with it for one more film it looks like. But if this doesn’t bring them the results they want I would like to see something different in the next one.

I like the Kelvin movies but I don’t need high octane action in every movie either. But I don’t see that changing with these though. But that’s the issue fans want something smaller and thought provoking but for Paramount they want big flashy movies because they think it’s the only way to get non-fans on board.

Don’t forget motorcycles and Beastie Boys music. If we could leave those out of the next one, that’d be great.

The beastie boys music was great. GROW UP..

“Grow Up.” I’m 55, and I thought the inclusion of it sucked in Beyond. It pulled me right out what otherwise was a pretty cool scene. Glad you thought it was ‘great,’ but that’s just your opinion.

Yeah, a reunion movie would sell a few thousand tickets.

I don’t see this movie doing well at all. The three Kelvin universe films that have been released had the benefit of being the only Trek around. This one will be released while five or six Trek series are also being released so they are going to have make this really special to get people to show up now that the movies have competition for Trek fans attention. I don’t see that happening with JJ Abrams in charge so this will probably bomb

the only reason I can think as to why they are doing a belated 4th film (aside doing some market research to find everyone still digs the cast so better to go with them over a new crew) is due to the crazy success of Marvels multiverse and are going to be doing Star Treks version of No Way Home/Multiverse of Madness featuring the Kelvin cast encountering the primeverse and all that would entail. Basically the Orci ST3 on crack with not just (deaged) Shatner but cameos/support roles from various Trek casts (think Yesterdays Enterprise meets Bring Back Kirk), Shatner would be like the Toby Maguire of the film however.

Yeah that’s what I thought when the TOS and TNG films were happening when the shows were on. Star Trek films were no longer alone and you were getting it weekly…for free (in America). The early TOS and all the Kelvin movies had no other Trek to compete with. That’s all it was, so even if people weren’t happy over the movies a lot went because that was your only option for new content.

Today is very different, as you said there will probably be five shows happening next year too. There will be the hardcore that will rush out to see it, but I don’t know about how many after that. That’s why I’m hoping the budget is much lower. But then you can look at it another way I guess and we haven’t had a film in over 5 years now and I know a lot of people will be happy to see one in a theater again. It will feel special since it’s been awhile and if it’s good even better. And I think the Kelvin cast still have enough fans to make it worth while, I’m just not sure many are itching to see them in a theater and can wait until it hits Blu Ray or Paramoutn+. So it can go either way but the fanfare is not going to be there like it was back in 2009 or 2013 since fans weren’t getting 50 hours of Trek content at home and already years since the last show.

If it indeed does finally make it to the big screen, I hope that fans will at least not have preconceived ideas about it and just label it as “another Kelvin/Abrams” movie and will not boycott the movie because it was not what they(the fans) wanted from Paramount. Not everyone is a fan of the 5 or 6 TV shows currently on Paramount+. Some fans actually liked the Kelvin movies, lens flares and all.

I think most will at least be opened minded since it is the first film in over five years. And I don’t think fans shunned these movies as much as others believe. Yes, the fanbase is divided on them for sure, but most will watch them if you give them a reason to go. Beyond suffered for a lot of reasons and part of it was certainly apathy. But that was also due to the fact it didn’t feel like a ‘must-see’ film, at least something people had to go to the theater for. It just felt as you said, another Kelvin movie, but really didn’t feel it offered anything special beyond that, so it was easy to just wait until it landed on Blu Ray or cable and catch it there.

The next film has to feel a bit more special or a real hook to bring them in. If it’s just another bad guy who wants to destroy the Federation for reasons with a lot of shiny FX and explosions, then it will just feel like another tired Kelvin movie to many…me included.

The first film was “okay” but I wasn’t too wild about it. I thought STID was “exciting” with a few fantastic action sequences, but I didn’t like the film very much, overall. However, BEYOND was the one I liked most of the three films, by far. And as far as the current tv shows, PICARD is my favorite, due to the delightful presence of Sir Patrick, and some of the guest appearances as well. DISCO is much better once they got past the dark and overly violent first two seasons of Klingon stuff, but I like it more now. I just don’t have the time for or interest in the animated shows at all.

I think the 4th Kelvin film will do fine, as long as they don’t go overboard on the budget!

If it doesn’t do well the fact that there are shows currently existing on P+ will not be the reason. I’d wager that a lot of people going to see this movie may not even be aware that P+ even exists. And a lot of those who do know it exists and actually subscribe, many will be hungry for decent Trek. Something that has been pretty scarce from P+. And since 2 of the existing 3 KU Trek films were above mediocre at worst, I’d say that a lot of them are thinking the odds of a decent Trek story in a KU feature are much higher than getting one from P+. I don’t think the fact that P+ Trek shows exist will really hurt or harm the performance of a feature. But if forced to pick one or the other I think it has a better chance of helping some.

I agree – I would imagine P+ isn’t even on the radar of your average movie-going crowd.

He can have the beard, but only if he wears the disco (not Disco) medallion as well.

They would be crazy not include Urban who’s portrayal of McCoy is loved by fans and critics like.

I’m sure he will appear.

Karl Urban is a must! More so than any of the other actors. I hope that Paramount understands that.

Fans also want him back as Judge Dredd. He is quite in demand. The question is how does he find the time to do all of it.

I hope they use him a lot more. I miss the old Kirk, Spock, McCoy dynamic.

Screen Rant

Star trek: 15 things you didn’t know about dr. ‘bones’ mccoy.

Bones McCoy is the often-overlooked third point in the Trek triangle along with Kirk and Spock. How much do you know about the Enterprise's top doc?

This year marks the 50 th anniversary of Star Trek first hitting our screens, and the franchise has most definitely lived long and prospered. Far from being a nostalgic classic, fifty years on the series is still as relevant as ever – with a new movie hitting theaters this month , and a brand new television series starting next year.

Although the franchise has come a long way over the past five decades, the Original Series is still very much worth watching. Not just as the show that started it all, but because the storylines and characters are still as captivating now as they were in the '60s. While every member of the original cast has their own charm, an oft-overlooked major player is Dr ‘Bones’ McCoy. While most think of Kirk and Spock as a duo, Bones was actually a third point to their triangle: the emotionally-driven human to balance out Spock’s logic, to act as a confidante to Kirk, and to act as a foil to reveal the Captain’s moments of restraint which would otherwise be lost against the coldly logical Vulcan first mate. Originally brought to life by DeForest Kelly, our latest Bones is played by Karl Urban, and both bring something of their own to the incredible doctor of the Star Ship Enterprise.

Here are  15 Things You Didn’t Know About Dr. ‘Bones’ McCoy .

15. DeForest Kelley Was Nearly Cast As Spock

It’s hard to imagine any other actor as the iconic half-Vulcan second-in-command, but Leonard Nimoy wasn’t the only one considered to play Spock when the series was just getting started. A few actors were considered – all of whom had been involved with TV Westerns in the past, partially due to Roddenberry’s description of his new series as “ Wagon Train to the stars." Rex Holman and Michael Dunn were both considered, and both did appear in the franchise at some point. Holman played J’onn in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , while Dunn appeared as Alexander in the episode "Plato’s Stepchildren".

DeForest Kelley was the fourth actor considered for the role, and would have made for a very different Spock had he been cast! Of course, the version of Spock that Kelley was considered for was not the same one we now know, but a red-tinged, devilish alien, possibly with some Martian blood in him, and much more emotional and hot-headed. Although Kelley (obviously) didn’t get the part, he brought that same level of emotional connection and energy to the role of Bones when he (eventually) joined the series, a few years after he was initially considered.

14. DeForest Kelley Didn’t Play Bones In The Pilot

Unusually, Star Trek ’s original series actually produced two pilots before being picked up for a season – and the Bones we know and love didn’t appear in either of them. The first pilot for the series, "The Cage", featured a very different cast from the final product (and some very different characters, too). Although Spock was played by Leonard Nimoy from the get-go, he wasn’t the emotionless second in command that we now know. The role of Captain Pike (not Kirk) was also different, played by movie actor Jeffrey Hunter.

In this first outing, the ship’s doctor was named Phillip Boyce, although his nickname remained ‘Bones’. Although DeForest Kelly was considered for the role, the part eventually went to John Hoyt. However, "The Cage" was considered too “cerebral” for television at the time, and when Roddenberry was given a second chance, he made several changes to the cast. Nimoy stayed on as Spock, and William Shatner was brought in to play the Captain, but Kelley still didn’t make an appearance. In fact, the doctor’s character was given only a very minor role in the re-written outline, and Bones didn’t make an appearance in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before". It wasn’t until the show was picked up for a first season that Kelley was brought on to complete the trio of Kirk, Spock and Bones.

13. DeForest Kelley Had Some Publicity Issues With His Name

If you’ve ever wondered about Kelley’s unusual name, you aren’t the only one. The actor was actually born Jackson DeForest Kelley in 1920, but used his middle name for his film career. The decision to work as "DeForest" makes a lot of sense, considering that his name was a tribute to Lee de Forest, the ‘father of radio’ and a pioneer in the field of sound-on-film recording for motion pictures. Clearly, DeForest was meant to be an actor!

However, his unusual name did cause some difficulties when it came to billing. In several of his earlier roles, Kelley had his name misspelled in the credits; in episodes of Public Prosecutor and The Lone Ranger he was listed as ‘De Forest Kelley’, in Gypsy Holiday it was DeForrest Kelley, and in The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse it was Deforest Kelley. Even after he hit the big time as Bones in Star Trek , he was routinely billed under the wrong name, often having his names inverted, so that he appeared in promotional materials and publications as Kelly DeForest.

12. Bones Is Descended From The Famous McCoy Family

The McCoy name is common one, and you may have heard of the Hatfield/McCoy rivalry – one of the most famous family feuds in American history. In the late 1800s, these two families lived in the Tug River valley, separating West Virginia and Kentucky. Over the span of a decade, the two sides became embroiled in a vicious rivalry, with several members of the families ending up dead before all was said and done.

It’s a story that has captured the imagination of Hollywood and television, even acting as the inspiration for the popular game show Family Feud . Bones is said to be related to this famous branch of the McCoy family, connecting the fictional character to American history, even though they are separated by dozens of generations. Although this is a tiny detail in the vast scope of the Star Trek universe, it speaks to the level of detail that went into creating these characters and developing them over the years.

11. He Has Tragedy In His Past

Like most of the characters in Star Trek , the fictional biography of Dr Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy has been thoroughly fleshed out over the years, right down to his date and place of birth. He was born in Georgia, in the year 2227, over two hundred and sixty years in the future at the time that Star Trek first aired. His father was David McCoy, and his mother is not known. His relationship with his father, however, is well-documented, and adds an element of tragedy to Bones’s life. Late in life, David McCoy was diagnosed with a painful and supposedly incurable disease, and begged his son to help him die, rather than continuing to suffer. Bones chose to help his father out of love, but was left regretting his decision when a cure for the disease was found soon after.

His father may also have been instrumental in Bones’s decision to go to medical school, as it is inferred that David McCoy was also a doctor (this is also outright stated in the Star Trek: Ongoing comics series).

10. He Has Two Different Middle Names

The most famous middle name in the Star Trek franchise has to be Captain James Tiberius Kirk’s, but it’s not the only one that has been mentioned. Dr. Leonard McCoy, although usually referred to only as Bones, was revealed to have a middle initial in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock , when he is called Leonard H. McCoy. It was later revealed that the "H" in his name stands for Horatio in the novel "Provenance of Shadows", published in 2006.

However, there is often confusion over his middle name, thanks to a different novel series published in the ‘80s. Although The Search for Spock came out in 1984, in 1987 a spin-off novel ("The Romulan Way") included Bones… with the middle name Edward. This name also appeared in the 1988 novel "Spock’s World". As all three novels (and the movie, obviously) are considered canon, this has created an unusual situation where Bones has two different middle names – although Horatio is more often considered “correct” because the letter "H" was confirmed as a middle initial in one of the films.

9. He Didn’t Originally Attend StarFleet

Starfleet Academy is the famous military academy where recruits train to become Starfleet officers, and which involves several years of intense study. Only the best become Starfleet recruits; passing a series of rigorous entrance exams followed by a prep program is required before a cadet can even fully enroll. It’s often assumed that every crew member has to be a Starfleet graduate, but there is evidence to suggest that Bones did not attend that specific academy in the Prime Universe.

His history is as a doctor who was granted a commission in order to work with Starfleet. When he signed up for Starfleet he was already qualified, having received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi. Although he took courses after joining Starfleet to allow him to function within the organization, he did not attend the academy as a standard cadet. This was confirmed in the episode "The Ultimate Computer", where McCoy didn’t understand a reference to ‘Captain Dunsel’ – a term known by everyone who attended the Academy. However, in the new alternate reality ( dubbed the Kelvin Timeline ), McCoy’s past has been altered to make him a StarFleet Academy graduate.

8. He’s Been Married

Bones’s love life isn’t a major plot point in the way that Captain Kirk’s is, but he did have his fair share of romance. Before he entered Starfleet, Leonard McCoy met and married a woman named Jocelyn, and the two had a daughter named Joanna. However, Jocelyn ended up reuniting with an old flame, Clay Treadway, and she and McCoy separated. It was a difficult time for Leonard McCoy, and their divorce wasn’t easy on the young doctor. However, it was during this time that he saw an advert from Starfleet looking to recruit medical officers, and he decided to take to the skies to escape his unhappiness at home.

Later, while on a mission with Starfleet, he met the beautiful Natira, a high priestess aboard a world that turned out to be an enormous spacecraft. He decided to stay with Natira and her people at first, wanting to stay with her until his death (which he believed to be imminent, due to a fatal illness). However, when a cure was found, he left Natira to continue his mission with his pals aboard the Enterprise.

7. He Used His Catchphrase Twenty Times

Bones is well-known for the catchphrase “He’s dead, Jim”, something that he said twenty times in the original series. Star Trek wasn’t actually the first time Kelley delivered this line, though. In The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit , Kelley had a bit part as a medic, where he said “this man’s dead, Captain.” It’s not too unusual for two medical characters to declare a death, of course, but it’s interesting given how iconic this line would eventually become.

It ended up being so popular that Kelley joked in an interview that one of his biggest fears was that it would end up on his tombstone! The second line from Star Trek that became a catchphrase for the Enterprise medic was “ I’m a doctor, not a…  (insert any other profession)" – something that Bones usually said with some frustration. Although this became arguably more iconic than “He’s dead, Jim”, it was actually used less in the original series, where it was said only eleven times.

6. His Daughter Was Nearly A Main Character

The original series only lasted for three seasons, but there were plans for a fourth before the show was cancelled. In the 1968 book "The Making of Star Trek", creator Gene Roddenberry talks about a potential future plot line that would have brought Bones’s estranged daughter from his first marriage on board the Enterprise. The idea behind this inclusion was to expand on both the character of Bones and his relationship with Kirk, as the Captain would find himself attracted to Joanna McCoy, even potentially becoming romantically involved with her. This would obviously be something that McCoy would be less than thrilled about, and he would have to suddenly start seeing his friend from a very different perspective – and truly come to terms with being a father himself.

Although this storyline was never explored, it would have made for a very dramatic episode, and it’s a shame that we didn’t get to see more of Joanna McCoy on screen.

5. He Was A Back Up For Spock’s Consciousness

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan ends with one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise; Spock sacrificing himself to save the ship’s crew. Coupled with his famous line about the needs of the many, Spock’s death scene is enough to reduce any Trekkie to tears… even though he didn’t actually die. Instead, when he incapacitates McCoy on his way to the engine room, he also performs a mind meld on the doctor, transferring his “living spirit” or “katra” to McCoy’s mind.

This becomes the starting point for the next film in the franchise , Star Trek: The Search For Spock . In this third installment, McCoy starts acting strangely, as a result of having Spock’s katra in his mind (something that he doesn’t realize has happened). When Kirk discovers what has happened, he disobeys orders in perfect Kirk style in order to save both of his friends. The film brings Spock back to the franchise, alive and well – something that could not have happened without McCoy acting as a backup for Spock’s mind.

4. McCoy’s Tricorder Inspired a Scam Artist

One of the most useful gadgets in the Star Trek world was the medical tricorder – a little box carried by Dr McCoy that allowed him to diagnose any medical issue on the spot, simply by holding it over the body of the patient. This is so useful that multiple companies have since tried to develop a similar machine, in the hopes that it could become as much a part of our day-to-day technology as many of the other items seen on the show .

However, the tricorder also inspired a criminal, who was able to scam over $25 million from investors by selling a fictitious device. Calling it the “McCoy Home Health Tablet”, Howard Leventhal claimed that he had a contract with the Canadian Health Department to create a tricorder-style device to persuade companies to invest in his non-existent product. He was brought to trial in 2014, facing up to 22 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

3. Gary Sinese Was Considered For The Reboot

When the Star Trek universe was rebooted for the big screen in 2009, re-casting was one of the most important elements of the new universe. JJ Abrams and his creative team were looking to find actors who could pay homage to the original characters, but still put their own twist on the classic crew, and multiple stars were considered for the new Bones McCoy.

In 2007, it was reported that Gary Sinese was in talks to play the Enterprise's doctor. The Oscar-nominated actor is probably best known for his long-running lead role in the crime drama CSI: New York , and many fans were thrilled at the idea of Sinese as McCoy. However, he was considered by many to be too old for a Star Trek origin story, with the rest of the cast in their mid-twenties. The role eventually went to Karl Urban, a man nearly twenty years Sinese’s junior.

2. Karl Urban Was Nearly James Bond Instead of Dr. McCoy

Although Karl Urban is now established as the new, rebooted Dr Leonard McCoy, he nearly took on a very different franchise role: 007 himself, James Bond. When Pierce Brosnan left the role of the iconic British spy after the 2002 film Die Another Day , Urban was one of the actors considered to take over the role. However, he was filming another movie at the time, and scheduling conflicts meant that he couldn’t make the final screen tests. The role eventually went to Daniel Craig, which left Urban free to become Bones in the new alternate Star Trek Universe.

Now that it appears Craig's days as Bond may be behind him, however, many fans have been enthusiastic about the idea of Urban picking up the (shaken, not stirred) martini. It looks unlikely, however, as the actor has said that he is grateful that he didn’t get the role ten years ago, and that he would like to see Tom Hiddleston as the face of Her Majesty’s secret service.

1. Urban Nearly Passed On Star Trek Beyond

The third film in the rebooted alternate universe, Star Trek Beyond , comes out this summer, but Urban nearly didn’t return with the rest of the cast. His contract was up after Into Darkness , and with another film offer on the table, the star was debating which way to jump. Speaking to  IGN , Urban said that he was “on the fence” about doing the third movie at all, but it was the passion of director Justin Lin that made his decision to return.

“It was a breath of fresh air, and I really appreciated Justin's intimate knowledge and understanding of the character dynamics.” In the same interview, Urban jokes about seeing McCoy’s hippy phase in a fourth movie, so it looks like he is back on board the Star Trek wagon with this film, and we're glad to hear it. He’s doing an incredible job of bringing the Enterprise medical officer to life for a whole new generation of fans, and we can’t wait to see where Bones McCoy goes from here.

Know of any other fun factoids about Bones McCoy that Trek fans should know? Let us know in the comments!

Star Trek Beyond   arrives in theaters July 22, 2016.