Abrams Makes It Official: Urban Completes Trek Cast

With "Star Trek XI" gearing up to begin filming in just weeks, J.J. Abrams has found his "Bones" McCoy in Karl Urban, an actor at one time in consideration to play the story's villain, Nero, that later went to actor Eric Bana.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the story that was first reported by IESB that Abrams had decided to shift gears on where to use Urban, and to instead use him as the crass ship's doctor originally played by the late DeForest Kelley.

Urban would be one of the older cast members on the show, which makes sense since Kelley's McCoy also was older. The 35-year-old actor played Eomer in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and also spent 12 episodes as Caesar on "Xena: Warrior Princess." He is wrapping up filming on Tony Kaye's "Black Water Transit," and also is in pre-production for John McTiernan's "Run," according to Internet Movie Database.

Since it seems almost definite that actor Chris Pine will be Star Trek's new Capt. James T. Kirk, it would appear that the main cast for the film is now complete. Leonard Nimoy and "Heroes'" Zachary Quinto will both take on the roles of Spock. Anton Yelchin has been cast as Chekov, John Cho as Hikaru Sulu, Zoe Saldana as Uhura and Simon Pegg as Scotty.

Paramount is looking to release "Star Trek XI" on Christmas Day 2008.

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