'White Jazz' Director Says Pine Is Kirk

Joe Carnahan, director of the upcoming film "White Jazz," confirmed in his blog that actor Chris Pine has joined the cast of "Star Trek XI" as one of the show's most iconic characters.

"The young man playing Junior stemmons has opted to 'go where no mas has gone before,'" Carnahan wrote in his blog referring to Pine. "I was talking to him this past week and knew how tough the decision had to be for him. I don't envy ever being in that spot, but I gave him my full support, even if it meant he didn't do 'Jazz.'"

Pine was scheduled to appear in Carnahan's latest movie, but it would shoot around the same time as "Star Trek XI," which begins next month. It forced Pine to decide between a higher-profile thriller from Carnahan, or as the man who faced the mighty Tribble, and won.

"You don't get opportunities like that often, and I told him as long as he could control as much of that process as possible and not get sucked into doing lesser sequels as a result of taking this gig, then good luck and God Bless," Carnahan said, adding that he expects to work with Pine in the future. "We're sure to do something down the road. I've already slotted him in for 'Killing Pablo."

When confirmed, Pine will join a cast that already includes Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, John Cho as Sulu, Eric Bana as Nero and Simon Pegg as Scott.

"Star Trek XI" is set to open Dec. 25, 2008.

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