New Star Trek Film Checks Off Its Chekov

Anton Yelchin in Alpha Dog courtesy Universal Pictures
Russian-born Anton Yelchin, whose recent credits include
Alpha Dog and TV's
Huff, is in talks to play Pavel Chekov, the eventual navigator of the USS
Enterprise, in J.J. Abrams'
Star Trek film, says the
Hollywood Reporter. Unreliable sources tell me the audition process involved having a Ceti eel implanted in your ear.
Yowch.
Yelchin will join the recently cast Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy, who will both play Spock. Casting is under way in New York and London for Kirk (Josh Duhamel? Is Nathan Fillion too old?), Bones, Uhura (yikes, we're going to get Rihanna, aren't we)?, Sulu, and Scotty. Abrams is expected to sign big names to play the villain and a Federation captain.
What, no Hayden Panettiere as Yeoman Rand?!