Star Trek (2009) helped relaunch the Star Trek franchise in the modern era and re-imagined the adventures of Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise with a diverse cast of new faces. Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek (2009) was the first franchise project produced after the cancelation of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005, and the 11th Star Trek movie overall. The film was followed by two sequels in 2013 and 2016, with a third sequel still in the works despite experiencing multiple delays and setbacks.
Star Trek (2009) explored an alternate history for Captain Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew from Star Trek: The Original Series, set in an alternate reality split off from the franchise’s main timeline. The split, which took place on the day of James T. Kirk’s birth, was initiated by the film’s Romulan villain Nero when he accidentally crossed from one reality to another, causing the destruction of the USS Kelvin and the death of Kirk’s father. The movie then explored Kirk’s entry into Starfleet Academy and his first mission with the Enterprise crew as a cadet during Nero’s attack on Vulcan. Here’s the full cast and character guide for Star Trek (2009).
Chris Pine As James T. Kirk
Chris Pine plays James T. Kirk, a younger and more jaded version of the role originated by William Shatner in Star Trek: TOS. Because of his father’s heroic death, Pine’s Kirk initially has a chip on his shoulder about Starfleet, causing tension between him and the Enterprise crew, particularly Spock. Before Star Trek (2009), Chris Pine starred in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and has since become most well known for his roles in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Wonder Woman, Outlaw King, and Don’t Worry Darling.
Zachary Quinto As Spock
Zachary Quinto portrays Spock, Kirk’s half-human, half-Vulcan First Officer who begins the film as a Commander while Kirk is still a cadet. Star Trek (2009) mostly explores Spock’s struggle with his dual identity, framed around his initially antagonistic relationship with Kirk and the loss of his home planet of Vulcan after Nero’s attack. Besides Star Trek, Zachary Quinto is best known for his roles in Heroes and American Horror Story.
Leonard Nimoy As Spock Prime
Leonard Nimoy returned in Star Trek (2009) to portray Ambassador Spock AKA Spock Prime. In the film, it is revealed that Nimoy’s Spock jumped universes through the same time portal as Nero after a failed attempt to save Romulus from a supernova. Nero held Spock responsible for Romulus’s destruction, leading him to take revenge by destroying Vulcan. While playing Spock in the Star Trek franchise was Nimoy’s most well-known role, the actor had numerous other credits including Mission: Impossible and Fringe, before passing away in 2015 at the age of 83.
Karl Urban As Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy
Completing the iconic TOS trio, Karl Urban plays Dr. McCoy in Star Trek (2009). Urban’s McCoy evoked the spirit of DeForest Kelley’s portrayal while still allowing him to put his own spin on the character. In the film, McCoy meets and becomes friends with Kirk at Starfleet Academy, and reluctantly helps smuggle Kirk onboard the Enterprise so that he can participate in the fight against Nero. Urban is best known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dredd, Thor: Ragnarok, and The Boys.
Zoe Saldana As Nyota Uhura
Zoe Saldana played Nyota Uhura, the Enterprise’s communications officer who starts the film out as a cadet alongside Kirk and McCoy. Saldana’s version of the character in Star Trek (2009) was the first time that Uhura’s first name was established on screen, having never been stated during Nichelle Nichols’ run in TOS. Uhura and Spock are also in a romantic relationship in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. Besides Star Trek, Saldana is best known for her starring roles in some of the biggest franchises in modern film, including the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, and James Cameron’s Avatar movies.
Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott
Originated by the late James Doohan, the role of engineer Montgomery Scott is played by Simon Pegg in Star Trek (2009). Kirk and Spock Prime are aided by Scotty in their attempt to return Kirk to the Enterprise, after finding the engineer posted at a remote Starfleet outpost on Delta Vega. Pegg’s most well-known roles outside of Star Trek are on the British sitcom Spaced and the Three Flavours Cornetto movie trilogy.
John Cho As Hikaru Sulu
John Cho plays Hikaru Sulu, taking over the role originated by George Takei in Star Trek: TOS. While the character took on more of a supporting role in the main storylines in Star Trek (2009), Cho’s portrayal once again evoked the spirit of Takei and included a few TOS Easter eggs such as Sulu’s skill with a sword. Cho has also starred in Ugly Betty and the Harold & Kumar film franchise.
Anton Yelchin As Pavel Chekhov
Anton Yelchin’s Pavel Chekhov added some much-need humor to Star Trek (2009). Chekhov also acted in a mostly supporting role to the film’s main storylines, while still providing the chance for some good callbacks to Walter Koenig’s Chekhov on TOS. Yelchin is also known for Green Room, Hearts in Atlantis, and Huff before his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 27.
Eric Bana As Nero
Eric Bana portrays Star Trek (2009)’s villain Nero, a Romulan bent on revenge for the destruction of his home planet. Nero is one of only a handful of original characters created for the movie, and like Spock Prime, is from Star Trek‘s Prime Universe timeline rather than the film’s alternate universe. Bana’s most well-known roles were mainly in Australian cinema, but the actor gained wider recognition when he starred in Hulk (2003).
Clifton Collins Jr. As Ayel
Clifton Collins Jr. plays Ayel, Nero’s first officer who does much of the talking for his captain early on. Ayel also has a dramatic death scene and some good dialogue with Kirk toward the end of Star Trek (2009) when Kirk and Spock infiltrate Nero’s ship during their plan to stop the Romulans. Collins Jr.’s other credits include The Last Castle, Capote, Pacific Rim, and Thief.
Bruce Greenwood As Christopher Pike
The first actor to play Captain Christopher Pike since Star Trek: TOS‘s unaired pilot, Bruce Greenwood takes on the role of Pike in Star Trek (2009). Pike begins the film as the Captain of the Enterprise and acts as a mentor to Kirk throughout the film. Greenwood is best known for his roles in Thirteen Days, Capote, St. Elsewhere, and Mad Men.
Chris Hemsworth As George Kirk
Star Trek (2009) saw Chris Hemsworth make his feature film debut as Kirk’s father. Before Star Trek, Hemsworth was mostly known for his work in Australian TV, having not yet branched out into Hollywood. Since Star Trek (2009), Hemsworth has gone on to receive worldwide recognition for his portrayal of Thor in the MCU, as well as starring roles in Ghostbusters, Men in Black: International, and Extraction.
Winona Ryder As Amanda Grayson
Winona Ryder portrays Spock’s mother Amanda Grayson in Star Trek (2009). The character had previously appeared in one episode of Star Trek: TOS, played by Jane Wyatt. While Amanda’s presence in the film is minimal, she is greatly important to Spock’s story arc. Ryder is best known for her roles in Beetlejuice, Heathers, Edward Scissorhands, and Stranger Things.
Ben Cross As Sarek
Originated by Mark Lenard in Star Trek: TOS, the role of Sarek is portrayed by Ben Cross in Star Trek (2009). Like Amanda, Sarek’s presence in the film is minimal, and almost entirely revolves around Spock’s storyline. Ben Cross is best known for his role in Chariots of Fire and his work on numerous stage productions in London’s West End.
Star Trek (2009) Supporting Cast & Characters
Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk: Kirk’s mother and George Kirk’s widow. Morrison’s other credits include House, Once Upon a Time, and How I Met Your Mother.
Faran Tahir as Captain Richard Robau: Captain of the USS Kelvin who is killed by Nero, causing George Kirk to take command. Tahir is best known for The Jungle Book (1994), Iron Man, and Elysium.
Tyler Perry as Admiral Richard Barnett: Tyler Perry’s Admiral Barnett is the head of Starfleet Academy and part of Kirk’s board of examiners when he cheats on the Kobayashi Maru test. Perry is known for his Madea character, as well as his work on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.
Deep Roy as Keenser: Scotty’s assistant on Delta Vega and an alien of unknown origin. Roy has played many diminutive characters on shows and movies such as The X-Files, Doctor Who, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Star Wars, and The Neverending Story.
William Morgan Sheppard as the head of the Vulcan Science Council: the unnamed examiner whose comment about Spock’s human heritage causes him to reject the Vulcan Science Academy for Starfleet. Sheppard was something of a Star Trek regular player, appearing in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager as well as the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Besides Star Trek, he appeared in Gettysburg, Babylon 5, and Doctor Who.
