Karl Urban As Doctor McCoy?
This one is spreading like fire all over the place. But apparently, the Star Trek cast has been rounded out with the addition of Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings, Pathfinder, Doom) at Doctor Leonard McCoy, one of the the “Big Three” in the Star Trek universe.
First of all, let me throw in a word of caution. Many sites right now are reporting that this is “CONFIRMED”! No, no it’s not confirmed. At least not yet. What this is, is a guy from AICN saying someone he knows says it’s “pretty much a done deal”. Here’s the actual quote:
We heard RUMORS ABOUT THIS last week. Now, one of my main dudes tells us Urban-”Bones” is “pretty much a done deal”.
So no, Karl Urban is not YET “confirmed” as McCoy for Star Trek (although that’s not to say it won’t be confirmed soon).
Anyway, for the sake of it let’s just assume for a moment that Karl Urban is indeed going to play McCoy. Man, that is an ODD choice. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Karl Urban and I’ll go see just about anything this guy does (even in the horrible Pathfinder and Doom), but in everything he’s played to date he’s always been the macho rugged type. How do you translate him into the physically unassuming Doctor McCoy when he’s 10x more macho and could clearly kick the shit out of the guy playing James T. Kirk?
Actors act and play different roles, but there is still something to be said for finding the right “fit”… and man… I just don’t know that Karl Urban (as much as I love the guy) is the right fit for Doctor McCoy. I was all on board a while ago where there were rumors that Urban might play a bad guy or something like that… but Doctor McCoy??? REALLY?
What do you think? Adding good talent is never a bad idea… but can you get into the idea of Karl Urban as McCoy?
1. Bishop replies at 17th October 2007, 7:29 am :
You know, I actually scoffed through the first reading of this article.
Then I gave that picture you posted a good hard look.
I say why not? Remember, this Star Trek maybe different. THis is not your parents Star Trek.
And come on! McCoy was Tres Macho, with all his cussing and macking on the nurses and shooting people, and then sewing up the people he shot so he could shoot them some more. I would actually argue that while Kirk was more of a mysoginist (sp?), it is truly McCoy who is more macho than Kirk. Just less shirtless.
2. Gerry Alanguilan replies at 17th October 2007, 7:50 am :
Actors can transform themselves, I believe. If other actors can beef up to fit the role (like Chris Reeve in Superman), and well built actors can emaciate themselves to fit the role (Donny Wahlberg in Sixth Sense), I think Karl Urban may well surprise us.
3. Terry Letourneau replies at 17th October 2007, 8:05 am :
Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor, not a Rider of Rohan!
4. 1138 replies at 17th October 2007, 8:05 am :
I love Karl Urban!!!! He just hasn’t had the opportunity or projects to become a well known name in America but I feel this guy has awesome potential!!!
He is an actor and very good one at that! I think he definitely could pull off McCoy! Remember this McCoy is not going to be a carbon copy of Kelly’s McCoy…this will be our gernerations McCoy and I belive Karl can make McCoy his own!!!
I think this is the best casting so far!!!
And you know what…I wonder if Karl would have made a good Kirk!!! He might have been able to pull that off! To bad we’ll never know!
5. Steve L. replies at 17th October 2007, 8:29 am :
Definitely an odd choice for McCoy, and like you said he has too much of that macho vibe to him from his past movies. But, he’s always seemed to be the standout in those movies and you remember his face. So, I am going to go into this with an open mind to the regard that the guy can possibly pull it off and impress the hell out of us.
6. Mr. James replies at 17th October 2007, 8:42 am :
Ok, I’m confused, is this going to be like a Starfleet Academy version of 90210 or what? I’m just not buying that they’re going to give an entire starship to a guy that’s 25 or so and then fill it with an entire crew of other 20-something’s with no experience at all. This thing just keeps getting lamer by the minute. Wow. I’m tongue-tied right now in my disbelief that this trainwreck is going to be any good. *sigh*
7. Senor Chefy replies at 17th October 2007, 9:08 am :
I love the choice. You’ve got all these fresh faced young-uns playing iconic characters- the addition of Urban is perfect. He feels a little more “worn”- and will finally get a chance to maybe crack a joke and, heaven willing, a smile.
8. AjaxLou replies at 17th October 2007, 9:30 am :
Totally! And at the very least he’ll keep Jimbo on his toes.
9. Jason Seaver replies at 17th October 2007, 11:10 am :
If I remember correctly, Urban played both Julius Caesar and Cupid back when Hercules and Xena was paying his bills, so it’s not like he doesn’t have range.
He’s a good actor, and if you can’t imagine a good actor in a different kind of role, that indicates a deficiency in your imagination much more than in his talent.
10. Thomas replies at 17th October 2007, 11:56 am :
Wow, bad choice, IMO. I think it should be Gary Sinese, even though he is a bit older than the other cast pics so far (but they could probably make him look younger). The only cast pick I like so far is Spock.
11. Phil replies at 17th October 2007, 1:38 pm :
This really is a strange choice in casting. I’m like John, I think Karl Urban is great, and I’d see anything he’s in. So one part of me is saying, yea this is strange, but the other part is saying… who gives a shit, its Karl Urban.
Also, as John likes to point out, if this is going to be a complete reboot and so forth…. Why not Karl Urban.
Oh and John, this comment “he’s 10x more macho and could clearly kick the shit out of the guy playing James T. Kirk?”
LOL, thats really funny. The only castmate that might be able to hold his own against Urban is Eric Bana.
12. Darren J Seeley replies at 17th October 2007, 1:41 pm :
It is still speculated on what role Urban would have; when he was attatched earlier this month (and it is a fact he is signed on to play *someone*, let’s get that clear right now- even the Star Trek website over at Paramount confirms this) …I don’t have a problem with it if he were Bones.
I see him more as a Pike-like character though (Pike was Enterprise Cap’n before Kirk) …or perhaps another supporting character, maybe a new one.
But here’s what I think: I think some internet wires got crossed. What if…Simon Pegg was Bones McCoy and Urban was Scotty?
Food for thought.
13. Bishop replies at 17th October 2007, 2:01 pm :
Now that, DJS, would be awesome…
14. Rob Walley replies at 17th October 2007, 5:32 pm :
It is confirmed! Star Trek.com reports Urban is signed as McCoy!
15. arnique replies at 17th October 2007, 5:56 pm :
I like Urban, he’s got great command on screen. After Zachary Quinto as Spock, maybe this Star Trek film might be worth seeing with Urban in it.
But yeah, Chris Pine is a wimp and letting him play Kirk is a little counter-intuitive. I think Urban would do a better job than Pine as Kirk.
16. Umberhaven replies at 17th October 2007, 10:05 pm :
I agree with several others. Castin Urban as McCoy seems very odd. Of course, I haven’t heard anything about this movie so far that makes me feel significantly encouraged.
17. ethernz replies at 18th October 2007, 1:58 am :
One of Karl Urban’s first foray into acting was as a really sweet gay paramedic in Shortland Street (a New Zealand soap opera). He can play gentle characters very well. He’ll be great as Doctor McCoy should this rumor be true.