Winona Ryder beams aboard 'Star Trek' as... Spock's mom?

francis Thu, May 28, 2009 at 09:40 PM EST

"stunning"

jim Mon, May 25, 2009 at 06:47 PM EST

She did a fantastic job in the few scenes she was in. Unfortunately, since her character dies, they can't use her in any sequels.

SpookNotSpock Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 03:01 PM EST

.....and then God created Noni.

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mush Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 03:16 AM EST

Personally it think she's a great actress.

Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 07:29 PM EST

Ellipsian Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:47 PM EST

I have to say that, despite her Oscar nominations, I really don't think Ms. Ryder is a terribly talented actress. I always feel like I can see through her characters and am watching the actor's machinations.

That said, I have a love for Winona: anyone tapped for "Heathers", "Edward Scissorhands" and "Reality Bites" is cool by me.

Tamara Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 02:55 PM EST

I love Noni, and I do hope to see her in many more roles in her lifetime. But yeah, I am curious what gives on the casting deets. Especially because I think she and ZQ would make a hott couple, and now I'm feeling a bit squicky about that if she's really going to play his mom.

Aurelian Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 09:59 AM EST

This is the first casting choice for this movie that I truly don't get. Even assuming that the reporter made a mistake and she is indeed playing a human (Amanda Grayson was a little used but great character), the age difference here may be too much to overcome. Spock's mom always exuded a very etherial maternal vibe...and I don't think we're gonna get that from Winona.

mikro Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 05:38 AM EST

i think it's great news

intorry Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 09:16 PM EST

Matthew Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 07:40 PM EST

I'm not exactly a big Winona Ryder fan whatsoever, but she's one of the few really talented actresses in Hollywood. So hopefully this gives her career a little boost...

Rache Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 06:14 PM EST

Every one gets a second changes in life and they have learned from thier mistakes!
Like you have not made any mistakes in your life!!!

Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 06:12 PM EST

Every one gets a second changes in life and they have learned from thier mistakes!
Like you have not made any mistakes in your life!!!

Bernie Wong Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 03:57 PM EST

As long as Winona plays a human, it's okay. What I want to see though is a continuation of the original five year mission. GOING BACKWARDS TO ACADEMY DAYS IS NOT ABOUT SEEKING NEW WORLDS AND BOLDLY GOING WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE. Oh, and by the way, there is no need to use the sixties cheesy uniforms. Bring them and all alien life forms up to date, such as go ahead and make Klingons the Next Generation type.

Owen Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 03:01 PM EST

Isn't Zachary Quinto openly gay? At least he was when he did some interviews when he was playing Tori Spellings gay best friend on her latest show...

NineDaves Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 10:04 AM EST

all i'm saying is that jj sure knows how to get someone who would never ever watch an episode of star trek, let alone go to a movie, kind of excited to see a star trek movie.

glaniorgo Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 02:41 AM EST

Tia Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 12:06 AM EST

i love her i think it's great

Ben Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 06:36 PM EST

I didn't know Spock's mom shoplifted.

Very bad casting, but it could have been worse. They could have cast Rosie O'Donnell.

Dio_K Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 05:48 PM EST

Variety.com corrected the article and wrote that she's the "human mother of a young Spock (Zachary Quinto)." Which doesn't answer the question about the 6 year discrepancy between mother & son. If it's an even younger version of Spock, why use Quinto's name? It'll be interesting either way.

orville Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 04:33 PM EST

Star Trek: Muppet Babies...snerk. Love that. I hope Variety got it wrong. Spock being half-human is non-negotiable. Can't really see her as Amanda. I could see Winona playing T'Pring though. I wonder if they'll bring her into the mix. Have they cast Sarek yet? I'm assuming that character will be in it if Amanda is.

Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 02:24 PM EST

Love her.
And read your own magazine's website: in the news section they reported that she has like four movies in various stages.

D.J. Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 10:30 AM EST

M.I.A.? Not quite.

Warda Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 08:34 AM EST

Nothing against Winona Ryder, but I don't think her slightly whiny voice seems right for the part. Can we get away from stunt casting?

Qopiu Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 04:58 AM EST

i love her sooo much

TV Addict Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 02:10 AM EST

Winona is #1 on my TOP FIVE list. Seriously...I posted it on EW a few days ago. For over ten years I've felt Winona is the most attractive woman on the planet.

Jager Sat, Nov 10, 2007 at 12:31 AM EST

Actually Winona's making a comeback... She's even [allegedly] doing her first nude scene in the forthcoming, "Sex and Death 101". At least I won't have to rely on my imagination anymore...

Glad to see you back, Winona!

m Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 11:48 PM EST

I LOVE WINONA! Welcome back babe!

Zena Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 11:36 PM EST

I just went on Startrek.com and found out that Variety fixed the error about Winona being the "vulcan" mother of Spock. She is definitely his human half and this is stated in the printed version of Variety this morning. Whether she will be aged or be seen in flashbacks is still not known.

Ed Kryslak Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 09:56 PM EST

If they happen to cast Ms Ryder as a Vulcan mother to Spock the movie will bomb and like the television series Enterprise did.

Ned Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 09:54 PM EST

I don't know Bernard, there's only been a couple of negative comments, the majority have actually been pretty positive.

Donna Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 07:23 PM EST

Love Winona! Glad to see she's in movies again.

Bernard Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 07:22 PM EST

It's funny (and sadly predictable) how the majority of comments so far are related to everything BUT the merits of the casting in order to be what sadly passes for "snark" these days.

I think Ms. Ryder is an excellent choice to play Amanda. Despite her personal woes, Ms. Ryder can be an excellent actress and has the right reserves to play the compassionate but politically wily wife of Sarek, motgher of Spock.

As for the age difference, it doesn't matter: In Trek lore, Vulcans (including Spock, who is half Vulcan) physically age slower than humans (although it seems they mature faster). Since we are dealing with an "alien" culture and physiology, getting needlessly anal about whether she plays amanda in the "present" or the "past" of Spock's childhood is pointless.

Winona Rulez! Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 07:12 PM EST

Hey, Beth and Kent...GO SCREW!!!

Kent Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 06:40 PM EST

Um...hasn't anyone in Hollywood noticed that Wino is a horrible actress? How she managed to get a couple of Oscar noms, I'll never know.

Snarf Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 06:24 PM EST

The fanboys have been wringing their hands and wailing. Drama Queens.

Beth Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 06:07 PM EST

WINONA! I thought she had FINALLY disappeared from movie screens. This makes me NOT want to see the movie.

mike Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:55 PM EST

The curse of the odd numbered Star Trek was broken when the even numbered Star Trek: Nemesis came out, and sucked.

And really, The Search For Spock wasn't that bad, and Star Trek 5 is one of those 'so bad it's good' movies, granted it wasn't meant to be funny, but it's some of the funniest unintentional humor ever. Not quite on the level of Karate Kid 3, but still, pretty damn funny.

Ep Sato Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:45 PM EST

Remember Meatballs? The chant Bill Murray makes everyone say is "It just doesn't matter, it just doesn't matter".

Well, it just doesn't matter who is cast. This is an odd numbered Trek movie, which is a nearly guaranteed turkey rating.

Since this is almost guaranteed to be the case then Abrams should feel free to mess with the mythos, cast well known actors to roles that originally went to relative unknowns and do whatever he wants that most die hards believe will "ruin" the series. Expecting an odd numbered Trek movie to be good is like expecting gourmet food at Denny's.

So let Abrams mess with the mythology all he wants to, it still won't be worse than Star Treks 1, 5 (worst of them all), 7 and 9.

Gene Roddenberry's been dead for more than a decade, and many of the original series actors have also passed (Scotty, Bones, Mccoy).

Rather than continue to rehash this series, why not just move on?

Laurie Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:15 PM EST

Has anyone else noticed that Whitney Pastorek is missing? Where are her snarky posts I miss them.

nico Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:11 PM EST

Winona's character will be in flash-backs! I'm glad Winona Ryder is back! she is a naturally gifted actor. ha! i can't wait for this movie!

Ceballos Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:01 PM EST

1. I woulnd't exactly call Variety a bastion of journalism to begin with. That being said, I'm assuming it was a reporter's mistake, as he/she probably assumed since Spock is a Vulcan, his mom must be. (Personally, I didn't know his mom wasn't a Vulcan).

2. Since I'm not exactly sure at what age Vulcans age when compared to humans, I'm assuming she's probably his mom in flashbacks when he's younger.

3. Why not a Winona come back? It's not like we're overstocked with talented actresses (Lohan, Alba, etc.) taking her place

t-bone Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 05:00 PM EST

"star trek: muppet babies" - thanks for the laugh, gary :)

Ned Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 04:48 PM EST

I'm betting she'll be in flashbacks, or they'll age her up a little bit. I think it's great news, Winona Ryder is one of my favorite actresses, there have been actors that did much worse than shoplift that still get to work, hello, look at all the DUIs, they could have killed someone.

I hope she makes a comeback, Hollywood needs talented actresses like her.

Cliff Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 04:47 PM EST

The media's treatment of Ryder was a disgrace. Far worse crimes have been comitted by far less talented people, with no fallout whatsoever. And here we have an Oscar nominee, a Scorsese actor, freakin' Veronica Sawyer for crying out loud, and she can't get jobs. Here's hoping she's here to stay this time.

Wendy Fri, Nov 9, 2007 at 04:18 PM EST

I could buy her age/younger appearance if she was playing a Vulcan, since they are supposed to live much longer and age slower, but she can't be Spock's mom AND be a Vulcan. I hope that the reporter just got it wrong.