‘Star Trek’ release moved to summer

‘Star Trek’ release
moved to summer

LOS ANGELES — “Star Trek” fans will have to wait a bit longer to see where the crew of the starship Enterprise is boldly going next. The release of J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek,” with a new cast taking on the roles of Capt. James Kirk, Spock and other original characters, has been moved from Christmas Day to May 8, 2009, distributor Paramount said Thursday. Studio spokesman Michael Vollman said the switch was a business move, not because of any problems with the film caused by the Writers Guild of America strike that just ended. “Star Trek” will be finished by fall in time for its original release date, but studio executives decided to hold it until next summer, so the film could pull in more money, he said. The recently ended writers strike left a few holes in 2009’s summer blockbuster schedule, leaving the May 8 date up for grabs, Vollman said.

McCartney divorce
spills into second week

LONDON — The divorce hearing between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills looks set to stretch into a second week, after a judge allotted extra time for the couple’s court case. The hearing had been scheduled to end Friday, but officials at London’s Royal Courts of Justice said the case before Justice Hugh Bennett would continue Monday. Mills and McCartney separated in 2006 after four years of marriage and have since traded blows in the media while trying, and failing, to agree on divorce terms. The hearing was called to decide on Mills’ share of the former Beatle’s fortune, estimated at as much as $1.6 billion. Media reports suggest that McCartney has offered his wife about $50 million and that she is seeking at least double that amount.

Today’s birthdays

Bandleader Orrin Tucker is 97. Actor Hal Holbrook is 83. Mystery writer Ruth Rendell is 78. Singer Bobby Lewis is 75. Comedian Dame Edna (AKA Barry Humphries) is 74. Country singer-songwriter Johnny Bush is 73. Football Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown is 72. Actress Mary Ann Mobley is 69. Actress Brenda Fricker is 63. Actress Rene Russo is 54. Actor Richard Karn is 52. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips is 46. Basketball player Michael Jordan is 45. Actor-comedian Larry, the Cable Guy is 45. TV personality Rene Syler is 45. Movie director Michael Bay is 44. Singer Chante Moore is 41. Rock musician Timothy J. Mahoney (311) is 38. Actor Dominic Purcell is 38. Actress Denise Richards is 37. Rock singer-musician Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) is 36. Actor Jerry O’Connell is 34. Country singer Bryan White is 34. Actress Kelly Carlson is 32. Actor Jason Ritter is 28. TV personality Paris Hilton is 27. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt is 27.