By Steve Krutzler / 14:27, 21 July 2004 / Enterprise

The rumor mill shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Producer Rick Berman let more fly at the UPN fall press preview in Los Angeles yesterday. According to Sci-Fi Wire, the STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE and feature franchise head honcho offered no shortage of spoilers on a range of subjects. On the topic of a much-discussed William Shatner guest appearance on the series, Berman revealed that the actor would most certainly play 'James T. Kirk':

"He had a terrific episode [idea], and we had a nice long lunch meeting with him a couple of weeks ago," Berman says. "And there's a lot of things that need to get ironed out in terms of scheduling, in terms of money. ... But he would play an incarnation of a' Kirk', yes. He would not be playing another character."

Berman also layed out a map for the first few episodes of the season.

"The first two episodes ["Storm Front"] are going to be a small arc," he says. "And then there's going to be a single episode. And then there's going to be a three-episode arc. And there's going to be some levity, and there's also going to be some heavy subjects dealt with."

The second arc he speaks of has been confirmed as a story involving a guest appearance of Brent Spiner ('Data') as the great-great-grandfather of 'Dr. Noonien Soong' who opposes the development of artificial intelligence.

The exec also revealed two more upcoming guest stars: THE SOPRANOS Steve Schirripa will appear in the season premiere; and GIRLFRIENDS' Golden Brooks will do a stint. The former may play one of the NYC mobsters-turned-freedom-fighters that teams up with 'Archer' and 'Alicia Silvers', an African American resistance figher likely played by Brooks.

Joining Berman in the spoiler-filled press conference was Jolene Blalock, who dropped the bomb that her character 'T'Pol' "may" be getting married in episode three. Berman added that the entire Temporal Cold War will be wrapped up by the end of episode two, and that despite contradictory remarks of late, co-creator and co-executive producer Brannon Braga will take on a "more executive role" as Manny Coto is the new "show runner."

On the feature side of things, Berman added more intrigue to the reports of a prequel (possibly STARFLEET ACADEMY, story) film being in the early stages of development. He revealed that he's having a meeting with STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT and INSURRECTION and THUNDERBIRDS helmer Jonathan Frakes ('Riker') about the project soon. Sci-Fi Wire says Berman has had "talks" with Frakes ahead of the meeting.

"I spoke to Jonathan about a half an hour ago," Berman said "There are very, very early conversations going on about a film project. But they're so early that it's really kind of silly to talk about it now."

He again emphasized that the project has absolutely no relation to any existing STAR TREK characters.

"It would be an entirely new setting and an entirely new set of characters, and it would take place prior to any of the series, including ENTERPRISE."

For the original reports, visit this page and this page.

In related news, Mediaweek reports that CBS and UPN chief Leslie Moonves told journalists that ENTERPRISE was almost cancelled: "If STAR TREK had cost the license fee that it cost a year ago, a different decision may have been made."

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