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Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc. have announced that STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will not start as the TV series, but as a feature film this August. The feature release will precede the TV series, which will air on Cartoon Network and TNT this fall. Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will open in North American theaters Friday, Aug. 15. International release dates will be announced soon.

MyToons.com announced the launch of its newest international animation contest, "Bumper Blastoff," which is open for entries through Jan. 21, 2008. Contestants are asked to create original animated bumpers lasting 30 seconds or less, for a chance to win their share of $7,000 in cash prizes.

Paramount has cast Bruce Greenwood (NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS) as the Enterprise's first captain Christopher Pike in J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The character appeared in Gene Roddenberry's unaired pilot for the original TV series, which was turned down by CBS and later retooled by NBC. The unaired pilot was later weaved into a two-part episode in the first season of STAR TREK. The new film will chronicle the early adventures of the Starship Enterprise under Capt. James T. Kirk, who will be played by Chris Pine (JUST MY LUCK).

SHAUN OF THE DEAD star Simon Pegg and HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE's John Cho have joined the quickly expanding cast of STAR TREK as Scotty and Sulu, respectively, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. J.J. Abrams is directing and producing the prequel for Paramount.

Pegg and Cho join Eric Bana as villain Nero, Zoe Saldana as a young Uhura, Anton Yelchin as a young Chekov, Zachary Quinto as a young Spock, and Leonard Nimoy as an older Spock. Chris Pine, who appeared in SMOKIN' ACES and JUST MY LUCK, is rumored to be up for the part of a young James T. Kirk.

The latest addition to the cast of J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK is HULK star Eric Bana, who will play the villain Nero in the Paramount Pictures winter tentpole, reports VARIETY. Bana joins Anton Yelchin (HEARTS IN ATLANTIS) as Chekov, Zachary Quinto (TV's HEROES) as young Spock, Zoe Saldana (TERMINAL) as Uhura, and Leonard Nimoy as an older Spock.

The plot details for the film are on the QT. Before the November start of production, Abrams must still fill the roles of young James T. Kirk, Scotty, Sulu and the Federation captain.

Paramount Pictures has added Zoe Saldana (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL) as Uhura to the cast of J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK, reports VARIETY. In the original series, Uhura was the U.S.S. Enterprise's communications officer.

Abrams will produce the prequel via his Bad Robot company. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have penned the script. Bryan Burk and Damon Lindelof are the exec producers. The release date is set for Christmas Day 2008.

Rosario Dawson has signed on to produce and star in the online live-action/motion-capture animation series, THE GEMINI DIVISION, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Electric Farm Ent.'s Jeff Sagansky is producing 100 episodes of the three-minute sci-fi series along with LIZZIE MCGUIRE producer Stan Rogow and game writer Brent Friedman.

Dawson will star as a New York cop who, while investigating the murder of her husband, discovers a worldwide conspiracy involving simulated life forms replacing real life forms.