Senior Executive Producer James Cawley announced that the original Paramount Phase II script "Kitumba" is slated to become the eighth and ninth episodes filmed by Star Trek: New Voyages/Phase II. Principle photography for part one is scheduled to take place at Retro Film Studios and nearby locations in upstate New York from June 1-14, 2009. Part two is tentatively scheduled to film in the fall.

The original teleplay was penned by John Meredyth Lucas. A producer during the second season of The Original Series, he also directed three episodes and wrote four ? including "Patterns of Force" and "Elaan of Troyus".

"Mr. Lucas passed away some time ago," said Cawley, "Kitumba is being produced as a tribute to Him for all his many wonderful contributions to Trek. We do have to re write and update some, but we feel the story is in good hands."

The story finds Kirk and the Enterprise on a secret mission to the Klingon homeworld and will feature the return of John Carrigan as everyone's favorite Klingon, "Captain Kargh". Declared Cawley: "We couldn't take on The Klingon Empire without facing John!"

Crew - returning and new - should watch the website for a recruitment call at the beginning of the New Year.

11-16-2008