Star Trek casting call seeks weirdos

With all the sad and depressing Writers Guild of America strike news coming in, the industry could use some news on the lighter side.

J.J. Abrams to the rescue! The producer and film director is a busy man these days, and his main project is the ambitious Star Trek film, due in theaters next holiday season.

The film is a prequel to the original television series, and is set during the Starfleet Academy days of Captain Kirk and Spock. With such a treasured property at stake, the first thing on many fans' minds was the question of who would play the show's famous crew?

One of the biggest pieces of news to come out of this year's ComicCon was the casting of Heroes' Sylar, also known as actor Zachary Quinto, as a young Spock. (It was also revealed that Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, would appear in the film.)

Soon after, the rest of the cast was announced: Smokin' Aces' Chris Pine as Kirk, Doom's Karl Urban as Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Shaun of the Dead and Spaced's Simon Pegg as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle's John Cho as Hikaru Sulu, Huff's Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, Drumline's Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura, and Munich's Eric Bana as the villain Nero.

However, there is still a bit of casting to do, and that's where you come in. An open casting call has been posted by the typically reliable Comingsoon.net, and the film's casting agents are looking for extras. But those who apply better stand out from the crowd.

The call asks for actors and actresses between the ages of 18 and 70 that are "OK with their eyebrows being shaved from the arch outward to portray a Vulcan-type eyebrow shape."

The call also asks for "Talent with interesting and unique facial features such as: long necks, small heads, extremely large heads, wide-set eyes, bug eyes, close-set eyes, large forehead, short upper lip, pronounced cheekbones, over- or undersized ears and/or nose, facial deformities, ultra plain-looking people, ultra perfect-looking people, pure wholesome looks, twins, triplets, emaciated talent, regally poised and postured talent, or other visually unique characteristics."

And if you really want a good shot at being in a Star Trek, you'd better put down those Ding Dongs. The producers want people who are thin, athletic, and fit because the costumes will be formfitting...unlike your Halloween costume.

The open call gets underway this Saturday in Burbank, California. For more information, check out Comingsoon.net.