Brit comic Simon Pegg beams up to Star Trek movie

British comic Simon Pegg, currently appearing in Run, Fat Boy, Run, has been beamed up to join the cast of the new Star Trek movie as Scotty, the ship's Scottish chief engineer.

Pegg — who also starred in the police caper Hot Fuzz and the zombie farce Shaun of the Dead — will fill in the role originated by Canadian James Doohan, who died in 2005, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition, American actor John Cho of Harold & Kumar fame has been cast as Sulu, a role immortalized by Japanese-American actor George Takei.

Casting for the movie, directed by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Mission: Impossible 3 ) has ramped up to warp speed as production is expected to start in November.

Australian actor Eric Bana signed on Wednesday to play the movie's villain, Nero.

Already filling their positions are Zachary Quinto, who plays the evil Sylar in the hit TV series Heroes, as a young Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura and Anton Yelchin as a young Chekov, the Russian-born navigator.

Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, is also on board.

The role of a young captain Kirk is reportedly about to be given to Chris Pine. Canadian actor William Shatner, who played the role in the original Star Trek,would likely also have a part.

Other main roles to be cast are Christopher Pike, the first captain of the Enterprise, and Kirk's parents.

The movie will explore early days of the Enterprise crew just as they've graduated from Starfleet Academy.