Star Trek gets the (Re)Boot

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http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1554046/20070307/story.jhtml

If Batman and Superman can be reborn, why not Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock? On Christmas Day 2008, the storied "Star Trek" franchise will begin anew on the big screen, and its creators are almost as ecstatic as the series' famously obsessive fans.
"We just got the green light! We have a release date and everything," said Alex Kurtzman, co-screenwriter of the eagerly anticipated new "Trek" adventure. Kurtzman and collaborator Roberto Orci, who are also executive producers of the project — and veterans of "Transformers" and "Mission: Impossible III" — spoke exclusively to MTV about the film Trekkies and Trekkers alike are salivating for any information on (see "An Open Letter To 'Star Trek' Director J.J. Abrams").

Thus far details have been few and far between on the film, the first since Picard and company starred in the much-maligned 2002 flick "Star Trek: Nemesis." In addition to the 2008 release date Paramount recently announced, it has been confirmed that "Lost" co-creator and "M:i:III" director J.J. Abrams will direct. Orci says he was relieved that Abrams agreed to helm the project after reading the very first draft (recent rumors indicated he would only produce).

"When we finally turned in the script I started lining up other directors, and that really got [Abrams] going," Orci joked. Rumors that the film would center on an early adventure of the crew or even on Kirk and Spock's Starfleet Academy days — unlikely, though no doubt provoked by a long-dormant "Trek" movie idea — have yet to be addressed directly.

While Kurtzman and Orci were reluctant to reveal much about the top-secret film, they did offer some hints. "There will be more action in this movie than any 'Trek' that's preceded it," Kurtzman promised. Orci, without discussing a specific budget, added, "It'll be the biggest one. The economic models of the other [films] were very much based on the fans out there and their purchasing power. With this one we're going for the broad audience to bring people into 'Trek' for the first time."

Indeed, broadening the "Trek" base seems to be foremost on the filmmakers' minds. "The challenge of the movie is to be 100 percent true to the fanbase but also to bring in a whole new group of people who've never seen 'Trek' before," Kurtzman said.

Casting has not yet officially begun on the flick, which is scheduled to film in the fall. The writers won't even confirm which characters appear. ("We never said Bones was in it," Orci seemed to joke.) As for recent rumors that Matt Damon, Adrien Brody and Gary Sinise were being considered to play the storied Kirk, Spock and McCoy trio, the duo were reluctant to spill the beans. Asked if they would be happy if Kirk were played by Damon, a long pause followed. Finally Kurtzman allowed, "I'm the hugest Matt Damon fan ever. If he became [Kirk], great."

The mantra of "Who can say?" became Kurtzman and Orci's standard deflection. Will William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy appear? "Really, who can say?" Is the film, as rumors suggest, focused on Kirk and Spock, with supporting characters relegated to the background? "Really, who can say?" Is the old "Trek" plot device of time travel involved? You can guess the answer: "Really, who can say?"

What they will say, however, is that the film will be a starship-based adventure. "I don't know how you make 'Star Trek' without a starship," Orci laughed. "You have to trek through the stars, so you need a ship for that. There, you got something out of us!"

Orci and Kurtzman also confirmed that the film is not in any way a prequel but a reimagining of the franchise. Whether that means a whole new look for "Trek" remains in question. "We're not going to start totally from scratch," Orci said. "We want it to feel like it's updated and of the now. That's actually the discussions we're having now: how to keep the look of the universe yet have it not look like nothing's new. It's tricky."

The duo added that the same production team that assisted them and Abrams on "Alias" and "M:i:III" will join them for "Star Trek," including production designer Scott Chambliss and director of photography Daniel Mindel.

Of course any "Trek" fan worth his salt knows this is a huge change of direction for the franchise in every respect. Since "Star Trek: The Next Generation" premiered in 1987, the brand has been watched over by vets like Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, neither of whom is involved with the new film. Orci and Kurtzman have nothing but praise for the "Next Generation" years, calling it some of the best writing on television. "We just hope they bless us," Kurtzman said.

Speaking of the old guard, Shatner and Nimoy recently visited with Orci, Kurtzman and Abrams. According to the writers, the meetings went well. "It was pretty much the most stressful thing ever, but it was wonderful," Kurtzman said. "They were amazing."

For the longtime friends and collaborators the "Trek" assignment has been both weighty and exciting. While both claim to be big fans of all things "Trek," Orci clearly is the senior Trekker of the team. "I am a crazy fan," Orci said.

"Here's a frame of reference for you," Kurtzman added. "When I first met Bob, he had an Enterprise phone."

All of which made Paramount's offer of no limits and no stipulations too good to pass up. "They were just like, what would you do with 'Star Trek'?" Orci recalled. "We've been watching ['Trek'] all our lives. I've even read the books. It was all about, what have I always wanted to see in 'Trek'?"

Orci and Kurtzman believe their script adheres to the original vision put forth by creator Gene Roddenberry more than 40 years ago. " 'Trek,' more than anything, has always been about the human interactions," Orci said. "It's all about the human soul."

"And the friendships," Kurtzman added. "And everyone being a family. Whatever the story was, we always knew what it had to feel like."

And if all else failed, there was one "Trek" staple to fall back on. So fear not, fans of photon torpedoes and dilithium crystals, Kurtzman's got your back. "I actually love the technobabble!" he said. "I don't think you can do 'Trek' without technobabble."

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:32 (eighteen years ago)

Is this a question?

Tracer Hand, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:33 (eighteen years ago)

Orci and Kurtzman believe their script adheres to the original vision put forth by creator Gene Roddenberry more than 40 years ago. " 'Trek,' more than anything, has always been about the human interactions," Orci said. "It's all about the human soul."

http://www.fenice.info/i/spock.jpg
WAHT

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:51 (eighteen years ago)

Questions:

1. Why do people think Abrams is good at stuff?
2. How horrible will this be if their pitch is seriously "what Star Trek needs is ACTION?"
3. What part of the human anatomy will be comically foregrounded by their redesigned federation uniforms (cf Batman's nipples)?

nabisco, Friday, 9 March 2007 18:55 (eighteen years ago)

yeah I'm dubious.

although Sinise as a young Bones seems like a good casting choice.

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

This does not sound good.

Alex in SF, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

1. He made the only installment of MI that survives Tom Cruise's bullshit for more than one viewing
2. Only as horrible as the TNG movies after Generations
3. the scapula

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

"although Sinise as a young Bones seems like a good casting choice."

Sinise is like 50??! WAS BONES NEVER YOUNG?!?!

Alex in SF, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:05 (eighteen years ago)

Scott Scapula?

Jordan, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:05 (eighteen years ago)

Making a not-completely-shitty MI is kind of an achievement, yeah, but I always find it a little weird that Abrams frequently gets credit as some form of vanguard visionary "from the incredible mind of" guy. He does stuff that's vaguely stylish and competently suspenseful, but it also tends to be fairly corny, dumb, average, or actively story-challenged. (Not that those qualities keep stuff from being successful -- they're a pretty good recipe for mass appeal, really -- but it's just weird how he seems to have a bit of a rep as being all clever and edgy.)

nabisco, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:13 (eighteen years ago)

Actually I take that back, I can see how what I'm calling "vaguely stylish" here accounts for that reputation. Besides which I'm sure people said the same sorts of things about James Cameron for a while.

nabisco, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:14 (eighteen years ago)

with the amount of retconning/backtracking the last few Trek series have had to do in order to try and make their universe consistent it just might be a refreshing change to just start over again.

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:24 (eighteen years ago)

I'm all for jettisoning continuity (so stupid and unnecessary!) ... but starting all over with a whole new emphasis on ACTION and "the human soul" seems, uh, questionable...

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:26 (eighteen years ago)

chicken soup for the Trekkie's soul

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:32 (eighteen years ago)

mission impossible 1 is the only watchable one

i really dont wanna see new actors impersonating shatner & nimoy

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:34 (eighteen years ago)

I am glad they understand the concept of 'trekking' thru 'the stars.'

Abbott, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:37 (eighteen years ago)

Esp. when Johnny Damon is one of those actors.

Alex in SF, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

I guess Matt Damon is the actor. My bad.

Alex in SF, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:41 (eighteen years ago)

Alex brings up a good point about age - aren't Damon, Brody, and Sinise ALL older than their Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelly were when they shot the original series?

Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:41 (eighteen years ago)

oh well matt damon's a great actor but shatner is shatner

one of my earliest memories is my mom wanting me to eat this nasty dandelion salad & it tasted like ass so i pretended i was captain kirk stranded on some jungle planet and forced by starvation to eat the foliage

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:41 (eighteen years ago)

when i was little, taking my pre-bedtime shower i would pretend to be Voltron getting cleaned before going into battle

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:45 (eighteen years ago)

latebloomer in dis guys

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:48 (eighteen years ago)

i haven't even gotten to the part where i nearly chopped off my legs because i thought they would re-combine with body just like Voltron..

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:52 (eighteen years ago)

I'm happy with fat actors and Saab-like interiors.

Jordan, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:55 (eighteen years ago)

William Shatner (1966) - 35
Matt Damon (2007) - 37

Leonard Nimoy (1966) - 35
Adrien Brody (2007) - 34

DeForrest Kelly (1966) - 46
Gary Sinise (2007) - 52

Ward Fowler, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

Tricorder might need a display bigger than my phone's.

.stet., Friday, 9 March 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

WTF? or FUN FACT: The recent episode of The Office (US) which ended with Roy proclaiming "Jim Halpert is dead" was directed by JJ Abrams.

nickalicious, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:58 (eighteen years ago)

I honestly could care less about the casting of spock and mccoy. I mean you can hardly go wrong. Kirk might be a little more difficult. What concerns me, though, is WHO ARE THE HOT GIRLS. Because Sulu and Chekhov had better not be dudes this time around. I'm fucking serious like radiation poisoning on this.

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 19:59 (eighteen years ago)

kirk = Luke Wilson
mccoy = I'm A Mac
spock = And I'm A PC

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:01 (eighteen years ago)

Takei should still be Sulu. He's funny as hell these days.

Is Beyonce the logical Uhuru?

Jordan, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:01 (eighteen years ago)

No

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:02 (eighteen years ago)

Kirk = Homer
McCoy = Lenny
Spock = Leonard Nimoy

Jordan, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:03 (eighteen years ago)

Kirk=The slut
Spock=The sophisticated center
McCoy=the crusty old motherfucker

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:06 (eighteen years ago)

kirk = Damon
spock = DiCaprio
mccoy = Wahlberg
khan = Nicholson

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:11 (eighteen years ago)

kirk -- george clooney
spock -- michael keaton
mccoy -- val kilmer

ghost rider, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:13 (eighteen years ago)

kirk - philip seymour hoffman
spock - kenneth from 30 rock
mccoy - killer mike

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:13 (eighteen years ago)

kirk -- mark wahlberg
spock -- ice cube
mccoy -- spike jonze

ghost rider, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:17 (eighteen years ago)

kirk - philip seymour hoffman

This is genius and should be real!!!!!!!

nickalicious, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:17 (eighteen years ago)

David O. Russell Star Trek would be the finest Star Trek of all

TOMBOT, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:18 (eighteen years ago)

Kirk - Spongebob
Spock - Squidward
Bones - Patrick
Scotty - Mr Krabs
Khan - Plankton

nickalicious, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:18 (eighteen years ago)

hahahaha totally!

latebloomer, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:19 (eighteen years ago)

There is virtually no story yet told which couldn't be recast with Spongebob characters.

nickalicious, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:19 (eighteen years ago)

new testament, go

and what, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:25 (eighteen years ago)

Squidward = Saul/Paul, Pontius Pilate
Mr Krabs = Judas

nabisco, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:52 (eighteen years ago)

GUYS THAT SHOULD BE A NEW THREAD TO PRESERVE MAXIMUM AWESOMENESS

HI DERE, Friday, 9 March 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Holy Mother of WTF?

latebloomer, Friday, 12 October 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

Pegg and Cho Join Trek
Shaun and Harold are Scotty and Sulu.
by Stax
October 11, 2007 - The new Scotty and Sulu have been beamed up. British comedic actor Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) has been cast as Chief Engineering Montogomery "Scotty" Scott in the new Star Trek movie, while John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) has been cast as helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

The film will reunite him with director J.J. Abrams, who directed Pegg in Mission: Impossible III. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Captain Kirk's parents will also be characters in the film and are yet to be cast. Also not yet cast is the role of Captain Christopher Pike, the Enterprise's first captain.

The role of Scotty was originated on the small screen by the late James Doohan, while George Takei (Heroes) played Lt. Sulu.

The Paramount picture begins filming next month for a Christmas 2008 release date. The script was penned by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

The Trek cast includes Eric Bana, Anton Yelchin, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana and Leonard Nimoy. Chris Pine is considering the key role of Kirk.

latebloomer, Friday, 12 October 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

Ha ha. Warp, Fat Boy, Warp.

Tom D., Friday, 12 October 2007 13:08 (eighteen years ago)

"Holy Mother of WTF?"

geek icon cast in movie for geeks... say it ain't so.

That one guy that hit it and quit it, Friday, 12 October 2007 13:24 (eighteen years ago)

who would win in a fight between the enterprise and a star destroyer?

DG, Friday, 12 October 2007 13:25 (eighteen years ago)

: /

memo from norv turner (omar little), Monday, 23 February 2009 21:07 (sixteen years ago)

Greg Grunberg has to be in it, right? I thought he has to show up in every Abrams show eventually

mh, Monday, 23 February 2009 21:08 (sixteen years ago)

I think he has made a deal with Abrams to be in almost all of his projects.

2nd-place ladyboy (Nicole), Monday, 23 February 2009 21:10 (sixteen years ago)

i'm sure there'll be some fun cameos tho—remy ma, dean cain, that sort of thing

s1ocki, Monday, 23 February 2009 21:11 (sixteen years ago)

I heard Shatner saw a rough cut of the movie and was quite disappointed with it. According to William "a dearth of new ideas was the biggest problem. The filmmakers made absolutely no attempt to wake the Star Trek franchise from its creative coma, dearly underestimating the intelligence of Trek fans just to get the original concept remade as an shallow piece of fluff".

Tuomas, Monday, 23 February 2009 21:15 (sixteen years ago)

i heard abrams said shatner is too old to be in this and shatner is super pissed. he's gonna sue and try to slam ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967) rules on their asses.

Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Monday, 23 February 2009 21:33 (sixteen years ago)

maybe everyone doesn't expect Abrams' mythos every directorial excursion, actually

― Lots of praying with no breakfast! (HI DERE), Monday, February 23, 2009 9:06 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

actually dude there was a for-the-fanboys-with-magnifying-glasses lost reference in the trek trailer that aired during the super bowl

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 22:40 (sixteen years ago)

actually actually actually actually actually actually actually

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 22:41 (sixteen years ago)

or no i'm sorry it was actually a cloverfield ref

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 22:55 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/tagruato1.jpg

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:05 (sixteen years ago)

kinda bummed that tagruato (and slusho, etc) didn't end up with a bigger role in the film

welcome little swetty (contenderizer), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:19 (sixteen years ago)

Great, now I can't read a single post without looking for Medea in it

nabisco, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:21 (sixteen years ago)

I mean, Madea

nabisco, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:21 (sixteen years ago)

i know me neither :(

i like to fart and i am crazy (gbx), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:23 (sixteen years ago)

Great, now I can't read a single post without looking for Medea in it

― nabisco, Monday, February 23, 2009 6:21 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

you misspelled it because you thought it was hidden in bumMED, didnt you

max, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:25 (sixteen years ago)

dan left the thread pretty early on, i was hoping he'd stick it out and get mad each time he spotted it

memo from norv turner (omar little), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:25 (sixteen years ago)

NabisOCDo

WmC, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:26 (sixteen years ago)

fwiw i spent a lot of time trying to think of ways to fit "tyler perry" into sentences too and just wasnt up to the task

max, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:27 (sixteen years ago)

you'd have to spell LARP wrong a lot

i like to fart and i am crazy (gbx), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:28 (sixteen years ago)

(btw nabisco, however mad each of us made the other on the acting thread, I think we can agree that whole argument was silly; besides right here you have incontrovertible proof I can't spell)

Lots of praying with no breakfast! (HI DERE), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:29 (sixteen years ago)

i think madea is a very pretty lerp -- err, yin dragon

nabisco, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:29 (sixteen years ago)

hahaha Dan I saw the ridiculous argument coming and couldn't bring myself to move out of the way, so I blame nobody -- honestly, though, I wasn't mad at you!

nabisco, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:31 (sixteen years ago)

(haha dude, go back and read my post again)

Getting back to the Star Trek movie, the yellowshirted leader's excellent "rowr" potential effortlessly reads "ratings", yeah?

Lots of praying with no breakfast! (HI DERE), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:34 (sixteen years ago)

omg, i will never again know whether to look for madea or not

nabisco, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:36 (sixteen years ago)

kinda bummed that tagruato (and slusho, etc) didn't end up with a bigger role in the film

― welcome little swetty (contenderizer), Monday, February 23, 2009 11:19 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark

yeah i'm coming to terms with the fact that, like, tagruato & slusho are gonna be abrams's Red Apple Cigarettes

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:38 (sixteen years ago)

"coming to terms" jesus christ listen to me

its gotta be HOOSy para steen (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:38 (sixteen years ago)

Maybe a different expression, amigo?

Lots of praying with no breakfast! (HI DERE), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:39 (sixteen years ago)

i keep hoping they'll bring a film of deep space nine to the big screen because out of all the treks, it was my favorite program (a dead-end dream there, i realize)

memo from norv turner (omar little), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:41 (sixteen years ago)

yeah, but i dunno about paine's kirkness tho. better suited to the likes of darwin trem, a DEA agent on CSI, or some dreamboat love innerest.

flabby expanses of wasted time, of swerving peaks & long days fi (contenderizer), Monday, 23 February 2009 23:43 (sixteen years ago)

Never berate everyone's favorite (re)boot.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 February 2009 23:46 (sixteen years ago)

I am a little bit afraid that by writing out Madea so many times, he/she is bound to appear and in some mystical way ruin all of our lives.

2nd-place ladyboy (Nicole), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 00:02 (sixteen years ago)

like candyman! with bees! or a edam (wedge of)! tho less scary with cheese, i suppose.

welcome little swetty (contenderizer), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 00:12 (sixteen years ago)

nicely done

s1ocki, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 00:14 (sixteen years ago)

ok omar cio, i can't read this thread anymore

i like to fart and i am crazy (gbx), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 00:21 (sixteen years ago)

I think Zach Quinto was well cast in this...did you guys see him telekenesis slam a DEA agent or whatever into the wall on Heroes last week?

GLEEPGLOP BLOOPBLORP (nickalicious), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 02:37 (sixteen years ago)

he be MAD EATIN brains

GLEEPGLOP BLOOPBLORP (nickalicious), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 02:39 (sixteen years ago)

the first trailer from a while way back made a fairly favorable impression.

abominable spirit (latebloomer), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 03:38 (sixteen years ago)

Maybe Abrams delivered. Expecting a great (or entertaining) Star Trek? Or just another iffy, limp Star Trek? A Razzie?

Really?

I'm not going to yell "lemon". Essentially, reacting prematurely equals rejecting rationality, yes?

Deric W. Haircare, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 04:46 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.anythink.org/dailybubbler/images/applause.jpg

Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 04:53 (sixteen years ago)

http://striderweb.com/wp-content/plugins/comment-spotlight/images/bravo.gif

i like to fart and i am crazy (gbx), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 04:56 (sixteen years ago)

haaaaaaa

s1ocki, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:03 (sixteen years ago)

I am in awe.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:22 (sixteen years ago)

deric made awe.

s1ocki, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:22 (sixteen years ago)

like when God made Adam

abominable spirit (latebloomer), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:31 (sixteen years ago)

I've made a huge mistake, the library received our issue of Jet this morning and Madea was on the cover. Bad omen.

2nd-place ladyboy (Nicole), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 14:06 (sixteen years ago)

Woah according to Wiki Diora Baird is in this! Hell yes!

and.....Winona Ryder?

Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 14:10 (sixteen years ago)

she plays spock's mom

akm, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 15:47 (sixteen years ago)

Diora Baird

had no idea who this was & was a very satisfying google search

Lord Infamous Epsilon (and what), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 15:50 (sixteen years ago)

she certainly aroused you...r interest

max, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 15:51 (sixteen years ago)

one month passes...

http://celebritytoday.today.com/files/2009/03/startrekfinalposter.jpg

James Mitchell, Sunday, 29 March 2009 18:43 (sixteen years ago)


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