From Darfur to Switzerland? It appears hunky George Clooney is spreading his knowledge of all things environmentally and socially sound to a more neutral country.
According Clooney’s rep, the handsome and still bruised actor has accepted the job of executive board member of a new Swiss energy company that will “develop environmentally friendly techniques for car motors and other devices.”
The new company is being created by a Swiss billionaire who is interested in pursuing new advancements in the clean production of hydrogen, solar energy and fuel cells.
Nicolas Hayek, chairman of the Swatch Group (the largest watchmaker in the world) and the man behind the research and development goals told reporters, “I hesitated between Al Gore and Clooney.”
He wasn’t joking.
Apparently, Hayek didn’t ask the former vice president because he wasn’t sure if Gore is planning to run for president. Hayek added that he didn’t want Gore to use the post as a public relations exercise.
So Clooney’s in and Gore is out. According to Hayek, the former “ER” star will sit on the board alongside Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier and others.
And speaking of new gigs… actor Chris Pine who appeared in movies such as “Smokin’ Aces” and “Just My Luck,” recently landed a plum role in the new “Star Trek” flick.
According to Variety, Pine will play the young James Kirk, while Karl Urban (“The Bourne Supremacy”) will take on the role of Dr. Leonard McCoy.
Pine and Urban will make their way onto the Enterprise to join previously announced cast members Zachary Quinto as Spock, Simon Pegg as engineer Scotty, John Cho as Sulu, Zoe Saldana as Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov. In addition, Eric Bana (“Hulk”) has also reportedly signed on to play a villain in the “Trek” film, which begins shooting in November and is due out in December 2008.
And good news for you hardcore Trekkies, Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original TV series and several “Star Trek” feature films, will appear as an older version of the Vulcan.