"Spider-Man 3" swung into theaters internationally this week to heroic box office figures, and weaves its intricate web in the U.S. tomorrow, kicking off the summer blockbuster season. That and many other films expected to make waves this summer include notable Trek veterans in their cast or creative team.

The third "Spider-Man" film of course stars Kirsten Dunst, whom we TNG fans affectionately remember as "Hedril" in "Dark Page," as Peter Parker's love interest "Mary Jane." But it also features James Cromwell, "Zefram Cochrane," filling the role of "George Stacy," a retired New York police captain and father to Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard). (Cromwell also played other characters in several incarnations of Trek, including one named "Shrek" — the namesake of another part-3-blockbuster opening this month.) "Spider-Man 3" will simultaneously be released in IMAX theaters.

On May 25 in the U.S., "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (yet another third!) will premiere with more terrific visual effects supervised by John Knoll, a Trek alumnus who recently won his first Oscar on behalf of the previous "Pirates" movie. "At World's End" also features the third engagement by Lee Arenberg as "Pintel" who, paired with "Ragetti" (Mackenzie Crook), serves as the franchise's dead-pirate comic relief. Arenberg has played several roles in Trek, including "DaiMon Bok," "Pelk," and two characters named "Gral" — a Ferengi in DS9 and a Tellarite in Enterprise.

Michael McKean ("The Clown" in "The Thaw") lends his voice to the latest CG penguin flick, "Surf's Up," premiering June 8 in the U.S.

Tim Russ ("Tuvok") has a co-starring role in the fourth "Die Hard" film, "Live Free or Die Hard." He plays a character named "Agent Summers." The Bruce Willis vehicle premieres internationally on June 27.

On the Fourth of July in the U.S., "Transformers" invades. That big-budget Michael Bay translation of the 1980s toy line and animated series was written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the same writers who have drafted a script for the upcoming "Star Trek" movie. "Transformers" features Glenn Morshower in the cast, who has played several parts in Trek such as "Sheriff MacReady" in "North Star."

Later in July, on the 27th, the highly anticipated "The Simpsons Movie" finally makes it to the screen. In it, Kelsey Grammer ("Captain Bateson" in "Cause and Effect") reprises his voice role from the TV series as the nefarious "Sideshow Bob."

And at the end of summer movie season — the weekend of August 31 — Malcolm McDowell ("Dr. Soran") stars in Rob Zombie's remake of John Carpenter's "Halloween." He takes on the Donald Pleasance role, "Dr. Loomis." Also starring is Brad Dourif ("Lon Suder") in the part of "Sheriff Leigh Brackett."