Director Martin Scorsese's latest film "The Aviator" flies into theatres this month, featuring a huge cast with a fair share of Star Trek alums. Heading the list is Star Trek: The Next Generation's Brent Spiner ("Data," "Lore," "Dr. Noonien Soong," "Dr. Arik Soong"), who plays Robert Gross in the Howard Hughes biopic. The film's script is by John Logan, who wrote the screenplay for "Star Trek Nemesis," as well as contributing to Nemesis' story alongside Rick Berman and Spiner.

Also in the film's cast are Adam Scott, who played the Defiant Helmsman in "Star Trek: First Contact," Elizabeth DeCicco, who played Trull in the Enterprise episode "Rajiin," Sam Hennings, who appeared in TNG as Ramsey in the episode "Angel One" and Scott Sahadi, who played an Insurgent in Enterprise's "Storm Front, Part I."

Daily Variety hails "The Aviator" as being "an enormously entertaining slice of biographical drama," and The Hollywood Reporter calls it "a rip-roaringly gorgeous-looking, beautifully acted biographical epic."

"The Aviator" hits theatres in the United States and Canada on December 17, the United Kingdom on December 26 and around the world in the weeks following.

Picardo Beaming to Vegas for Signing Session

Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Picardo ("The Doctor") will be appearing in Las Vegas at Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton for a special autograph session on Saturday, December 11. The actor and author of "The Hologram's Handbook" will be signing autographs for a nominal fee at Moogie's Trading Post in The Experience from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. As an added bonus, the first 40 people with a valid ride ticket receiving an autograph will get to join Picardo himself on the Borg Invasion 4D ride. Autograph tickets will be on sale at retail locations within the Las Vegas Hilton on December 10 and 11.

Luckinbill Premieres as Hemingway Onstage

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" star Laurence Luckinbill ("Sybok," Spock's half-brother) is hitting the boards this weekend Off Broadway in a new biographical play he also wrote entitled "Hemingway" about the legendary author Ernest Hemingway. The Emmy Award-winning Luckinbill appears as Hemingway in the play which premieres December 3 in New York City at Abingdon Theatre Company's second stage, the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre.

"Hemingway" runs through Dec. 19, playing Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Saturday at 2:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. The Strelsin Theatre is at 312 W. 36th St. For ticket information, call SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or visit the SmartTix box office online at www.SmarTix.com.

Auberjonois Gets a "Legal" Boost

Rene Auberjonois (Odo) received a promotion of sorts when he was recently bumped up from guest star to series regular on the new hit David E. Kelley show Boston Legal on ABC. Of course the Trek connection here is huge as The Practice spin-off features none other than Mr. William Shatner himself as the pompous Denny Crane.

Voyager Guest Madsen Nabs Independent Spirit Nomination

Virginia Madsen, who appeared as Kellin in the Voyager episode "Unforgettable," has been nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit Award for her performance in the film "Sideways." The critically acclaimed film by director Alexander Payne garnered six nominations, including Best Feature. The Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out on February 26 at a luncheon ceremony in Santa Monica, with the ceremony being telecast live on the Independent Film Channel, and rebroadcast on the Bravo network.