BEAM PAUL UP TO BECOME SCOTTY!

Sep 25 2007 Paisley Daily Express

FANS of Paisley actor Paul McGillion have launched a campaign to get him beamed up to the Starship Enterprise.

American movie giant Paramount is currently casting for the latest blockbuster Star Trek film, which will go back to the early days of the legendary sci-fi series to feature the adventures of a young James T Kirk and his crew as they boldly go where no man has gone before.

And campaigners are urging Paramount to hand the role of Scots engineer Scotty to talented Buddie Paul, who found worldwide fame by starring in top American TV series Stargate: Atlantis.

In the original Star Trek TV show and many of the films which followed, the role of the Starship Enterprise’s chief engineer was played by the late James Doohan, to whom the captain frequently gave the order ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’

Now fans of Paul want to see him in the famous role when filming on Star Trek XI, which is to be directed by Lost creator JJ Abrams, gets under way.

Tara Jeffrey is leading the calls for the Paisley man to be cast as Scotty and she reckons her favourite actor would be perfect for the part.

She said: “Paul is rumoured to be one of the contenders up for the role of Scotty in the new Trek movie.

“I know that Paul’s agent was asked to send his reel in and I believe he’s had at least one audition recently.

“His name has also been linked all over the web when fans have discussed the roles. I hope Paul gets the role.”

The Paisley Daily Express previously revealed how Paul was forced out of sci-fi series Stargate: Atlantis after his character Dr Carson Beckett was killed off by producers.

But such was the outcry from hundreds of thousands of fans, including those from Paisley who watch the show on Sky One, that the character was brought back to life again.

Paul was born in Paisley in 1969 and lived with his family in St James Street before they emigrated to Ontario, Canada, when he was aged two.

The family came back to live in Barrhead when Paul was 11 and the aspiring actor went to St Luke’s High School.

Although the McGillions returned to Canada when Paul was 15 and the actor is now based in Los Angeles, he still has family who stay in the Paisley area.

There have been reports that Last King of Scotland star James McAvoy is being lined up for the role of Scotty and James Doohan’s actor son Chris is also rumoured to be keen to step into his father’s shoes.