http://www.darkhorizons.com/pine-hemswor...ar-trek-4/

That is one tough deal IMO especially if the others had contracts good to go. I liked the original Star Trek tv show. I liked that original animated show. I found the "original cast" movies decent to good but their quality levels were kind of up and down. I found TNG to be a little to dry for my taste.

I found the new cast for the current run of movies to be well rounded, had good chemistry, and had really good personas to kind of match up with their inspirational characters.

I hope this doesn't tank any forthcoming movies.

I would rather them jump to the Next Generation instead of staying with Kirk and company.

I don't think it will be that big of a deal. Hemsworth was only on screen for a few seconds. His non-Thor-type rolls have demonstrated his limited range. Unless they were going to put him in tights and have him fight lumbering aliens with a hammer, his character would likely have flopped. Chris Pine was ok as Kirk but hardly memorable. After 10 years it's not unreasonable to replace the actor (ala James Bond) or the character.

My guess is they were jockeying for something silly like first billing or highest salary.

The good news is that Abrams isn't directing so this movie has a fighting chance.