J.J. Abrams is reinventing Star Trek for, well, the next generation. The Huffington Post gives us some insight into his take on the project. Here's what the man said about his goals and how to handle the Trekker contingent.
It was an opportunity to take what I think has been a maligned world - to sound crass, a franchise - and treat it in a way that made it something that I wanted to see. To take the characters, the thoughtfulness, the personalities, the sense of adventure, the idea of humanity working together, the sense of social commentary and innovation, all that stuff. To take it and apply it in a way that felt genuinely thrilling.
The whole point was to try to make this movie for fans of movies, not fans of `Star Trek,' necessarily. If you're a fan, we've got one of the writers who's a devout Trekker, so we were able to make sure we were serving the people who are completely enamored with `Star Trek.' But we are not making the movie for that contingent alone. You can't really make a movie for them. As soon as you start to guess what you think they are going to want to see, you're in trouble. You have to make the movie in many ways for what you want to see yourself, make a movie you believe in. Then you're not second-guessing an audience you don't really have an understanding of.
"It's a chance to see what Kirk and Spock would look like done now. What's thrilling about it is how great the cast is, how remarkably talented and funny and just spot-on they all are."
I feel like this is so unlike what you expect, so unlike the `Star Trek' you've seen. At the same time, it's being true to what's come before, honoring it. I can say the effects for `Star Trek' have never, ever been done like this. I can only tell you the idea of the universe of `Star Trek' has never been given this kind of treatment
Watch the teaser for Abrams' Star Trek.
Watch full episodes of the original Star Trek series.
Watch the trailer for Captain Kirk's first silver screen voyage, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Watch and learn why Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is considered the best Trek movie.
Check out Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Watch a spot for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Watch a bit from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
Check out the last adventure of the original crew in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
See a bit from Star Trek: Generations.
Watch the trailer for Star Trek: First Contact.
Watch the full trailer for Star Trek: Insurrection.
Watch a trailer for Star Trek: Nemesis.
