J.J. Abrams was at the CGV multiplex in Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul yesterday with stars Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana to present exclusive footage from his upcoming summer release “Star Trek: The Beginning.”
The acclaimed writer, director and producer of TV shows “Lost” and “Alias” the movie “Mission Impossible 3” said the new version of the film – set for its world premier on May 7 – was a re-imagining of the original television series.
“We made this film not for Trekkies but for future fans of Star Trek,” Abrams said.
“The studio wanted to give the film a fresh start and I was originally brought in as a producer, but upon reading the script, I saw so much potential and possibility that the original had failed to realize due to technological constraints so I got very greedy and I decided to direct it myself.”
The new version of the film, as the title indicates, is a prelude to rest of the Star Trek series. The four five minute clips gave a glimpse into the origin of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise – icons of the television series that spawned legions of fans known as “Trekkies.”
Chris Pine plays the younger version of Kirk – an aimless drunkard who is inadvertently thrust into the world of galactic warfare as a new recruit on the USS Enterprise.
For Chris Pine, reinventing the character that William Shatner had made so famous, posed a great challenge.
“I began watching the original series pretty feverishly cause I knew I only had a limited amount of time to prepare for the role and after getting half way through the first and second season I wasn’t doing myself any favors by trying to pick up on the mannerisms of William Shatner and the minutiae of the Star Trek world,” said Pine.
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