Abrams Chats 'Star Trek XI'

A couple of words, but not much

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, August 11th 2006 at 6:19 AM

TV Guide caught up with J.J. Abrams and talked to the writer/director/producer about his hit TV show "Lost" and of course his involvement in Star Trek XI for Paramount Pictures, which he is producing and may direct.

There has been a lot of speculation about the storyline and I am sure there are going to be Trek fans on both sides of the fence, and while this little interview doesn't exactly shed a ton of light on the production it may give some hints as to what is going on in J.J.'s noggin.

Check out a snippet below and click here for the rest of the interview including some bits on season three of "Lost."

TV Guide: How exciting is it to find yourself in charge of resuscitating the Trek franchise?

Abrams: It's sort of surreal but wonderful. I'm producing and may direct.

TV Guide: Which of the Star Trek series were you a fan of?

Abrams: The original, and I thought "Next Generation" was terrific. I didn't really get into "Deep Space" or "Enterprise."

TV Guide: When Paramount asked you to be involved in the film, did you immediately say yes?

Abrams: Not exactly. There have been 10 films and all these different series, so it was a question of finding out what they were anticipating. But it became clear pretty quickly that they were in a really open frame of mind. Then it became, "Hell, yeah!"

TV Guide: It's been reported that the film will focus on Kirk and Spock's early days and include their meeting at Starfleet Academy. You've said that was not entirely accurate. What parts are?

Abrams: I think we have an incredible story, but we've sort of promised each other we wouldn't talk about the specifics yet. But I can say that we're actively working on it, we're in the middle of breaking the story, and it's coming along great. I'd be happy to start sooner than Paramount thinks, but not a moment before it's ready.

TV Guide: Why the shroud of secrecy?

Abrams: It's way premature. Anything I say, people will read into it and make assumptions. But we have an incredible beginning of a really dramatic story, and it very much honors the canon of Star Trek. On the other hand, it won't be like anything you've seen before.

TV Guide: Why do you think Star Trek continues to fascinate?

Abrams: It was incredibly smart television. The original series and Next Generation were about something — human nature and the idea of coming up against the unexpected and the often terrifying. It was a good story that happened to be science fiction. When I watch episodes with my 7-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter and see them so vitally respond to a show that was made the year I was born — it's not because it takes place on a spaceship. What endures isn't a genre, it's character and emotional connection.

In other J.J. Abrams news, USA Today revealed that Mission: Impossible III will be released on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc on October 30, click here for that story.

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