Film

35 J.J. Abrams Star Trek Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Coy Jandreau
Updated October 3, 2019 63.8K views 35 items

J.J. Abrams's Star Trek movies reinvigorated not just the Star Trek films, but science fiction films as a whole. They brought sci-fi boldly into the mainstream and they operate as purely action films just as much as they do hardcore geek spectacles. These movies were nerdy, geeky, and fun, but also approachable enough to attract newbies and make millions. Star Trek Into Darkness isn't just the most expensive Star Trek to date, it's also the most profitable, and for good reason.

The first film was simply named, Star Trek (no numbers, no subtitle), to imply you didn't need to see the others to enjoy it (but if you were already a fan there was plenty to be excited about). They impressed the masses by introducing a new storyline and a new cast of actors (that actually worked) as a sort of alternate timeline to the originals. They created a prequel/sequel/reboot and most remakes have been trying to replicate that, most unsuccessfully, ever since.

The Star Trek movies managed to sneak in nerdy inside jokes and so many deep geek easter eggs that we thought they deserve to be brought to light. Special care went into making these movies and that needs to be appreciated. These are the coolest facts you may not know about the J.J. Abrams Star Trek films, upvote those you find the most interesting.

  • 1

    Simon Pegg Never Even Auditioned

    Simon Pegg Never Even Auditioned
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    Simon Pegg didn't audition for his part - he simply received an email from J.J. Abrams asking if he'd like to play Scotty. Pegg said he would have done it for free, or even paid Abrams to be in the movie if he wasn't offered a part.
  • 2

    The Original Star Trek Creator's Wife Played Multiple Roles

    The Original Star Trek Creator's Wife Played Multiple Roles

    Majel Barrett, the wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, is the voice of the Enterprise computer. She was also the computer voice in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1993 and Star Trek: Voyager in 1995. She also played Pike's first officer in Star Trek: The Cage (1986).

    She completed her voiceover work from her home, two weeks before her death on December 18, 2008.
  • 3

    The Attention to Detail Is Spot On

    The Attention to Detail Is Spot On

    For example: the crew on the U.S.S. Kelvin use communicators that were of the same style used on the original series. You can see this when the engineer comes into frame and when Kirk's wife is contacting him during the evacuation of the Kelvin.

    But then after Nero changes the time line and starts the alternate universe the communicators change drastically.
  • 4

    Uhura Is Finally, Officially, Given Her First On-Screen First Name

    Uhura Is Finally, Officially, Given Her First On-Screen First Name
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    While most Trekkies will have known this detail for decades, this is the first time that Uhura has been given a first name on screen: Nyota. Gene Roddenberry never came up with a first name for her while Star Trek (1966) was in production. A few years later, someone pointed out to him that Nyota is the Swahili word for star, and the name Nyota Uhura is often used in printed Star Trek literature, including the DC Comics publication "Who's Who in Star Trek".
  • 5

    John Cho Was Almost Too Scared to Play Sulu

    John Cho Was Almost Too Scared to Play Sulu
    The Korean-American actor John Cho was initially uncertain about being cast as the Japanese-American officer Hikaru Sulu, but George Takei, who played Sulu in the original Star Trek, encouraged him to take the role, as Sulu was a character who represented all of Asia.
  • 6

    Chris Pine Based Captain James Kirk on a Variety of Classic Film Heroes

    Chris Pine Based Captain James Kirk on a Variety of Classic Film Heroes
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    To prepare for his role as Captain James Kirk, Chris Pine watched classic episodes and read encyclopedias about the Star Trek (1966) universe. However, his research was rudimentary, as he wanted his performance to be original and not an imitation of William Shatner.

    He based his performance on Tom Cruise'    s Maverick (Top Gun) and Harrison Ford's Han Solo (Star Wars: A New Hope) and Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark), heroes who Pine felt possessed the archetypal hero qualities Kirk has (humor, arrogance, decisiveness).