Star Trek: Is There A Place For The Kelvin Timeline Anymore?

7. Abrams Was Not A Trekkie

Interviewed by The New York Times in 2009, Abrams spoke about the fact that he was not necessarily a Star Trek fan when he took on the directing role. He approached the project with a relatively blank slate, which allowed him to avoid pandering to crowds.

He described the earlier incarnations of Star Trek as being a little inaccessible to new audiences, as they believed from the off that all viewers would care about all characters. This was an approach he decided not to take with this film.

Whether that came across in the finished product, the intention to Star Trek 2009 was to bring modern audiences into the world of James T. Kirk and Spock. This was really the first on-screen origin story for the crew (apart from back stories littered throughout the franchise).

The action was dialled up to 11 and the USS Enterprise was turbo-charged. This was a decision that left some fans of the older style Trek in the cold, seeing these younger views wrapped and their Star Trek. But the gamble paid off - Star Trek 2009 took in just under $386million at the box office, securing a sequel quickly.