By GustavoLeao / 06:53, 23 November 2009 / Star Trek: Nemesis

• Beam story to friend
• Join our newsletter
• Syndicate news

MTV posted a new interview with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams and star Chris Pine (Kirk) and here are excerpts.

MTV: So I am a born and bred Trekkie. I want to thank you on behalf of every "Trek" fan. You made "Star Trek" for the first time cooler than "Star Wars." Would you agree with that?

Abrams: You're asking a dangerous question, my friend. I don't know how you respond to that without sounding like a douche bag. Why don't you just put a bull's-eye on my head? You know, making a film knowing there were so many fans out there was nerve-racking. I was behind the camera. Chris, Zach [Quinto], Zoe [Saldana], John [Cho], Simon [Pegg], Karl [Urban] - everyone in front of the camera - they were the ones literally putting themselves out there and asking for it. The fact that we were accepted and helped by [original Spock] Mr. [Leonard] Nimoy building that bridge between what was and what is now, it was incredibly gratifying to see it was well-received.

MTV: Chris, it's an amazing year for you. Is there one moment that you can pinpoint that is the most gratifying or surreal?

Pine: Working with Leonard. I remember doing the whole ice-cave sequence. It really wasn't anything that happened in the scene so much as sitting down next to Leonard and passing the time and talking with him about his experiences. It was a real honor to work with him.

MTV: It obviously all turned out well for you guys - we're celebrating what you have accomplished - but if it didn't turn out well, you would have been eviscerated. Did you both share equally in angst and worry, or were you both relatively calm over the last several years?

Abrams: Because we had an ambitious shoot, the good news was that often drowned out the din of naysayers and the suspicious fanbase and even the enthusiastic supporters. We were so busy, we were just trying to focus on that and not let the nerves of "What are they going to think?" get to us.

MTV: Chris, when if at any point did the nerves kick in for you?

Pine: After I got [the part] and then talking to J.J., the nerves kind of slowly built, because as an actor, and as someone who wants to make a living doing what he loves doing, I was happy to get the part, and that lasts for about 15 minutes, and you call everyone you know and make plans to move out of your parents' house. And then the reality of the situation sets in. Not only is it a tremendous amount of responsibility because of all the money involved, but it's also a franchise that's beloved and it's [original Kirk] William Shatner to boot. After being scared sh--less, I let it go. The fact that we could be eviscerated or succeed was actually liberating.

MTV: Have the two of you had any talk about the next "Trek" film?

Pine: None. As it always is with J.J. and his crew, it's secrecy all the time until you get the script. So I have no idea.

MTV: J.J., if the planets align, will that be the next thing you direct?

Abrams: I don't know. We have no script yet. We have no specific story. We're at the starting gate of the process. All I can tell you is that working with Chris and the whole cast was literally the most fun thing I've ever been able to professionally be part of, so the chance to work with them again, I can't tell you how devastating it would be to pass that up. I couldn't be more excited about the next adventure.
 
The full interview is here.