J.J. Abrams says “Star Trek has to be sexy”

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Everything about J.J. Abrams take on STAR TREK was sleek and modern, right down to the young, sexy cast-members. As a big budget summer movie, STAR TREK was not going to cast a bunch of mediocre looking actors to fill these roles. They wanted the reboot of the classic franchise to take a step away from geekdom and one into the mainstream. I felt that STAR TREK bridged both perfectly and enjoyed the hell out of it. With STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, that sexy factor is going way up with the addition of Alice Eve.

Many are likely complaining that STAR TREK is not meant to be sexy because it is a more intelligent take on science fiction and should not be bogged down in T&A. Well, J.J. Abrams disagrees with you and gives a pretty good argument why in the latest issue of Playboy:

Star Trek has to be sexy. That’s in keeping with the original spirit of the series. In the 1960s they were limited because of the time, but so much was insinuated. Part of the fun of our first movie was playing with the idea that Uhura and Spock were a couple. This movie takes that further and asks how that’s possible. Why would she be interested in that kind of guy, and why would she put up with him? It’s obvious what he would like about her. I mean, it’s fucking Zoë Saldana.

And it’s always fun playing the womanizing card with Kirk and seeing him in bed with girls who might not be completely human—you know, green skin or whatever. Nobody’s going to force Kirk to be a romantic and settle down. That would feel forced and silly. Kirk’s a player. We like him that way.

We also have Alice Eve joining us; she’s an incredibly wonderful, versatile actress and definitely in the sexy category. She’s a great complement to Uhura. Hey, it wouldn’t be Star Trek if there weren’t some hot young actors, women and men, in various moments of either undress or flirtation.

I would contest that STAR TREK has always been sexy, just like Abrams said. I grew up watching old episodes with my dad and kept thinking that William Shatner was a badass that he got every single type of woman in the galaxy. I was originally annoyed by the Uhura-Spock romance, but with subsequent viewings it bothers me less and less. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS looks darker and grittier than any previous film based on Gene Roddenberry‘s creation and still manages to squeeze in that shot of Alice Eve in her bra and panties. Bless you, J.J. Abrams.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS opens May 17, 2013.