Well this is suspicious timing… the first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ STAR TREK BEYOND has hit the ‘net on the very day that Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS will premiere in Los Angeles. There’s still that long time STAR WARS vs. STAR TREK thing that’s been raging since 1977 (obviously, I’m a ‘WARS guy, but have enjoyed ‘TREK as well), but now they’re forever oddly connected by J.J. Abrams, Director of THE FORCE AWAKENS and the first two STAR TREK movies in the reboot series… and producer of the Justin Lin-directed STAR TREK BEYOND. In other words, the two fandoms are now forever connected. Another connecting piece is possibly THE BEASTIE BOYS, who made an unlikely appearance in the first STAR TREK with “Sabotage” playing on a car stereo, and who are now soundtracking the trailer for ‘BEYOND with the very same song. If theories are to be believed, Resistance Pilot Ello Atsy in THE FORCE AWAKENS is named in honor of THE BEASTIES’ “Hello Nasty,” but the most solid evidence is right there on his helmet – an Aurebesh font that translates into “Born to Ill.” So what does all of this mean? We’ve got a new STAR WARS movie in theaters this week, and a preview of a new STAR TREK yet to come. If you’re into either or both, it’s a great time to be a fan.
From director Justin Lin comes STAR TREK BEYOND starring Idris Elba, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zach Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Karl Urban. In theaters July 22, 2016.
