Trekkies descend for Star Trek premiere

ArticleData Array ( [Article] => Array ( [article_id] => 1014654 [headline] => Trekkies descend for Star Trek premiere [abstract] => Trekkies around the globe might not like it, but the cast of Star Trek couldn't be happier the film is launching in Sydney.
[keywords] => star trek, trekkies [content] =>

Trekkies around the globe might not like it, but the cast of Star Trek couldn't be happier the film is launching in Sydney.

Stars of the movie, including Eric Bana, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Karl Urban and director JJ Abrams are in the harbour city for the world premiere at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday.

It is only the third time a film has debuted at the Opera House, and the first time a premiere has been held in the concert hall.

Bana, who plays an intimidating Romulan bad guy called Nero in the movie, said he wasn't responsible for claiming the first public screening for Australia.

"I'd love to stand up there with the Australian flag and say it's because of me, but it has absolutely nothing to do with me, or the Victorian school holidays. Nothing whatsoever," Bana told AAP.

Fans in the United States and Canada have expressed their annoyance and disappointment that the 11th Star Trek movie is being launched on the other side of the world.

Abrams said he chose Sydney as the location for mostly selfish reasons.

"The idea was to try and do a big launch in a place that was exotically beautiful and noteworthy," he said.

"I've been here only once before and loved it, and when they were throwing around the names of different places I was very excited to come back.

"Part of it is, on a number of our parts, selfish."

Quinto and Pine, who play Spock and James Kirk, are loving their first trip Down Under.

"Everyone I meet from Sydney loves Sydney and talks about Sydney all the time, and I've been so curious why. And it's pretty apparent why," Pine said.

"I'm envious of you guys."

Some 1,600 people will pack into the iconic building tonight to see the re-imagined story, based on creator Gene Roddenberry's original television series.

The movie, which will be released nationally on May 7, also stars Chris Hemsworth, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Morrison and Zoe Saldana, with a cameo by original Spock Leonard Nimoy.

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The new Star Trek movie, a prequel to the iconic film and television series, is to have its world premiere at Sydney Opera House.

[content] =>

The new Star Trek movie, a prequel to the iconic film and television series, is to have its world premiere at Sydney Opera House.

Aussie actor Eric Bana, who portrays villain Nero in the movie, will host the star-studded even, on April 7, a month before the film opens in theatres.

Director JJ Abrams and the rest of the cast are expected to attend the Sydney show, ahead of a promotional world tour taking in Europe, Russia and Asia.

It is only the third time a film has debuted at the Sydney Opera House, and will be the first time a premiere has been held in the landmark Concert Hall.

Mike Selwyn, of Paramount Pictures Australia, said the company was "honoured" and "very excited" to be able to hold the event in Sydney.

The movie, starring Chris Pine as Captain James T Kirk, and Zachary Quinto as Spock, chronicles the early days of the crew of the spaceship USS Enterprise.

It is a re-imagining of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's original TV series, which began in 1966, and became a cult hit.

Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed the Vulcan Mr Spock in the series and subsequent big-screen sequels, is the only original actor to feature in the film.

It is not known if Nimoy, 77, will be in Sydney for the premiere; he had campaigned for the event to be held in the tiny Canadian town of Vulcan, which faltered because the town has no cinema.



 

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