Abrams On Cut 'Star Trek XI' Scene

TrekToday · November 15 2008, 03:53 AM

One foe was chosen over another for Star Trek XI and starts the movie by doing something unexpected given Star Trek history, yet still within canon.

As reported by Empire Online, one of the familiar foes of the original series would have been included in a subplot in Star Trek XI, but it didn't work out well with the rest of the story. "There was a big Klingon subplot in this," said J.J. Abrams, "and we actually ended up having to pull it out because it confused the story in a way that I thought was very cool but unnecessary. So we have these beautiful designs that we're going to have to wait and do elsewhere I guess."

However, Klingons have a presence in the movie. "You will see Klingon Warbirds in the movie," said Abrams. "Maybe not in the way you expect, but you will see them."

Abrams went on to speak about the other traditional original series Federation foe. When asked why he used the Romulans and not the Klingons, Abrams said, "The Romulans were...what was interesting to me was that it wasn't the Klingons. That's what you expect and it was fun to use the Romulans the way we did. Part of the fact is that they hadn't seen them for so many years, so that it immediately breaks, for anyone who knows, the rules of Trek to start the movie and have Romulans crossing paths with Starfleet. It jumps in breaking the rules, which I think is kind of fun. That's not to say it's not explained and it's not consistent with canon, given our story."

Sneak peaks of Star Trek XI have been going on in Europe, and while in Rome for one of them, Abrams spoke about what he wanted to do in making Star Trek XI, as reported by Yahoo News. "My goal was to make a movie about the emotional lives of these characters," said Abrams. "We've seen a million ships fly by the camera, but nobody is going to care about the ship if they don't care about the people inside." Abrams went on to state that his target audience wasn't just established Star Trek fans, but to draw in new ones. "I want fans of 'Star Trek' to come watch it, but the truth is I made the movie for future fans," he said.

To read more, head to the articles located here and here.

GulDucati · November 15 2008, 04:49 AM

Klingon Warbird? Memory alpha says that Klingon Warbird was a writer's error that made it into Enterprise.

trekkerguy · November 15 2008, 05:58 AM

GulDucati wrote:

Klingon Warbird? Memory alpha says that Klingon Warbird was a writer's error that made it into Enterprise.

Oh for heavens sake...

JNG · November 15 2008, 11:47 AM

GulDucati wrote:

Klingon Warbird? Memory alpha says that Klingon Warbird was a writer's error that made it into Enterprise.

That's correct.

I rather hope it was a slip of the tongue by Abrams.

Sci · November 15 2008, 05:52 PM

OMG! He called Klingon ships "warbirds" instead of "birds-of-prey!" AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! ALL OF CANON IS DISINTEGRATING AROUND ME!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

MeanJoePhaser · November 15 2008, 07:03 PM

Warbirds of Prey should be the official designation.

"will have to await a future film"

So it will never be seen.

Finnegan · November 15 2008, 08:57 PM

Sci wrote:

OMG! He called Klingon ships "warbirds" instead of "birds-of-prey!" AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! ALL OF CANON IS DISINTEGRATING AROUND ME!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Lol! Thanks.

Starbreaker · November 15 2008, 09:16 PM

Sci wrote:

OMG! He called Klingon ships "warbirds" instead of "birds-of-prey!" AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! ALL OF CANON IS DISINTEGRATING AROUND ME!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

OMG teh cannon!!!!1 I refuse to watch this movie.

Just_Bob · November 16 2008, 04:04 AM

"I want fans of 'Star Trek' to come watch it, but the truth is I made the movie for future fans."

I am an old fan who is ready and willing to be a future fan.

Temis the Vorta · November 16 2008, 05:45 AM

Sci wrote:

OMG! He called Klingon ships "warbirds" instead of "birds-of-prey!" AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! ALL OF CANON IS DISINTEGRATING AROUND ME!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Just a glitch in the Universal Translator. It happens.

Maestro · November 16 2008, 08:33 AM

I hope they are Klingon warbirds in the movie. It'll make this place more interesting.

Chemahkuu · November 16 2008, 03:27 PM

Since the Klingons and Romulans had a history in both the TOS series and movies of either sharing or co-developing starships, wouldn't this remark just be further evidence of that early cooperation?

As much as I'm not liking this movie now, this particular point was shown way back in the 60's and is already part of TOS canon.

RobertScorpio · November 17 2008, 07:30 AM

trekkerguy wrote:

GulDucati wrote:

Klingon Warbird? Memory alpha says that Klingon Warbird was a writer's error that made it into Enterprise.

Oh for heavens sake...

Incredible, isn't it.

Rob

PumpHunter · November 17 2008, 12:51 PM

To Abrams, canon is what you shoot the trekkies with.

Professor Moriarty · November 17 2008, 08:25 PM

The canon! Won't someone think of the poor canon!

nx1701g · November 18 2008, 01:52 AM

His decision to drop the Klingon Subplot is a good thing. Too many pots in the fire could have made it confusing. As for the Warbirds comment: well who's to say that the Klingons didn't use a ship called a Warbird in the 23rd Century? All we saw was the Battlecruiser, doesn't mean that was their only ship class.

Aragorn · November 18 2008, 08:43 AM

You know, when the Martians reveal themselves to us and tell us their real name which surprisingly enough will not be named after the Roman god of war, that will really screw up the human canon.

Data Holmes · November 18 2008, 08:55 AM

Sounds to me like he's hinting at the future DVD release's special features...