• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Justin Lin talks Trek 3

Quinton O'Connor

Commodore
Commodore
Courtesy of TrekMovie.

http://trekmovie.com/2015/06/03/justin-lin-talks-trek-3/

Justin Lin finally speaks about the next Star Trek movie, and how the decision to direct the film was an emotional one.

Lin has said very little about Star Trek Beyond since taking the directorial reins in January. That changed today, when he was at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles to have his hands immortalized in cement.

Speaking to Deadline Hollywood’s Mike Fleming (who notes that the film is “three weeks out” from production), Lin talked about how the offer was made:


I was in the last week shooting True Detective when JJ Abrams called last December…He asked me, do you like Star Trek? If you do, you should take this, be bold, and just go for it.’

Lin also discussed how the decision to direct the film was far more than a career move:

I thought about how much a part of my life Star Trek was. Growing up, my parents had this little fish and chips restaurant in Anaheim in the shadows of Disneyland, and they didn’t close until 9 PM. As a family, we didn’t eat dinner until 10 PM, and we would watch the original Star Trek every night at 11. My dad worked 364 days a year, only took Thanksgiving off, and from age 8 to 18, the only time I could hang out with my parents was by staying late. And every night, it was Star Trek on Channel 13 in L.A. That was my childhood. All my friends were Star Wars kids but I didn’t go to the movies, so I was the Star Trek kid. Thinking about this, it became a very personal and very emotional decision.

Lin is looking forward to taking this crew into new territory and doing what Star Trek does best:

They haven’t really gone on their five-year mission, so what we experienced in the TV show hasn’t been touched on yet. That sets up an opportunity for exploration and the deeper you go, the more you are examining humanity. Those are the things that I absorbed as a kid and hope to tap into and embrace and celebrate.

There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the plot of the film, and whether it would revisit more characters and situations from TOS or be something more original. Lin states that the crew of the Enterprise will truly be seeking out new life and new civilizations:

It’s all new and fresh. The Klingons, Romulans and other species are great, but it’s time to go further. It has been fun to focus on creating whole new worlds and species.”
 
I love everything he said here, but I'm coming from the bias of already digging nuTrek, so I'm easier to please by default.

I do hope we get a full-blown Klingon movie at some point before this run concludes, though. Into Darkness suggested it as a possible future goalpost, but the chief creative minds of that film are not involved in this one, and all things considered I agree with the move to (apparently; too early to truly tell anything whatsoever) go elsewhere with Beyond.

Then again, we really do know nothing. Despite Lin's wording they could factor into this movie in a kind of "TOS episode" way, as foils amidst a new life/new civilizations premise but not the absolute focus.
 
It's refreshing to hear that he has an interest in the franchise since his hiring felt like something completely out of left field.
 
Seems that JJ was looking for a fan to direct. At least if the conversation went as reported.
 
Courtesy of TrekMovie.

http://trekmovie.com/2015/06/03/justin-lin-talks-trek-3/

Justin Lin finally speaks about the next Star Trek movie, and how the decision to direct the film was an emotional one.

Lin has said very little about Star Trek Beyond since taking the directorial reins in January. That changed today, when he was at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles to have his hands immortalized in cement.

Speaking to Deadline Hollywood’s Mike Fleming (who notes that the film is “three weeks out” from production), Lin talked about how the offer was made:


I was in the last week shooting True Detective when JJ Abrams called last December…He asked me, do you like Star Trek? If you do, you should take this, be bold, and just go for it.’

Lin also discussed how the decision to direct the film was far more than a career move:

I thought about how much a part of my life Star Trek was. Growing up, my parents had this little fish and chips restaurant in Anaheim in the shadows of Disneyland, and they didn’t close until 9 PM. As a family, we didn’t eat dinner until 10 PM, and we would watch the original Star Trek every night at 11. My dad worked 364 days a year, only took Thanksgiving off, and from age 8 to 18, the only time I could hang out with my parents was by staying late. And every night, it was Star Trek on Channel 13 in L.A. That was my childhood. All my friends were Star Wars kids but I didn’t go to the movies, so I was the Star Trek kid. Thinking about this, it became a very personal and very emotional decision.

Lin is looking forward to taking this crew into new territory and doing what Star Trek does best:

They haven’t really gone on their five-year mission, so what we experienced in the TV show hasn’t been touched on yet. That sets up an opportunity for exploration and the deeper you go, the more you are examining humanity. Those are the things that I absorbed as a kid and hope to tap into and embrace and celebrate.

There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the plot of the film, and whether it would revisit more characters and situations from TOS or be something more original. Lin states that the crew of the Enterprise will truly be seeking out new life and new civilizations:

It’s all new and fresh. The Klingons, Romulans and other species are great, but it’s time to go further. It has been fun to focus on creating whole new worlds and species.”

HOW EFFING DARE HE. HE'S GOING TO RUIN STA.... Oh, wait. I like this!
 
More and more it points to Lin being a great choice to do Trek. Which many of us knew all along. :techman:
 
I am very pleased. Honestly. I could also go for some fish n' chips and a Guinness right about now.

Wow. I wonder if Abrams would've even suggested to Lin that he direct if he'd had known Lin not only loved TOS, but also wasn't a "Star Wars" kid. :devil:

You and I reach, Justin. We reach.
 
It's merely an interview early on in the process, but damn if he didn't say all the right things so far, especially the point about how exploration into the unknown reflects back upon humanity.

I'm also glad that he's confirmed the focus of new worlds and new civilizations. When have we had that in Star Trek? Oh yeah, the last movie, but c'mon, that was a prologue.
 
It was still pretty great that it was even in there as a prologue. What a gorgeous opener. :)

Yeah, though, Lin positively nailed it with this thing.
 
Thank you, Justin!

Seriously, I had every confidence in him prior to this, because I am an instinct regarding his knowledge of Trek due at least his work on Asians in Hollywood. I think he has a greater awareness of Star Trek's importance than many give him credit for.

I think he is underrated and this might just prove how capable he is to deliver more that F&F.
 
I'm stoked!

But, I also agree with Jeff. I, too, would like to see a Trek film where the Klingons press for full scale war, and we see an epic fleet battle that blows away even the best of DS9.

But with this new development, I am very gladly anxious to see how Lin handles the "five year mission".
 
He really knows the right words to say to warm a fan's heart! This line in particular nails it:

That sets up an opportunity for exploration and the deeper you go, the more you are examining humanity.

Star Trek is best when it explores very human themes. I have full confidence that, as long as nothing is botched up, this movie will turn out fantastic!
 
I'm certainly not going to assume the film will be any better just because Lin is a fan of the original (see: Meyer, Abrams as non-fans getting it right and 99.9% of fan films as proof that being an uberfan guarantees nothing), but it's nice to know nonetheless.

Do the hat proud, sir!
pope_lin.jpg
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top