Abrams and Stars Show Star Trek To Troops in Kuwait – Report & Pics + More ST09 Tidbits

JJ Abrams Star Trek promotional tour took a side-step from the red carpet gala premieres and press events, to stop in Kuwait and give some lucky US service people an early look at the Star Trek movie. We have pictures and details from the event, plus some more Tidbits, inlcuding Pine in Vanity Fair, interviews with Cho and Urban and more.

 

Star Trek world tour in Kuwait
Today JJ Abrams and his actors from the new Star Trek movie stopped at Camp Arijan in Kuwait to show the film to a group of US service members. According to a report issued by the US Army, actors Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, John Cho and Eric Bana along with executive producer Bryan Burk and director/producer J.J. Abrams presented the film to the service members.

JJ Abrams is quoted as saying:

It struck us that there was an opportunity to not just have it be about the movie, but to have it be about something that’s more important than all that stuff

It’s an honor to come here to say hi and shake hands with the people who protect us


(L-R) Saldana, Quinto, Bana, Burk, Abrams, Pine, Urban, and Cho…in Kuwait

The Star Trek crew met first with Brig. Gen. James T. Walton and other HQ staff before showing the film and then staying for a Q&A and mingling with service members for photos and autographs. 


Troops gather to meet the stars of Star Trek


Chris Pine makes a soldier’s day in Kuwait


Zach Quinto talks to a soldier’s daughter on the phone from the stage in Kuwait


John Cho (and Zoe behind him) sign for soldiers in Kuwait


Just like Nero, Eric Bana is just one of the guys


Zoe signs for a major – even officers can be fanboys

Pine in Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair magazine has a brief profile and new arty pictures of Chris Pine, the new Captain Kirk.


Two of the new Vanity Fair pics of Pine (click to see VF gallery)

Urban: Mccoy cranky and bipolar?
The new Dr. McCoy has an interview with his hometown newspaper the New Zealand Herald, which includes the following exchange

The character is a bit cranky isn’t he?
This character is irascible and cantankerous, and often downright grumpy but beneath that is one of the most altruistic, caring, loyal friends you can possibly have. The remarkable thing about him is he does not care who you are, he will speak his mind. His moral perspective, regardless of who he is arguing against, is always sound. It doesn’t matter that he’s more Jim Kirk’s friend than Spock’s – he will always give you the straight up, honest ground.

Why do you think he’s so cantankerous?
I think he’s a little bit bipolar actually!

Cho feels the pressure
In an interview with Hollywood Today, John Cho revealed that taking on the role of Hikaru Sulu was taken seriously:

I did feel pressure. You’re doing a role that another actor did and you certainly don’t want to dishonor that. And I felt pressure to honor the Star Trekkers, the fans, to do right by them. They’re very passionate about this mythology and you don’t want to mess with that. It’s a younger, more action-filled, more athletic version of “Star Trek, so I think both camps will be happy

Jules Verne Fest First To Get Star Trek in France
Finally, Star Trek will have an early premiere in France at the Paris Jules Verne Film Festival. More info and ticket info at JulesVerneFestiva..com. This event is after JJ Abrams and the Trek stars leave Europe, but they will be holding a press-only event in France this week (TrekMovie will cover that event via our friends at UnificationFrance). The French public premiere for Star Trek is on May 6th. More at the official French movie site.


French ST09 Poster

TrekMovie review still coming
My first (no spoiler) review of the Star Trek movie is coming later tonight or early Sunday. Sorry for the delay but it is a lot to take in and much other stuff keeps coming in the door and for now I have to head out the door for a birthday party (mine).

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Happy Birthday Anthony!

Happy birthday dude.

This was righteous of Abrams & Co.

THANK YOU and HOOAH!

Sincerely,
C.S. Lewis

Holy crap does Pine ever look like James Dean in that first Vanity Fair picture…

Cool pics.

And Happy Birthday!

happy birthday, Anthony!
that is so cool that they hung out with all the soldiers like that.
First?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Very cool of JJ and cast to spend time with the troops. They’re obviously very good people.

Happy B-day!

Happy B-day Anthony!

Love that shot of Quinto talking to the soldier’s daughter. What a great thing to do!

Your birthday is a perfectly valid excuse to delay the review. Enjoy it!

This has been just an absolutely fantastic week of Star Trek. I love it. Saw a Trek09 trailer on TV today in a store I was in. I heard some kids behind me watching it say “That looks awesome”. I had such a big grin on my face, that was great to hear.

And, of course, Happy Birthday Anthony.

Lets send Shatner to Irag to be used as a bullet sheild.

wow,

too cool!

now come to BAF! :-p

qoSlIj DatIvjaj!

Urban seems to have given his role a lot of thought, which is important (whether or not you agree or disagree on “bipolar,” just the fact that the actor has clearly spent time getting into the character’s head – not just the character’s lines and mannerisms – means a lot those of us out here who root for McCoy).

Dude! Happy Birthday!

I love this!

Happy Birthday Anthony!!! Thanks again for all you do here!

Happy birthday to our esteemed host!

Happy Birthday! And thanks for this site. I check it daily…:)

That is so cool. Thanks for the great article, and Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Anthony! :)

The cast definitely did a solid by going to Kuwait (and I, too, got sentimental at the pic of Quinto on the phone)…but where was Simon Pegg?

Happy Birthday! This site is my life.

Happy Birthday Anthony. Live Long and Prosper!

Keep doing what you are doing, I’ve been coming to your site since the beginning and hardly ever go to the old Trek site I used to frequent anymore (except to post on the Doctor Who threads!).

As an old 13 Bravo, a tip o’ the horns to the team for taking it out to our troops.

hey happy b-day u and tour site has done a wonderful job on informing us about star trek keep up the good work and live long and prosper

I just booked my IMAX ticket!

Happy Birthday Mr Pascale, now goet drunk and get laid and have a nice one

BTW does Karl Urban EVER smile? all i see him do is frown or just look downright grumpy. Or maybe he IS smiling and he just looks grumpy when he really is happy.

Happy Birthday. How does it feel to finally be old enought to drink Blood Wine and Romulan Ale???

Good job.

Happy Birthday Anthony!
Maybe you should take a day off?

As for McCoy being Bipolar……………

That is awesome!!! Good to see the Trek team honor our troops in this way!

Too bad we don’t see more of this kind of honor from the film industry — not just towards our troops but our nation as a whole!

Its about time the movie industry starts doing stuff like this, and Star Trek seems like a great place to start.

Happy Birthday!

Those pictures of Chris Pine?

Yummy.

Really enjoyed reading about the visit to the soldiers. That’s a nice thing to see.

I like Karl Urban…whether or not you agree or like him, I think he certainly has given this role a lot of though and seems to be really appreciating it.

@ 29

I was standing right in front of him at the Sydney premiere and he was smiling heaps. :):):):):):):):):):)

I went to Arifjan several times while I was deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Its a lot nicer than the bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it sure isn’t Hollywood! Kudos to the Star Trek cast and crew for taking time out to go show the movie to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines there.

Happy Birthday Anthony !!!

Great to see the troops getting recognition from JJ and Company !!!

That is so cool! I am so proud of our guys and gals! I am sure this will be a highlight of theirs for many days to come!

And also, Happy B-Day Anthony! Live Long and Prosper!

Happy Birthday JJ Abrams

Happy Birthday Anthony!

Happy Birthday! All the best and keep up the excellent work!

Happy birthday Anthony!! Hope everything goes well for you! And thanks for 3 years of great service to the trek community.

Live long and prosper, AP,

TOG

That is just an amazing story! Reminds me of why I love star trek.. Oh and HAPPY TREKTACULOUS BIRTHDAY…

Trektaculous should be a new word. Blake Powers Penned that one.

Happy Birthday Anthony!

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Anthony! Thanks for all the presents you give us. :-)

Happy Birthday!

Live Long and Prosper!

Anthony,

Happy Birthday! I thank you for the wonderful site, and wish you the best on your day, today!

Happy Birthday Anthony!

Thank you for this site and all the news you keep us updated with. I’ve been reading this site passionatly for nearly three years now! I should also mention that I started watching Star Trek tos just before I found this site. My faith for the series, excitement for the new movie grow each and everyday I come here! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!