By: debbie lynn elias
I recently had a chance to talk with Nichelle Nichols, who originated the role of Lt. Uhura in the “Star Trek” tv series and films, and asked her about JJ Abrams venture into the franchise with the “prequel” STAR TREK.
DLE – So, how do you feel about the new STAR TREK?
NN – I’m looking forward to seeing it. JJ [Abrams] had invited me to lunch and brought me on the set and surprised the set.
DLE: I bet they all fell over!
NN – They were in the middle of a scene and one of the actors, I was in his eyesight, although I was moving away, and he just stopped. And the assistant director who was directing that scene, a pick up, turned to him and asked “What’s the matter”. And the actor said, “She’s here.” And everybody else turned and just stopped. It was so funny. It was eerie. And the young woman who plays my character, Zoe Saldana, was off that day. JJ had called her in like to do an important scene. So, she had gotten all dressed up and was coming in. In the afternoon. And here she comes and so forth. By this time, we were sitting in the director’s chair and in order to get to the set you had to come past the director’s chair. And there he [JJ] sat me with his assistant and himself and somebody else and he deliberately walked her [Saldana] there, so she was coming. And she saw him [JJ] and he said “well, get that information, get over here and let’s get this done now.” And she turned around and went straight to the set and saw me.
It was like, “Oh No.” She knew what he meant immediately. And she absolutely lost it. We had the best time. We sat there for about an hour. And we had a wonderful time. I’m really feeling I have a lot of respect for his [Abrams] work. This is a prequel. It ends where we go off for the first mission. Where we started. I just feel like “they done good by me by choosing her [Saldana].”
DLE – You still look so good, you could have played you!
NN – Almost! He even talked about doing something with me in the film that he was not going to do with anyone else. But he did talk with and met with several of the cast members out of respect. He didn’t really have anything in mind. But we’re sitting at lunch talking and he was saying “I have to get you in this movie.” And I’m going, “well, you know, will that work?” And we thought about it and thought about it, and then the strike hit. He called me a couple of times and then he called me and said, “I don’t think it’s going to work. I can’t make it work. I don’t want to do anything that looks like it’s a fraud.” I really appreciated that. And I said, “JJ, this is your movie. You’ve got to put your signature on it. This is not Gene. As long as you respect Gene’s brilliance.” And he said, “I wouldn’t do it any other way.”
DLE – I’m dying to see this. I interviewed Chris Pine a few weeks ago. And Chris wasn’t divulging anything.
NN – Yep. Yep.
DLE – He was like a little kid. Everyeone is on pins and needles for this.
NN – Yes. Oh, yes.
DLE: I’m thrilled that you want to see it.
NN – Oh yes. Because even if it has nothing to do with the original. You know, it’s going to be quite different from the tv series. It’s going to be absolutely incredible.
