While most seem to be happy with the way J.J. Abrams has rebooted the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, one former ‘Star Trek’ alumni has a few choice words for the director. In an interview with the Toronto Sun, LeVar Burton made his thoughts known about some comments Abrams had said about his version of ‘Star Trek’ that, as he puts it, “makes me call bull –t!”
Burton had played Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge for 7 seasons on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and in four subsequent movies for the big screen. He’s been very vocal about what he thinks regarding the reboot of the franchise and while he acknowledges that Abrams is a “very good director,” he told ET last month how disappointed he was in the new timeline:
“J.J. [Abrams] [is] a very good director, he really is. He directed the hell out of the first movie. I’m really interested to see what he wants to talk about in his upcoming movie. [But] I’m disappointed, quite frankly, that his timeline negates the existence of Next Gen. I think that’s silly.”
Now a month later, his disappointment has turned to anger as he called out Abrams for comments that were allegedly made regarding the franchise:
“(Abrams’ Star Trek) was a great movie, and he brought a whole new generation to Trek. But I’m a little disquieted by things I hear coming out of his camp, things like he would like to be remembered as the only Trek—which would discount everything before he got there.
“There’s ‘breaking the canon,’ which he did (by re-inventing Star Trek’s timeline). But there’s also honoring the canon. And to pretend to be the only one is really egocentric and immature.
“I just came from a conference in San Francisco with Advanced Micro Devices, and they’re working on technology towards building a holodeck. That was Next Generation. And that’s part of what Star Trek has brought to the culture. So when JJ Abrams says, “There should be no Star Trek except the one I make,” I call bulls—, J.J.”
Whether Abrams (or someone in his entourage or camp) really made the comment that the director wants his ‘Star Trek’ to be remembered as the only Trek (thus discounting decades of cannon before him) is unknown, but there is that possibility that Burton may be privy to conversations that we aren’t. None the less, the news is surprising to hear. Add in the fact that screenplay scribe Robert Orci is a massive ‘Star Trek’ fan, it’s doubtful he would go along with Abram’s comments especially being a big Trekkie himself. But then again, it’s doubtful Burton would make such strong comments on just a rumor.
Yes, we’re a bit baffled by it all as it seems unlikely Abrams would make a comment like this but it is even as unlikely that Burton would be revved up without due cause.
So what do you think? Did Burton misinterpret comments made by Abrams or do you think he was justified in his anger?