Sci-fi fans are hoping for
Star Trek XI to
rejuvenate the franchise. Now even some of the original cast members are hoping
to learn more about their own characters.
Nichelle
Nichols, who originally played Uhura, can’t wait to see what
Zoe Saldana
does with the role.
"I’d love to wait and see what she brings to it so that I
can understand, get to see who and what Uhura was like," said Nichols. "I would
like to see what Nyota Uhura had that qualified her to go on that first
five-year mission where no man or woman had gone before."
While Nichols herself is hoping to be offered a cameo, she
has faith that Star Trek is in good hands regardless. "I think it’s just
terrific to know that
Gene
Roddenberry‘s legacy shall not only live in what [he created] when he was
here, but that it’s going on in that same image. I think that in
J.J. Abrams‘
hands, it’s there. All the respect and all of the wonderful characteristics that
made Star Trek what it was will be honored. But I think [Abrams] will
also take it to even new heights as Gene would have loved."
Now at work on the TV show Heroes, Nichols has also
gotten a chance to evaluate another future Trekker,
Zachary Quinto. "I gave him my best wishes. When I first came on the show,
all I had seen of Zach were some pictures in the makeup room. And I said I
wasn’t sure about that actor. [Then when] I saw him in one of the [Heroes]
episodes, I said, ‘Oh my God, what an actor.’ And then when I met him in person,
I said, ‘This is the young Spock.’ They did a brilliant job in casting him."
Star Trek
will arrive in theaters Christmas 2008.
