Chris Pine Talks ‘Star Trek’

Right now, fans across the world identify Captain James T. Kirk with actor William Shatner. That’s likely to change when the J.J. Abrams helmed Star Trek premieres this coming May with newcomer Chris Pine in Kirk’s captain’s chair. Collider got the chance to speak with Pine at the recent Hollywood Awards, where the actor initially shrugged off the epic scope of his upcoming film.

"[I’m in] a small, small movie called Star Twars," jokes Pine. "It’s a mix between Star Trek and Star Wars."

Pine acknowledges that he’s stepping into some hefty shoes, and knows that some fans are already "giving the middle finger" to the project. However, the endorsement of Kevin Smith was a huge morale booster for the young actor. When he found out about Smith’s glowing review of both the film and Pine’s performance, Pine was through the roof.

"[I sent him an e-mail and said], ‘Thanks dude. I couldn’t have asked for a better thumbs up from someone [of Smith’s caliber]," Pine says. "This far away from the release date, to have someone say I did a good job, especially with the potential naysayers out there, it was a nice ego boost for a Wednesday."

Unless Kevin Smith can create millions of clones, Pine and the rest of the Trek team will need to appeal to a much wider audience. In that regard, the soon-to-be Kirk isn’t worried about the detractors.

"It’ll be what it’ll be," says Pine. "People will like [our movie] or they won’t.  I’m really proud of it. From what I’ve seen I think we did a great job. We just have to leave the rest [up to] the peanut gallery."

For now, after months of fighting Romulans and avoiding Spock’s death grip, Pine’s working on a project that’s just a tad more small scale.
 

"I’m working on [something], it’s called ‘Leisure Time,’" laughs Pine. "It’s about a couch and a remote … it can go up there to NC-17, but we’ll talk about that."

Pine’s taking time away from the movie business to soak in some hours of normalcy before Star Trek‘s big release. He’s been traveling with his father and a friend, and even "stumping for Barack Obama." Who knew that Kirk was a democrat?

It’s a good thing Pine’s getting his leisure time in now, because in a few short months, the actor’s going to become yet another paparazzi magnet in Hollywood. Maybe he doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into, but Pine seems thrilled at the prospect of working on a big film such as Star Trek.

"[The] opportunity to work [on a film] with that much money is extraordinary because you get to work with the best of the best of the best of the best," says Pine. "[The] best production designers, best actors working along side you, one of the best directors working in Hollywood today, a costume team that is out of control. So it’s like being a kid and being given all [of it] at your fingertips."

"When I first saw the bridge, and I wasn’t a fan [of Star Trek]  growing up so it wasn’t as sacrosanct to me as it was to others, you kind of have an out of body experience," Pine admits. "It’s pretty awesome to get to do what we get to do."

Star Trek hits theaters across the globe on May 8, 2009.