Fed: Actors and fans get ready for Star Trek world premiere
By Alyssa Braithwaite, National Entertainment Writer07 Apr 2009 2:50 PM
SYDNEY, April 7 AAP - Trekkies around the globe might not like it, but the cast of Star Trek couldn't be happier the film is launching in Sydney.
Stars of the movie, including Eric Bana, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Karl Urban and director JJ Abrams are in the harbour city for the world premiere at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday.
It is only the third time a film has debuted at the Opera House, and the first time a premiere has been held in the concert hall.
Bana, who plays an intimidating Romulan bad guy called Nero in the movie, said he wasn't responsible for claiming the first public screening for Australia.
"I'd love to stand up there with the Australian flag and say it's because of me, but it has absolutely nothing to do with me, or the Victorian school holidays. Nothing whatsoever," Bana told AAP.
Fans in the United States and Canada have expressed their annoyance and disappointment that the 11th Star Trek movie is being launched on the other side of the world.
Abrams said he chose Sydney as the location for mostly selfish reasons.
"The idea was to try and do a big launch in a place that was exotically beautiful and noteworthy," he said.
"I've been here only once before and loved it, and when they were throwing around the names of different places I was very excited to come back.
"Part of it is, on a number of our parts, selfish."
Quinto and Pine, who play Spock and James Kirk, are loving their first trip Down Under.
"Everyone I meet from Sydney loves Sydney and talks about Sydney all the time, and I've been so curious why. And it's pretty apparent why," Pine said.
"I'm envious of you guys."
Some 1,600 people will pack into the iconic building tonight to see the re-imagined story, based on creator Gene Roddenberry's original television series.
The movie, which will be released nationally on May 7, also stars Chris Hemsworth, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Morrison and Zoe Saldana, with a cameo by original Spock Leonard Nimoy.
