Hey there, friends. Before we all fell in love with the galaxy far, far away when J.J. Abrams brought us The Force Awakens in 2015, he was already hard at work breathing new life into another iconic franchise—Star Trek. Yep, it’s hard to imagine now, with Star Trek: Discovery and all its spin-offs lighting up our screens, but back in 2009, the world of Trek was on life support. No new shows, no new movies, and the whole franchise seemed to be fading into the void.

That’s when J.J., along with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, came up with a brilliant plan. They decided to create an alternate timeline, one that would keep the original series' legacy intact while giving creators the freedom to tell fresh, exciting stories. This meant bringing together the iconic crew of the 1960s show in an entirely new way. And guess what? It also meant casting a whole new generation of actors to take on those legendary roles originally made famous by William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and the rest of the crew.

A Latecomer’s Love Affair with Star Trek

Now, here’s something you might not know about J.J. Abrams: he wasn’t always a die-hard Trek fan. In fact, he admits he came to the party a little late. But once he dove in, he realized that the heart and soul of Star Trek lay in the original series. “To me,” J.J. says, “the original series is what Star Trek was. The later shows and movies? They just didn’t feel as relatable. If we were going to reinvent Star Trek, we had to bring it to life in a way that felt fresh, exciting, and new. And at the center of it all? Kirk and Spock. Those two characters are the heart of Trek. They’re what make it special.”

Read also:
How To Master Kohlscomactivate The Ultimate Guide

“My whole approach,” J.J. continues, “was to find a way in for people who didn’t know anything about Star Trek or who felt like it wasn’t for them. I wanted to make these characters—Kirk, Spock, and the rest—relatable. I wanted to show them as real people, not just iconic figures. I wanted to show them as they were in the early days, still figuring out who they were and what they wanted to be.”

The Casting Process: Finding the Perfect Crew

Of course, none of this could have happened without the right cast. And let me tell you, the casting process was nothing short of epic. We’re talking about finding actors who could not only step into the shoes of some of the most beloved characters in sci-fi history but also bring something new to the table. Something fresh. Something that would make fans of the original series fall in love all over again—and maybe even win over a few new fans along the way.

So, what did it take to bring this dream team together? Well, we’ve got an exclusive excerpt from the oral history of Star Trek, The Fifty-Year Mission, that dives deep into the casting process for each of the main characters. From Captain Kirk to Mr. Spock, from Uhura to Bones, every choice was carefully considered, every decision made with the utmost care and attention to detail.

Scroll Down for the Full Story

Ready to take a trip down memory lane and see how it all went down? Scroll down for an inside look at how J.J. Abrams and his team brought the Star Trek universe back to life, one casting decision at a time.

And hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to check out our Classic TV & Film Podcast! We’ve got interviews with some of your favorite stars, so give it a listen and subscribe while you’re at it.