Could any of the issues plaguing the world today be partially solved if everyone took the time to binge-watch “Star Trek?” We’re not ruling it out as a possibility.
Karl Urban, who stars in “Star Trek Beyond” ― the third installment in the recent film franchise ― dropped by HuffPost Live to talk about the iconic show, it’s 50th anniversary, and why we need to follow the morals from the series now more so than ever.
“The central message of the film really is that we can achieve more together than we can alone,” said Urban, who plays Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the franchise. “I think that’s particularly pertinent in this day and age where you have Brexit, you have people talking about building walls, and there’s a lot of sort of division and fear out there.”
Gene Roddenberry’s original concept for the show focused on both a Western outer space adventure and a political agenda grounded in equality. The series touched on many social issues, including race relations, feminism and gender identity; themes that carried over into the film franchise.
For example, the episode “The Outcast” took a look at gender and sexual identity when the crew came in contact with a race that had no assigned gender. The episode was intended to draw attention to the discussion of LGBT rights, a topic still considered taboo in mainstream culture. “Star Trek Beyond” will feature the franchise’s first openly gay character, a move that producer J.J. Abrams said Roddenberry would have applauded.
“One of the many things I admire about [Roddenberry] was … how he was so about inclusivity, and I can’t imagine that he would not have wanted one of these characters, if he had been allowed ― which, of course, he would never have been allowed to in that era ― [to] have them be gay,” Abrams told HuffPost in a recent interview.
Urban expanded on that idea of inclusivity. “Obviously, with what’s happening in Europe, the continuing rise of extremist violence, and the rise of certain political agendas that may be more aligned to dividing people than bringing them together, the very spirit of what Roddenberry created is more relevant than ever,” said Urban. “It’s about being together, it’s about being unified, it’s about not persecuting anybody for their race, their religion, their sexuality. It sort of offers a very hopeful vision of the future.”
Netflix recently announced it will begin streaming the series in its entirety in 188 countries around the world, bringing the “Trekkie” message of peace and unity to more viewers than ever.
Perhaps a viewing of “Star Trek Beyond” should be mandatory at the Republican National Convention ...
See the entire interview with Urban below and catch “Star Trek Beyond” in theaters everywhere Friday.
