JJ Abrams was never really a Trekkie. The director and producer of the new Star Trek film told Entertainment Weekly that he was more of a Star Wars guy. And before you get your pointy ears in a twist, Abrams concedes that all his "smart friends" liked Star Trek.

In an age where dark and nihilistic films like Dark Knight are grossing "gajillion dollars", Abrams says he was drawn to the idealism of Star Trek, a future "that shows people of various races working together and surviving hundreds of years from now."

Leonard Nimoy, who will be appearing as an elder Spock, also appreciates the positive message of the Trek Universe, and wishes this film had come out sooner: "I think the world could use it," says Nimoy.

All this sunny speak doesn't mean we won't have massive explosions and special effects. Paramount has offered up the biggest-ever budget for this Trek. They've also given Abrams license to play with the mythology and do what it takes for the flick to grab us "viscerally" the way Abrams was first seized by Star Wars.

Check out the stellar cast - I am so stoked: Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries) will play Kirk. Zachary Quinto (Heroes) was cast as Spock,  John Cho (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) will play Sulu, Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) is Scotty, Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett) as Chekhov, Zoe Saldana (Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) as Uhura, and Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings) as "I'm a doctor" Bones.

Eric Bana, who we can assume likes it when you see him angry, will be playing the villainous Nero. Due in 2009, Abram's Star Trek won't be featuring any Shatner cameos. Or so they say. Have you ever known Bill Shatner to resist a cameo?

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