Zoe Saldaña has compared the fanbases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Trek. Saldaña has starred in both of the major film and TV franchises, joining the MCU as Gamora and Star Trek as Uhura. She will also return for another of her large franchise roles, reprising Neytiri in the first Avatar sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, at the end of the year.
Appearing on First We Feast‘s Hot Ones, Saldaña explained how there are differences between the two fanbases, specifically with Star Trek‘s. In her opinion, the Star Trek fans take the franchise more seriously than MCU fans, precisely because it has been passed on by many generations from its start in the 1960s to its present-day film and television titles. Family members of all ages can unite over the same piece of media and enjoy it, as they all grew up watching one specific generation of the Star Trek Universe. Check out what she said on the matter below:
“There are differences, I think that Trekkies take it far more serious, they’re lovely. I think it was marrying the kind of world that people wanted to see at that time in the ‘60s, it just has a very special place in people’s hearts. There’s something really beautiful about seeing a grandfather, father and a son, or a grandmother, mother and a daughter, all coming together and enjoying this.”
Why Star Trek’s Fanbase Is The Most Beloved In Hollywood
While the MCU has its fair share of passionate fans, the Star Trek fanbase may be the most beloved in Hollywood. The Star Wars fanbase, for example, is notoriously hard to please with the franchise’s latest titles, and is constantly divided over how Disney is currently handling The Skywalker Saga and its multiple spinoffs. Meanwhile, the Star Trek fanbase has remained positive, no matter how negatively some of the films and television series have been received. Everyone who watches Star Trek, either the original 1965 TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, or the current titles, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, has a deep affinity for the universe Gene Roddenberry created.
Star Trek has evolved over the years and modernized itself multiple times, with J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot being the most significant upgrade to fit a more contemporary aesthetic through its action set pieces and reinterpretation of iconic characters. And even with radical changes, or a semi-carbon copy of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan with Star Trek Into Darkness, the fanbase has always stuck with the franchise. One generation will introduce an updated version of Star Trek to another, which could be the gateway for the initiated to go back and experience the earlier movies and shows of the franchise.
As Saldaña mentions, the generational aspect of Star Trek makes for one of the most unique fanbases in Hollywood history. Every generation loves at least one iteration of Star Trek, and love the creatives and actors who contributed to its continued success in return. It’s part of the reason why Star Trek‘s actors are always grateful for the fans and their love of a franchise that spans four generations. While Saldaña’s return as Uhura in the Star Trek franchise is currently unknown, with Star Trek 4′s director Matt Shakman leaving the film to helm Marvel’s Fantastic Four, it seems likely she’d only be too happy to return if given the chance.
Source: First We Feast