At one time, the biggest geek argument on the planet was Star Trek vs. Star Wars (with feuds often fueled by stars of each franchise), but the two universes will finally come together when the first theatrical trailer for Star Trek Beyond airs before showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it opens in theaters on Dec. 18.
That's right, this holiday season has done the impossible by bringing Star Trek and Star Wars fans together for a singular event.
Star Trek Beyond nabbed the precious trailer space before The Force Awakens, probably due to the fact that J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot produced Star Trek Beyond and Abrams served as director of the new Star Wars movie.
Abrams actually directed the previous two Star Trek reboot movies before taking on Star Wars, so it's his involvement with both that's bringing the two often-opposing universes together. Abrams handed over the reins of directing Star Trek Beyond to Justin Lin.
Both Star Trek and Star Wars made a comeback over the past several years, with both offering new films to fans of their franchises. Star Trek will also get a new television series in 2017, thanks to CBS.
Star Trek's William Shatner and Star Wars' Carrie Fisher have often upheld the rivalry over the two properties and shared digs at each other and their respective franchises over YouTube and Twitter. Of course, it's probably just all in good fun, but now, it seems that the argument is officially moot: Star Trek and Star Wars can peacefully coexist.
The plot of Star Trek Beyond, however, remains under wraps, although Lin promises that it should provide new elements to the traditional universes of the previous movies and television series. It also seems more focused on exploration, something fans felt lacking in the previous two rebooted Star Trek movies.
"It's all new and fresh," Lin said to Deadline. "The Klingons, Romulans and other species are great, but it's time to go further. It has been fun to focus on creating whole new worlds and species."
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in North America on Dec. 18, with select theaters getting the movie a day earlier. Star Trek Beyond opens on July 22, 2016.
