Chris Pine fondly recalls his audition with J.J. Abrams to become Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek (2009). Pine became the first actor besides WIlliam Shatner to play the iconic Captain of the Starship Enterprise, a role he reprised in two sequels, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. Star Trek launched Pine’s career to another level. Chris went on to star in Wonder Woman, Hell or High Water, Dungeons and Dragons, and Pine is now the co-writer and director of the new film, Poolman.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly‘s Role Call to discuss the biggest roles of his career, Pine described auditoning for director J.J. Abrams to join the cast of Star Trek (2009) as Captain Kirk. Read Pine’s quote and watch the video below:

Ha! Star Trek! Incredible… I went out for it. Didn’t get it. Didn’t think anything of it. 3, 4, 5 months had passed so I’d completely forgotten about it. And then I went off to do this film and my agent said, ‘Do you want to go in for Star Trek again?’ And I said, ‘Didn’t I already go in?’ I didn’t get the part. I didn’t think I was any good. And they said, ‘They want you to go back in and audition for J.J.’

I remember going in, and J.J. was really fun. And, you know, it’s ridiculous. You’re sitting, standing, acting in an office in Hollywood, and you’re talking about phasers and thrusters, and the battleship’s going down, and Klingons are coming after you. It’s acting with a capital A. J.J.’s very giggly. He’s very reactive. It’s what an actor loves. We perform for people, and he’s giving you a lot, right?

So, I did that, and then I went out. And then he said, ‘Spock’s here.’ The guy’s who’s playing Spock, who’s Zachary Quinto. And I knew that Zach was Spock, and I’d known Zach because we worked out at the same gym with the same trainer. Very Hollywood. Same nutritionist and acupuncturist.

Auditioning is very… I found it very fun. It’s very disheartening. And you work your way up, and you’re doing TV… And it’s much more the case back then than it is now. Where it’s like, to be in a film was a big F—ing deal.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Star Trek (2009) is streaming on Paramount+