STAR TREK BANNER

Paramount has released a new banner featuring the crew of Star Trek. Click the photo above the image in higher resolution.

MTV talked to director JJ Abrams about the humor in the movie and Leonard Nimoy's appearance in the film.

MTV: Having been fortunate enough to view a few scenes recently, do you think fans will be surprised by the amount of humor in the film? [Editor's note: In one sequence, an allergic reaction to medication results in massive swelling of Kirk's hands and face ... think "Nutty Professor."]

Abrams: It's funny, because when you see a quarter of something or less, it's easy to draw conclusions about what the whole thing is. The thing with the hands is probably the most extreme sort of borderline-silly thing that happens in the movie. But the humor in the movie is constant within the wit of the characters. And I think when you look at the original "Star Trek" show, there was actually a great deal of humor.

MTV: We've seen Nimoy delivering his classic "Live long and prosper" line in the trailer. Is he fundamental to the story line, or is it more or less a glorified cameo?

Abrams: No, it's no cameo. He's in the movie, and his role is critical. I always think "cameo" feels like a role that the movie could exist without. This is critical, emotional and also a story element.

I'm not a JJ Abrams fan but the trailer does look good and it's long overdue for a new Star Trek movie.