The Hour

Stars Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto have explained the long-lasting appeal of Star Trek by crediting its “visionary” creator for exploring controversial themes.

Quinto, who plays Spock, said: “I think Gene Roddenberry was a visionary in a lot of ways, and at a time in American history where there was a lot of civial, socio-political and racial unrest, he created a series which really explored themes which people are a little reticent to talk about, in an allegorical way which was subversive at times, and provocative.

“I think it appealed to a forward-thinking, intellectual mind that is sustainable in that regard, people who were really stirred up by the passion of what he was exploring - and also then they got to wear pointy ears.”

“I think someone called it the United Nations of Space, which is very true” explained Pine, who plays James T Kirk, the role famously previously played by William Shatner.

“Now, in a time of similar strife and two wars, it presents a vision of us that has nothing to do with us trying to kill each other, which I feel like the world tries to do every day, and it presents a vision of a united front, that we can achieve great things if we work together.”

After receiving almost unanimous rave reviews, Star Trek has grossed £70.9m worldwide in its opening weekend, currently ranking at number one in 23 markets  and already dwarfing the entire intake of the last movie in the series.

Directed by Lost and Fringe guru JJ Abrams, who is now being hailed as the new Steven Spielberg, the rebooted Star Trek chronicles the early days of Captain James T Kirk and his crew on the starship Enterprise.

With all this positive buzz, the film's new cast is already signed on for two sequels, and Abrams has said that screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are starting to plan the second film.