J.J. Abrams always loved the epic scope and allegory of science fiction, the Star Trek XI producer said.

"I always loved it when stories that were somewhat outlandish and larger than life were told with the intensity of a real life drama – things like Planet Of The Apes had such an impact when I saw it as a kid," Abrams told Star Trek Magazine (via Sci Fi Pulse). "Overall, I feel that watching larger than life, extreme and often preposterous situations told with the same commitment as a true–to–life drama, was always my favourite kind of storytelling. Science fiction and thriller genres, when done well, seem to do that consistently."

In addition to being a fan of the original Star Trek, Abrams enjoyed The Twilight Zone's flair for dramatic storytelling, plus the cast members it shared with Star Trek. "I loved how Star Trek and The Twilight Zone would take things incredibly seriously – but that’s not to say there wasn't humour of humanity built into those stories," he explained. "The humanity was the thing that made those shows resonate and matter."

Abrams believes it was his work on Mission: Impossible II that led to Paramount's interest in him as the next Star Trek guru. Mission: Impossible, he added, was a wonderful experience "because it was suddenly the opportunity to direct a movie of that genre with that star [Tom Cruise]. It was too good to be true."

The opportunity to work on Star Trek, he added, came out of that experience, "but my plan was never to become a film guy who just brings TV shows back to life."

The complete interview is in Star Trek Magazine. These excerpts are from Sci Fi Pulse.

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