Before the screening of Star Trek Beyond at San Diego Comic-Con Wednesday night, the cast paid tribute to the Anton Yelchin.
Yelchin, who played Chekov in the rebooted series, was killed last month in a freak auto accident.
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“As wonderful as this is to be here with all of you, and to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, there is something wrong tonight,” said producer J.J. Abrams, Entertainment Weekly reported. “There is something missing tonight; there is someone missing tonight.
“Anton Yelchin should be here. Anton’s parents are here — Irina and Victor. We love their son, and if I could ask everyone to have a moment of silence for our dear friend, Anton.”
In Star Trek Beyond, Chekov spends a good deal of time with Kirk after they’re forced to abandon ship. Consequently, Yelchin gets more screen time in his final appearance than in the previous films.
Fourth film slated
A fourth Star Trek film is already in the works. In the upcoming movie, Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role from the first reboot as Kirk’s father.
Abrams has said that Chekov would not be recast. He wouldn’t say whether the character would be killed off, however. It was, he said, too early to decide on Chekov’s in-universe fate.
Star Trek Beyond opens today nationwide.
