CAMP ARIJAN, Kuwait - The cast of "Star Trek" joined service members for a premiere of the new movie produced and directed by J.J. Abrams here on April 11.
"We feel priviledged to be here and to meet the people who are working hard on our behalf," said John Cho, who starred as Hikaru Sulu in the movie.
Actors Zoe Saldana, Bryan Burk, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine and Eric Bana also visited the troops along with Abrams.
"It's so easy for people to take for granted, the fact that [service members] are here doing work that makes this possible," said Abrams.
The crew stopped and visited service members in the U.S. Army Central Headquarters building before heading to the theater. They talked with Brig. Gen. James T. Walton and several other leaders on the headquarters staff and then greeted several service members, signed autographs and posed for photos.
"It struck us that there was an opportunity to not just have it be about the movie, but to have it be about something that's more important than all that stuff," Abrams said.
After the premiere of the movie, which will be released in the states on May 8, service members asked questions and commented on the film to the actual cast.
Chief Warrant Officer Earl Hemminger, a regional computer emergency response team member from the Virginia National Guard, asked actor Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the film, to call his daughter, Katherine, who is a very big fan.
"Your dad told me to say this was hotness," laughed Quinto as he greeted Katherine via cell phone.
Abrams talked about how he and the writers came up with the concept of the new film and Eric Bana, who portrayed the evil character Nero, talked to service members on how he prepared for his role and shot his parts separate from most of the cast.
After the question and answer session, service members got a chance for photos and autographs with the stars before they headed off to LSA, Kuwait to continue to promote the movie.
"It's an honor to come here to say 'hi' and shake hands with the people who protect us," said Abrams.
Cho said having the warm reception for this film by the service members was really moving.
"We had fun making the movie and we hope the [service members had] fun watching it."