The 'Star Trek Beyond' Cast Honors Anton Yelchin

It's an exciting time for Star Trek fans. The release of Star Trek Beyond gets ever nearer, andthe movie's premiere took place on Wednesday at San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park Amphitheater. But, as was to be expected, excitement for the third movie in the franchise was coupled with sadness following the sad loss of one of the film's most popular actors: Anton Yelchin passed away. The actor, who played Chekov in the reboot, died on June 19, 2016 following an automobile accident at his home. Yelchin was only 27 at the time of his death, with an incredibly promising career ahead of him. Understandably, the cast and crew are heartbroken, and paid tribute to Yelchin at the Star Trek Beyond world premiere.

Deadline Hollywood reported that J.J. Abrams paid tribute to Anton Yelchin before Star Trek Beyond was screened, and said, “There’s something missing. There’s someone missing. Anton should be here.” Clearly, the actor's absence is felt not only by the cast and crew of the movies, but by fans everywhere who'd grown to love the young actor's portrayal of a classic Star Trek character. Having starred in so many well-received films including Like Crazy, Only Lovers Left Alive, and 5 To 7, Yelchin's talent was undeniable.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the Star Trek Beyond premiere was incredibly emotional, as "Abrams called for a moment of silence for Yelchin... What followed was more than a minute during which you could hear a pin drop as the crowd." That everyone in attendance at the movie premiere paid tribute to the lost actor in this way is simply heartbreaking, but also a totally fitting tribute to the star. Clearly, he will be hugely missed from future installments in the Star Trek series, but what will happen to Chekov, the character Yelchin portrayed?

In July 2016, J.J. Abrams spoke to the Toronto Sun about Yelchin's role in the Star Trek movies and said, “There’s no recasting. I can’t possibly imagine that, and I think Anton deserves better.” It's a huge mark of respect to the actor that the character of Chekov won't be played by another actor. It's hard to imagine anyone else stepping into those shoes, and it's good to hear J.J. Abrams rule out the possibly of a replacement. Anton Yelchin will be sadly missed.

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