The captains of the Star Trek TV series: William Shatner as James T. Kirk [The Original Series], Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard [The Next Generation], Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko [Deep Space Nine], Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway [Voyager], and Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer [Enterprise].

I’m beginning to make quite a habit out of this. Previously, there was my Watchmen column; now, this installment of Nine Moons talks about the other big fan-fueled movie coming in 2009, the Star Trek reboot movie to be directed by J. J. Abrams.

Abrams who? If you’ve been watching TV at all during the past ten years, chances are you’ve seen any or all of the following shows: Felicity. Alias. Lost. Alternatively, if you watch movies, you may have seen any or all of the following titles: Regarding Henry. Forever Young. Armageddon. Mission Impossible III. Abrams created or co-created the TV shows I listed, and wrote and/or directed the movies I mentioned.

The founder of Bad Robot Productions is now facing a heck of a challenge: revive the Star Trek movie franchise. So how is he planning to do it? By putting together a prequel to The Original Series, and even showing the childhoods of Kirk and Spock!

The teaser poster for the 2009 Star Trek movie, to be directed by J. J. Abrams, depicts a Starfleet badge, modeled on the ones worn during the Original Series.

In 2007 the Star Trek franchise celebrated its 40th anniversary. Yes, you read that right: forty years of sci-fi goodness, the occasional commentary on American politics, breaking the barriers of what can and can’t be done on the small screen, and – Tribbles!

Star Trek: The Original Series episode “The Trouble with Tribbles” shows Captain Kirk literally up to his elbows in the adorable, furry, friendly, all-consuming alien vermin.