“His solo venture enforcing the rules as ‘Dredd,’ one of his finest performances, was a role he actively sought — stepping onto the deck of the Enterprise in J.J. Abrams’ 2009 ‘Star Trek’ reboot.
It was clear that the cinematic revival of ‘Star Trek’ would enter a contentious environment, making decisions even director J.J. Abrams acknowledged he regretted in the subsequent years. Still, the films set in the Kelvin timeline surpassed expectations largely due to the franchise’s impeccable casting, which included Urban.
In 2008, Urban chatted with IGN about his role as the chief medical officer of the Enterprise and how he secured it. “Well, it was one that I actively chased and was very fortunate to be offered,” he disclosed. Fortunately, Urban didn’t have to do extensive preparation since he had been a fan since childhood. “I didn’t really even have to go out of my way to re-watch old episodes. I’ve just been watching them for more than 20 years!” However, like many other portrayals in Abrams’ ‘Star Trek,’ the New Zealand-born Urban aimed to create his own interpretation of the character rather than something directly from the replicator.
