Disney animated films have such an impact on people that you can find their footprints almost anywhere, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy actor George Hawkins is no exception. Hawkins plays Darem Reymi, the Khionian cadet, and recently discussed possible inspirations for his alien character and his people. Hawkins had some interesting ideas about the possible origins of the Khionians and their development, telling TrekMovie.com:
"I remember [co-showrunner] Noga [Landau] was telling me that when she was doing a bit of work for Episode 7, her children were watching Moana in the in the other room, and I can imagine that had some sort of influence on her storytelling."
Hawkins continued by saying:
"But it’s such a fascinating thing as an actor, you get to use your work as an excuse to explore yourself. You get to use it as an excuse to have fun and be curious about yourself. And I think that a big part of that. It was a perfect excuse to explore my Maori, my Kiwi heritage."
It's interesting how actors, writers, and others who make their living partly, by way of their imaginations, count Disney as a contributor to their craft.
The creation of new worlds and the introduction of new characters within the Star Trek universe have always been part of what makes the franchise so exciting.
New species, new civilizations, and the idea of searching for fascinating worlds to visit are much of what keep fans coming back. This optimism blends well with Disney and its classic characters, especially those who start their stories with nothing but some hope and a dream.
While Hawkins says that Darem Reymi is not a typical example of his people, the glimpses of Disney inspiration are still obvious to him. Anyone who creates characters or world-builds can tell you that this type of brainstorming begins from a point of "What if?"
It's not difficult to relate to Hawkin's statements about discovering who you are through play, especially if you're a Trek fan who cosplays and collects toys. There's plenty of self-discovery when you realize which uniforms speak to you and which characters you're drawn to. When you give yourself permission to play this way, you might be surprised what you find out about yourself.
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