An IT expert from North Wales will perform a poetic tribute in Klingon to tragic Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin at the opening night of the new film.
Alex Greene will be given the red carpet treatment as the guest of honour at the Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham for the first screening of the new movie, Star Trek Beyond, on July 22.
He even writes poetry in the intergalactic language and has been appointed by the Odeon as the Klingon Ambassador to Wales.
According to Alex, who lives in Wrexham, he was deeply affected by the death of the actor Anton Yelchin who played the character Pavel Chekov in the blockbuster movie franchise.
Yelchin was found dead on the driveway of his Los Angeles home on June 19 after a freak accident left him crushed between his car and a metal gate.
The tragedy inspired Alex to write a poem in Klingon which he will be reciting at the Odeon on opening night.
Alex, 52, has been a Trekkie since the fierce warrior race, The Klingons, first became foes of Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise when he was a young boy.
He began learning the complicated language in 1986 and says it took him around a year to master its intricacies and guttural pronunciation.
Alex said: “It’s actually surprising how many people are now fluent in Klingon. There aren’t too many in the UK but there are thousands in America and quite a few in Australia.
“There are even scientific papers that have been written in Klingon. The language was invented by American linguist Marc Okrand for the 1983 film Star Trek 3, The Search for Spock. He also invented the Vulcan language.
“A Klingon dictionary was published in 1985 and has 5,000 words which, with prefixes and sub prefixes, expand its content to 48,000 words.
“There are 26 letters and roughly Klingon uses the same vowels and consonants we use in English. But the words are spoken with a lot more force.
“The language has been around for around 30 years now with Klingon being first heard when it was spoken by Scotty, played by Mark Leonard, in the 1979 film Star Trek. Marc Okrand based the language on those first few words.”
He added: “I will recite a special Klingon poem I have written and give the English translation for the audience waiting for the doors to open at the Odeon before the first screening of Star Trek Beyond.”
“I will also recite my poem to the memory of Yelchin. I hope it gets a few more people interested in learning Klingon. It’s a fun language to learn.”
Alex says he is excited about the latest Star Trek film which sees the crew of the USS Enterprise forced to abandon ship halfway into a five year mission.
The crew is left stranded on an unknown planet and is attacked by a new and ruthless enemy.
Alex said: “It’s always exciting waiting for a new Star Trek film to come out and I hope the director, Justin Lin, has done it justice. It’s going to be exciting to see it and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Eagles Meadow Odeon manager Andy Elvis is delighted Alex will be entertaining cinema goers with some Klingon poetry, including the tribute to Yelchin ahead of the first screening of Star Trek Beyond at one minute past midnight on Friday, July 22.
He said: “I’m quite sure we will be the only cinema in the UK, certainly in Wales, to have a fully fluent Klingon speaker present for the launch of Star Trek Beyond.
“Alex’s ability to speak Klingon fluently is remarkable. I think he just liked the intellectual challenge of learning a complicated language such as Klingon.”
He added: “Star Trek Beyond promises to be one of the blockbuster movies of the summer and it’s going to be a very busy few weeks.
“Tickets are already selling very well and I recommend anyone wanting to come along for the first screening secures their seat as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment.”
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “I’m sure cinema goers waiting to see Star Trek Beyond will be fascinated to hear Alex reciting poetry in Klingon.
“It must be very difficult learning a language that was intended to be spoken by an alien race. However, I’m sure Alex will entertain and inspire Odeon customers with his intergalactic language skills.”
To find out more about Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre including opening times please visit www.eagles-meadow.co.uk
To find out more about the Odeon Cinema at Eagles Meadow, including what’s on and the box office please visit www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/wrexham_eagles_meadow
