‘NO REPLACING’ YELCHIN’S CHEKOV, TREK DIRECTOR SAYS

You cannot knowledgeably watch Star Trek Beyond without the pang of awareness that this is the last we’ll see of Anton Yelchin’s Chekov. Now, producer J. J. Abrams says, it’s the last we’ll see of Chekov, period. At least in terms of new work within Abrams’ run on the rebooted film franchise. Star Trek Beyond opened Friday, and viewers mourned when they saw the sage visage of Leonard Nimoy (Ambassador Spock), who died last year. Yet when we watch Yelchin’s latest and last turn as Chekov, the sense of loss underscores how much young promise is lost. The Russian-born Yelchin died in an accident last month at age 27. Abrams told the Toronto Sun the Chekov role won’t be recast for the producer’s planned fourth Star Trek film. “I would say there’s no replacing him,” Abrams said of Yelchin.