As a lifelong connoisseur of all things sci-fi and a diehard fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars, I find these Easter eggs absolutely delightful! It’s fascinating to see how the creators have managed to weave these intricate connections between two universes that seem so different on the surface.
There’s a widespread belief that Star Trek and Star Wars are adversarial franchises, with their followers supposedly harboring mutual disdain. It’s often assumed that being a fan of one excludes any affinity for the other. However, this is more of a misconception than reality. In truth, George Lucas acknowledged Star Trek as a significant influence when he was writing the script for the first Star Wars movie.
There’s plenty of affection shared between these two iconic series, and it shows in numerous ways across their films and TV productions. They often acknowledge each other subtly, with references to famous characters or planets casually mentioned. At times, you might spot a familiar vessel or droid whizzing by on screen. Here are ten instances where Star Trek and Star Wars give a nod to one another for fans of both franchises.
10 The Inspiration Behind Kashyk’s Name Comes From the Wookies’ Home PLanet
Fans of Star Wars are aware that Wookies, the tall, hairy, and powerfully strong alien beings, hail from the forested planet Kashyyyk. On the TV series Star Trek: Voyager, one of the characters was Inspector Kashyk (played by Mark Harelik). The creators slightly altered his name, but it’s clear that they chose this name as a nod to the Wookiee’s home planet in Star Wars.
9 Army R2D CPO in Star Trek
In the Star Wars saga, C-3PO and R2-D2 form an unforgettable droid duo. Interestingly, even in the premiere episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Encounter at Farpoint,” there’s a veiled tribute to these characters. In this episode, Q and his comrades from World War III sport a medication dispenser on their uniforms. Remarkably, astute fans picked up that these dispensers were labeled as “Army R2D CPO.” This isn’t a mere coincidence; it’s a clever reference to R2-D2 and C-3PO.
8 Keldon-Class Ship in Star Wars
A Keldon-class vessel is typically not the type of spaceship one associates with the Star Wars universe. Instead, it’s a warship from the Star Trek series that debuted in the late 2340s. Interestingly, this ship does show up in the animated Star Wars series, The Clone Wars. In the episode “Rising Malevolence”, you might notice the Keldon-class ship displayed on a tactical monitor behind General Grievous. Fingers crossed that it was on the side of the righteous forces in this appearance.
7 A Diplomatic Mission to Alderaan
Everybody knows Alderaan. Although we’ve spent very little time there, it’s one of the most famous planets in the Star Wars galaxy. It’s first mentioned in A New Hope when Darth Vader captures Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and accuses her of working with the Rebel Alliance. Leia then hits back with this famously snarky line, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan.”
In the second season episode, “Up the Long Ladder” of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there’s a nod to Alderaan. If you scrutinize a computer monitor displaying old colony ships and their functions, you’ll spot an Easter egg hidden in the first blue line below the white one. This particular ship’s mission was “Diplomatic Mission to Alderaan,” hinting that Alderaan is a planet that appears in both the Star Wars and Star Trek universes.
6 Alderaan in Star Trek…Again
On different occasions, Alderaan is referred to in Star Trek. In the first season episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine titled “A Man Alone,” a character named Odo (played by René Auberjonois) is probing the demise of another character. As he examines the deceased’s schedule, he discovers several amusing inside jokes. One such joke is that the schedule indicates the character booked a space flight from Alderaan Spaceport, another nod to the common planet in both the Star Trek and Star Wars universes.
5 Homage to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in Star Wars Resistance
The highly acclaimed “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” is often considered the top-tier entry in the “Star Trek” series, with a significant portion of its success attributed to its antagonist, Khan Noonien Singh, portrayed by Ricardo Montalban. Since its debut, Khan has earned a reputation as the most formidable villain within the entire “Star Trek” universe.
In the computer-animated series Star Wars Resistance, there’s a nod to the classic film Star Wars, particularly in its two-part finale titled “The Escape.” This part is reminiscent of the famous shield-dropping scene from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. As for memorable antagonists, let’s talk about…
4 Vader’s Gravestone in Star Trek
Apart from being one of the most renowned villains within Star Wars, Darth Vader is also widely recognized as one of the most famous antagonists in the entire film industry. In the seventh season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, an episode titled “Sub Rosa” pays tribute to this legendary character. Keen observers spotted a tombstone on the left side that bore the name “Vader,” a nod to the iconic Sith Lord.
Besides that Easter egg, there’s another one in this frame as well. To the right, you can see a tombstone with the name “McFly” etched on it. Contrary to what might be assumed, this isn’t connected to Star Wars, but instead is a tribute to the renowned sci-fi film, Back to the Future.
3 Battle Droid Colors Reflect Star Trek
Star Trek is recognized for its distinctive uniforms, which are color-coded: command and helm personnel wear gold, while operations, engineering, and security team members don red. These “redshirt” characters, as they’re commonly referred to, were often minor or unnamed figures who didn’t survive until the end of an episode.
In other works, the theme you see here has been playfully mocked, such as in ‘Star Wars’. Notice how the combat droids in ‘The Phantom Menace’ are mainly red with a golden one – sounds familiar? However, unlike that scenario where only specific colored droids were eliminated, all of these battle droids in this instance met their end.
2 R2-D2 Cameos
J.J. Abrams is well-known as a devoted Star Wars enthusiast, despite his role directing the sequel trilogy under Disney. However, prior to that, Abrams was the one who revitalized Star Trek and initiated a new series for contemporary fans. In true form, he couldn’t help but include a nod to Star Wars.
In a surprising twist, everyone’s beloved roguish droid, R2-D2, briefly appeared in not one but two Star Trek movies: 2009’s Star Trek and its sequel, Star Trek into Darkness. Interestingly, both films feature a scene where space debris is seen whizzing past the spaceship window. Upon closer inspection of these scenes, it turns out that R2-D2 was hiding among the debris, quickly zooming past the ship’s window.
1 Millennium Falcon Cameo
In the movie “Star Trek: First Contact,” there’s a fierce space battle between Borg and Starfleet ships. Upon closer inspection, you might spot a vessel that bears a strong resemblance to the legendary starship from Star Wars – the Millennium Falcon.
And that’s because it is the Millennium Falcon. John Knoll was the visual effects supervisor, who worked on both Star Trek First Contact and the Star Wars special edition movies. Knoll slipped the digital model of the Millennium Falcon into First Contact’s space battle, turning it one of the most famous Easter eggs in sci-fi cinema.
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2024-11-09 19:02