After we, or should I say, Shatner and some unnamed sources on the backlot at Paramount, let the cat out of the bag about some of the characters that will be cropping up in the next Star Trek film dubbed Star Trek: XI, speculation has been running rampant about Abrams’ respect for recognized canon.

What has got Trekkers (or Trekkies, whichever you prefer) all a-flutter was the news that Captain Christopher Pike would be returning to the Trek verse, along with a young Kirk, Spock and Scotty for this next film installment. The question on Trek fan’s minds is “will Abrams be the one to mention Captain Robert April, as the first Captain of the NCC Class Enterprise in his new film?”

Why, some may ask, is this even important? The reason it is important is because if Abrams even slightly refers to April in any way, it will finally open the door to admitting all the episodes of the animated Trek into official Star Trek canon, a move that this writer thinks should have been done years ago.

This is just one more controversial element in an already growing list of things about the new upcoming film that has serious Trek fans holding their breath. There hasn’t been this much excitement in the Trek universe since word was announced that Khan was coming back and Spock would die.