Director of new Star Trek seeks wider audience.

By Belinda Goldsmith

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) Director JJ Abrams hopes to persuade the general moviegoing public to 'boldly go where no man has gone before' and watch the new chapter of "Star Trek," a franchise usually reserved for the most dedicated science fiction fans.

The man behind the television series "Alias" and "Lost" told Reuters that he initially had doubts when Viacom's Paramount Pictures offered him the job of taking over the film saga, whose 1998 and 2002 versions failed to attract audiences.

But then he began to analyze how to make a "Star Trek" film that would appeal to a wider audience, forgetting its legacy and focusing on the drama.

His first attempt to "reboot" the saga with 2009's "Star Trek" was a great success, although analysts were disappointed with the film's overseas box office of around $130 million.

Now he hopes to move forward with the 3D sequel "Star Trek: Into Darkness," the twelfth installment in the saga, which premiered on May 9 in the United Kingdom and will premiere on May 17 in the United States and in July in Spain.

"The idea was to make a film that works on its own terms... This film isn't intended to be just for a select few. It's much more for the general public and not just for Star Trek fans," said Abrams, wearing his characteristic black-rimmed glasses.

The plot deals with the group's emotions and moral dilemmas, resulting in "an action-adventure... a bit more visceral and exciting," he said.