Why Quentin Tarantino prefers 'Star Trek' to 'Star Wars'

Director Quentin Tarantino poses for a picture as he takes part in a photo call for his movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. July 11, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Director Quentin Tarantino poses for a picture as he takes part in a photo call for his movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. July 11, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The cast and crew of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood are going all out to start a war of words with Star Wars.

That’s because, following on from Margot Robbie’s revelation that she has never seen a Star Wars film, and has no plans to do so, too, its director Quentin Tarantino has opened up about why he is so interested in directing a Star Trek film, and in the process explained why he prefers the franchise to Star Wars.

In fact, there’s just one reason why Tarantino prefers Star Trek to Star Wars. William Shatner.

Read More: Why Margot Robbie has no plans to ever watch any 'Star Wars' films

“I’m a big fan of the show Star Trek. I really like it a lot, but my portal into that show is William Shatner. I love William Shatner on Star Trek. I love his performance as James T. Kirk. That is my connection. That is my umbilical cord. It’s why I like Star Trek more than Star Wars, because William Shatner’s not in Star Wars.

U.S. actor William Shatner waves as he leaves a photocall for directors Karey Kirkpatrick and Tim Johnson's out of competition animated film 'Over the Hedge' at the 59th Cannes Film Festival May 21, 2006.     REUTERS/John Schults
U.S. actor William Shatner waves as he leaves a photocall for directors Karey Kirkpatrick and Tim Johnson's out of competition animated film 'Over the Hedge' at the 59th Cannes Film Festival May 21, 2006. REUTERS/John Schults

Tarantino didn’t just stop there with his praise for William Shatner, as the Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and The Hateful Eight filmmaker continued to wax lyrical to Deadline about the actor, and even revealed his favorite Star Trek performance by him.

Read More: Quentin Tarantino says his 'Star Trek' movie would be 'Pulp Fiction in space'

“I think it’s one of the greatest performances in the history of episodic television, of a series lead, and rightly so, because very few series leads have ever gotten the opportunity to play all the different wild, crazy things. The Enemy Within alone.”

We’ll get to see whether Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio can match Shatner’s efforts in the above when Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is released on August 14.