Star Trek Beyond blasts off at Comic-Con

The world premiere of Star Trek Beyondblasted off at Comic-Con with an orchestra, fireworks, lasers and tributes to the series' late stars.

The sci-fi sequel premiered Wednesday night to more than 3,500 attendees at a flashy invite-only event held at San Diego's Embarcadero Marina Park just outside the site of the four-day pop-culture convention.

Chris Pine, ZoeSaldana, Karl Urban and other Trekstars introduced the film on stage before the San DiegoSymphony performed selections from the film's score amid a flurry of fireworks and lasers.

"I can't imagine a better place to premiere it than here at Comic-Con," saidQuinto, while on the red carpet beforehand.

"I thought it was going to be mayhem, but there is such a beautiful hush here."

The 90-piece orchestra accompanied the film as it was projected on the first-ever outdoor Imax screen. The mammoth screen was erected especially for the event.

"Oh my God," said Urban on the red carpet. "It's like the largest screen on the planet for the Star Trek Beyondpremiere. I'm so excited."

Before the extravaganza commenced, the cast and crewmemorializedthe late Trekstars LeonardNimoyand AntonYelchin, who died June 19.

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Quintoreflected on original Spock actorNimoy, while filmmaker J.J. Abrams led a moment of silence in honour ofYelchin, who plays navigatorPavelChekovin the rebooted Trekmovies.

"There is something missing tonight," Abrams said. "There is someone missing tonight."

Trek,which is celebrating its50thanniversary this year, will continue to have a massive presence at this week's San Diego Comic-Con International. Several Treksessions are planned inside the San Diego Convention Center, including a Saturday panel featuring actors from each Trekinstallment.

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"It's really a special moment in the series' history with the new film, new comics and the new series coming to CBS All Access," said RodRoddenberry, the son of late Trekcreator GeneRoddenberry.

Comic-Con officially begins Thursday and continues through Sunday.