Biallas, president of Hollywood-based Special Entertainment Events, spent nine months persuading British authorities that Hyde Park, one of the country's most historic, was the perfect launching pad for Star Trek.
"This is one of the biggest interactive events on earth," the flamboyant entrepreneur said at the site where workmen were finishing off a set packed with props and costumes.
After five television series and 10 movies, Star Trek shows no signs of running out of steam.
"This exhibition will go five years, maybe 10," Biallas told Reuters in an interview. "Great Britain has 400,000 organised members in the Star Trek fan clubs. If they alone show up, we are more than fine."
"It is the biggest event staged in Hyde Park since the Great Exhibition in 1851. Also, over 2,000 journalists from all over the world will be here to celebrate the opening of the 10th feature film -- 'Nemesis'."
He says Star Trek has remained popular for over 40 years because it has a positive message.
"Yes, there will be a future. Mankind will survive and we will eventually take care of the environment."
"Think of when Star Trek opened in the sixties at the height of the Cold War. Stop thinking of destroying yourself, think more of enjoying life."
Biallas is confident about the $47 million show's success before it hits the road: "This is like a mobile theme park".
"We need about 250,000 people to break even. I think we will do 500,000 in London. We can comfortably accommodate 10,000 a day," he said.
But devoted "Trekkie" fans will be his harshest critics.
"I always use the example of Captain Kirk's toilet. We have to build so it is so accurate and so real as the Trekkies know it. If the lid is not the way they know it, they'll say it is not real."
Biallas, president of Hollywood-based Special Entertainment Events, spent nine months persuading British authorities that Hyde Park, one of the country's most historic, was the perfect launching pad for Star Trek.
"This is one of the biggest interactive events on earth," the flamboyant entrepreneur said at the site where workmen were finishing off a set packed with props and costumes.
After five television series and 10 movies, Star Trek shows no signs of running out of steam.
"This exhibition will go five years, maybe 10," Biallas told Reuters in an interview. "Great Britain has 400,000 organised members in the Star Trek fan clubs. If they alone show up, we are more than fine."
"It is the biggest event staged in Hyde Park since the Great Exhibition in 1851. Also, over 2,000 journalists from all over the world will be here to celebrate the opening of the 10th feature film -- 'Nemesis'."
He says Star Trek has remained popular for over 40 years because it has a positive message.
"Yes, there will be a future. Mankind will survive and we will eventually take care of the environment."
"Think of when Star Trek opened in the sixties at the height of the Cold War. Stop thinking of destroying yourself, think more of enjoying life."
Biallas is confident about the $47 million show's success before it hits the road: "This is like a mobile theme park".
"We need about 250,000 people to break even. I think we will do 500,000 in London. We can comfortably accommodate 10,000 a day," he said.
But devoted "Trekkie" fans will be his harshest critics.
"I always use the example of Captain Kirk's toilet. We have to build so it is so accurate and so real as the Trekkies know it. If the lid is not the way they know it, they'll say it is not real."
