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Star Trek’s Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana Say Rihanna’s ‘Sledgehammer’ Helped Them Cope After Anton Yelchin’s Death

Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana are mourning the loss of their beloved costar Anton Yelchin with a little help from Rihanna. The Star Trek Beyond stars thanked the Barbadian beauty for her powerful new single “Sledgehammer,” which will serve as the theme song for the forthcoming film.

Rihanna arrives at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016.
Rihanna arrives at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016.

“After such an unimaginably sad week for our star trek family – @badgalriri brings some light into the darkness,” Quinto, 39, wrote via Instagram on Monday, June 27.

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Saldana, 38, also took to social media to praise Rihanna, 28, for the emotional tune. “Thank you @badgalriri, for a beautiful song during one of the most difficult times for our StarTrek family,” she captioned a clip of the Star Trek Beyond theatrical trailer on Instagram. “We know Anton would be proud.”

Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pine, and Anton Yelchin at the 15th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, in Los Angeles.
Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pine, and Anton Yelchin (from left) at the 15th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, in Los Angeles.

As previously reported, Yelchin was fatally pinned between a brick mailbox and his Jeep Grand Cherokee after the SUV rolled down the steep driveway of his L.A. home on Sunday, June 19. The 27-year-old actor died of blunt traumatic asphyxia within a minute of the freak accident.

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“Sledgehammer,” which was written by Rihanna and Sia, was released on Monday morning and will serve as the first single from the Star Trek Beyond soundtrack. “As a Star Trek fan, I am honored to have the theme song for the new @StarTrekMovie!” the “Work” singer captioned an Instagram photo of the song’s galactic single cover.

Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, John Cho, and Zoe Saldana in 2009's Star Trek.
Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, John Cho, and Zoe Saldana in 2009’s Star Trek.

The power ballad includes some emotional lyrics, including, “I’m bracing for the pain and I am letting go / I’m using all my strength to get out of this hole.”

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Earlier this week, several Jeep owners filed a class action lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for “intentionally covering up fatal design flaws and deaths from the defects.” Yelchin’s 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was reportedly one of the 1.1 million vehicles that were recalled by the manufacturer because of a faulty gearshift. Officials are still investigating whether that was a factor in the late actor’s tragic death.

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