Topic: Report: Trek XI script axed, franchise again in limbo

[Rat Boy]

From Trek Web

Had a feeling that this would happen.  The franchise now is in the same state that it was back in the 70s when efforts to resurrect it were constantly stopped and started before culminating in Star Trek Phase II, which of course morphed into Star Trek: The Motion Picture.  However, there's one thing about this report that makes me only a tiny bit skeptical: this is alleged to come from Rick Berman's personal assistant, and yet this guy is publicly and openly throwing his boss under the bus.  Is he trying to get fired?

[Sirgod]

I could be wrong, But It kinda reads to me, that Mirabello is covering bermans ass... I got that from this...

He also says that to his knowledge there are no plans for using Patrick Stewart in any forthcoming TNG movie projects. "It’s more likely that some executive had a casual conversation with him and brought up some hypotheticals which he ran with when some reporter asked him about Star Trek…. [But] there’s a chance that someone else at Paramount is planning something huge and keeping us out of the loop. From what I’ve heard, Patrick wouldn’t do another Trek movie unless they paid him Professor X money…"

Like I said I could be wrong though.

I agree though, It seems alot like the 70's Phase two and the Motion Picture right now.

Stephen

[Mr_Tricorder]

...However, I think this is actually for the best – the public needs to want to see Star Trek again. The best way to achieve this is to take it away for a few years and then bring it back and do it right. The franchise needs a totally new creative team, some time off, and a cool new approach."

As much as it pains me to think about having to wait several years for the next Trek series or movie, I totally agree with this statement.  Right now not very many people outside the Trekkie realms of Geekdom really care about Star Trek anymore.

[Villa64]

Who else ever did?

[Mr_Tricorder]

Who else ever did?

It seemed like during the mid nineties many non-Trekkie/non-geeky people had at least a passing interest in Star Trek.  At least everyone knew what Star Trek was.  Most people could recognize Kirk, Spock, Picard, Worf, Data, and Geordi as Star Trek Characters (even if they didn't know their names) and knew what that the Enterprise was the ship that they lived on.  There were plenty of cultural references to both TOS and TNG, parodies, and merchandising.  You don't see nearly as much of this anymore, and the common person who can recognize a picture of Captain Picard will probably give you a puzzled look if you show him or her a picture of Captain Archer and ask him to name that character.

[Lieutenant_Q]

Or they'd tell you...thats the guy who played in Quantum Leap!

[GDA-S'Cipio]

...However, I think this is actually for the best – the public needs to want to see Star Trek again. The best way to achieve this is to take it away for a few years and then bring it back and do it right. The franchise needs a totally new creative team, some time off, and a cool new approach."

As much as it pains me to think about having to wait several years for the next Trek series or movie, I totally agree with this statement.  Right now not very many people outside the Trekkie realms of Geekdom really care about Star Trek anymore.

A pity.  If Erik Jenderssen is the guy I'm thinking of, someone posted an interview with him here some time ago.  I was impressed with his script philosophy.

"Getting it right" will be a lot easier with a whole new creative team.

If they "get it right" and use a "cool new approach"  (which could well be the original approach, but I digress) then I think the whole time off thing is irrelevant.  The next project will sink or swim based on its merits, regardless of how much time has passed.


<shudder>  Hey!  What is Berman doing talking about Trek anyway?  (Even if it is through is "personal assisstant"  Isn't he supposed to be *done* with Trek?

-S'Cipio