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Berman Confirms Star Trek Prequel Film Project
Steve Krutzler writes "TrekWeb can break the news STAR TREK producer Rick Berman has confirmed that work on a new STAR TREK feature film project has begun. Speaking in the new Dreamwatch magazine, Berman describes it cryptically as a "prequel" and says he's working with two other producers on the project."
I'd be very interested to know if this is going to be a prequel to The Next Generation or to the original Star Trek series. Considering the last number of films were based on TNG, I would personally find it odd to go back to the original series at this point.
Still, the article only refers to STAR TREK, which would indicate that perhaps Kirk and not Picard might be our captain in this one. At least it would be a welcome change from Priceline.com adverts and Miss Congeniality 2 for William Shatner.
While the typos and spelling errors in the article were entertaining ("STAR TRKE" and "the future of their first series remains in limo") I'm not sure what to make of this. When they talk "prequel" are they talking about Pre-Enterprise? It seems like any earlier and there wouldn't be much opportunity to explore other species, etc. Can a Star Trek movie without existing characters/actors be successful? I mean Nemesis, which was based on the much-loved TNG crew, made about $53 at the box office. (OK, that might be a slightly low estimate.)
:)
I think a Starfleet Academy movie (mentioned in the article) could be compelling, but I'm losing interest in the whole franchise. I'd like to see another season of Enterprise despite the fact that it's a fairly weak show (in my opinion) but I think that Gene Roddenberry's vision is running out of gas without his input. I have mixed feelings: on one hand, Trek has gotten pretty lame, and it is probably time for them to stop producing it for a while, but on the other hand I'd miss even bad Trek... Is bad Trek better than no Trek at all? Am I even making any sense?
Drooling fanboys will be happy to read this line from the article, though:
"...insiders suggest Berman and/or Braga might take a reduced role in a fourth season of ENTERPRISE, though this is entirely speculation."
--- JRJ
jrjBlog
Why, oh why, do they continue to insist on beating this dead horse into the dust? I'm as big a Star Trek fan as anybody, but it's gone way too far away from its roots, and quite frankly the last couple of movies have sucked so hard that I can't stand thinking about what they're going to bring out next.
Long live TNG on DVD.
I'd hope that it's a prequel to TNG. Rachel Garret needs her own series and movies.
Captains Log ...
~SpermanHerman
Rick Berman: "Prequel" Film in the Works, Plus Developing New Series With Braga
By Steve Krutzler / 12:42, 22 April 2004 / General Star Trek
After over a year of silence on the future of the STAR TREK feature film franchise, producer Rick Berman has finally dropped the first hints of a new theatrical project for the franchise. The news comes in the new issue of Dreamwatch magazine, just coming out in the UK.
Speaking in issue #117, Berman confirms for the first time that he is now developing a STAR TREK feature film project: "I am involved in the very early stages of what could be the next STAR TRKE movie," reveals Berman, in an excerpt provided by Dreamwatch. "It's something I will be producing with two other producers."
Unwilling to offer many details he cryptically describes it as "a prequel" without any further elaboration. The names of his producing cohorts will have to remain unknown for now, as well. This follows a report earlier this week from Dark Horizons that Paramount may be working on a project the site described as "Starfleet Academy." Coincidentially, former TREK producer Harve Bennett (STAR TREKs II-VI) revealed recently that several years ago he had pitched a Starfleet Academy-based STAR TREK movie concept.
On the television front, while the future of their first series remains in limo, Berman confirms that he is developing a non-STAR TREK sci-fi series with partner Brannon Braga. Both Berman and Braga have development deals with Paramount. If a new series begins development in earnest, TrekWeb insiders suggest Berman and/or Braga might take a reduced role in an adults-only supermarionation version of ENTERPRISE, though this is entirely speculation.
For the full interview and much more, check out issue #117 of Dreamwatch magazine in the United Kingdom.
You know, I've always had a fantasy that someday, people will yell my name as Shatner yelled "Khhaaaaannnnnnn!!!!" however, I've yet to piss someone off enough to inspire such beautiful overacting. :)
jrjBlog
...they announced plans to dig up Gene Roddenberry's corpse and kick it around in the street. Sources close to the production crew said they were in the market for dead horses and clubs.
But there is another kind of evil that we must fear most... and that is the indifference of good men.
The entire crew of the Enterprise is still at school and Spock Jr is being bullied by ignorant full-blooded humans when Jamie Kirk leaps to the rescue and saves Spock Jr who says "you humans are so emotional. on my planet i would have left myself to be beaten to a bloody pulp". Jamie Kirk then kicks Spock jr in the groin, rips off his shirt and makes out with one of the local girls.
Ceci n'est pas une signature
Don't you know the tastes of the many outweigh the tastes of the few, or the none?
Seeking Writers: "Pro Nanny, "Au Pair", "Paranoia", "Star Fleet Command", "Stranger in a Strangeland", "Homeland Security", Peter Weir's "War Magician", Tony Scott's "Warriors" and an untitled Johnny Knoxville project
It's sad, because I've always loved Star Trek. But I realized the truth when I saw the latest installment in the theater, which in my opinion was nothing but a bad rehash of The Wrath of Khan.
But then, I guess this is a sign of the times. Lately it's seemed to me that we as a culture are running low on creativity. I don't ever remember a time when so many sequels and so few original films were released. And of course, people flock like lemmings to see the latest rehash of whatever. I haven't heard an original musical group in what seems like years. I'm sure there are indie groups that I've never heard of that are doing great stuff, but the mainstream... I guess the latest thing is for bands like The Darkness to resurrect the same lame ass hair metal that Nirvana wiped off the face of the earth. And most of the the rock music that I've heard in the last couple of years has been variations on the Korn theme... detuned guitars and shameless lyrics about childhood trauma. Hey asshole, you're rich -- go get some therapy and get the hell over it!
Anyway, I know I've drifted a bit off topic, but I see this as another attempt to squeeze the every last penny out of what used to be a great franchise by driving it even deeper into the ground. All to avoid, *gasp*, coming up with something ORIGINAL! But no, that would be too risky. Let's just serve up another plate of leftovers.
Why, oh why, do they continue to insist on beating this dead horse into the dust?
Because each time they whack the horse's corpse, it coughs up another wad of hundred-dollar bills.
Long live TNG on DVD.
I agree. I need to invest. TNG was the best series by far.
sudo eat my shorts
Why bother? Berman and Braga already neutered the Borg anyway. If the last half of Voyager is any indication, all they need to do is bring Admiral (*gag*) Janeway out to modulate the field density and penetrate the shields, or something.
No, the Borg are just as ruined as most of the rest of the franchise at this point, and cramming all the casts into one movie screams of a pitiful attempt at fan service: "We can't deliver a decent movie, so we're just gonna throw characters at you; one of these must be your favorite!"
As many others have said, Trek needs a long break. With any luck, it'll be able to lie dormant until Rick Berman dies a horrible death.
The wonderful thing about science fiction is that, imho, it isn't really about science at all. Instead, it gives writers an opportunity to change small (or large) details about the world around humans, and see how they react. So, SF is all about humans at the end of the day. For a while, Star Trek understood that. Almost all of the first series understood that, with wise old Gene at the helm. TNG understood that as well, which is why "The Inner Light" is one. of. the. best. damn. episodes. of. any. series. ever.
Berman and his band of merry idiots don't understand this simple fact. I remember reading an article in which he said something like: "Star Trek fans loves aliens and time travel."
Star Trek 2, 4 and 6 understood that it's all about the people. First Contact was good because it was so damn cool, and nobody can dislike anything with the Borg in it.
So yeah, if I have simply lost interest in Star Trek because Berman wants to fill every movie with "aliens" and "time travel" then troll me.
... just skip the bloody humans! I'd like to see the early days of Vulcan, or even better, the origin of the Borg...
...it started with this news commenting service that people spent a lot of time communicating on, but eventually, the only sentiments issued from it were a uniform set of thoughts. ;-)
All the best ST movies have (with one exception) been their darkest - and even Voyage Home had a pretty bleak undertone (goodbye Earth). On the other hand, their "cute" movies have also been their worst - and Nemesis proves they shouldn't try for a core bad guy until they can give us a good one (I was not impressed with Nemesis, but at least it helped drive away the bad taste of Insurrection's diarrhetic implosion).
As for Enterprise, regardless of it's ratings I think it's the best effort they've made since TNG's final season. It has the best characters (all have distinct flaws that aren't cute, which makes their finer aspects shine a little more). It has a dark and slightly twisted sense of humor I like. They do not always make the moral choice in the end, instead of always figuring out what's right by the end of the show. Their doctor is the first alien ST crewmember who seems to fit in as a castmember instead of the token alien.
And... it brings back some of the Blood, Booze, and Babes element that made the original last so long. When they fight, they fight like they mean it. Bodies fly out of gaping holes in the ship, there are redshirts all over the place, and sometimes they have to be cold and brutal just to survive, not to make a highhanded point.
I want to see a Star Trek movie that makes your brain twist... something approaching hard sci-fi, but not enough to drive people away. I want Arthur C Clarke to make me a Star Trek. Or, if they can ever get him to talk to them again, Harlan Ellison (who wrote their best episode, period). Something dark and bleak, where instead of being preachy, they tear their entire world apart and let them climb out of the wreckage.
I don't want a happy Star Trek movie. I don't want to hear Picard soliliquizing on philosophical matters like it was a pleasant tea party, or Riker worrying about his love life, or La Forge being bored with his job. I want to see all hell break loose, and characters who ACT like they're not having fun. And if the TNG guys get one more go, kill some of them off in acts of violence, not dramatic self-sacrifice. I want Shakespearean Tragedy, not As The Federation Turns.
Or maybe... just maybe... I'll be impressed if I see a title like "Star Trek: Holy War" or "Star Trek: Apocalypse"... not "Star Trek: Earl Grey, Hot".
Do not confuse "Freedom of Choice" with "Free Will".
The Vorlons return from beyond the rim and drag Babylon 5 into a seperate reality. When the 1701-E stumbles upon it, they request aid from Admiral Janeway who sends Voyageur (with her on board) and she also commands the crew of DS9 to arrive with the Defiant in case we need Worf to make rude noises. O'Brien happens to be on the 1701-E, as Picard missed his old transporter-chief and decided to liberate him from Starfleet Academy.
So, we have all these crews here, but we're missing two. Sisko, while speaking with the wormhole aliens, asks them to drag the NX-01 and the NCC-1701 from the past to the planet where Babylon 5 is orbiting. All hell breaks loose. Sisko materializes on the bridge of the Defiant and begins to command the fleet (while Picard quietly plots his death, feeling upstaged). Babylon 5 launches it's fighers, and the harrowing corpse of Sheridan begins to emanate a strange energy signature. All of a sudden, three Spacing Guild ships appear above the station, and the fighters of Muad'dib begin to use their illegaly-taught Bene Gesserit teachings to subdue Starfleet. Babylon 5 lays waste to all Starfleet ships with the White Star, and subsequently becomes entranced themselves by the wily ways of the Fedaykin.
Afterwards, another Guild Highliner arrives carrying a delegation of the Bene Gesserit who tames the Vorlons with lessons they've learned from The Scattering.
The movie ends with Captain Kirk in an escape pod singing "Row Row Row your Boat"
"It's here, but no one wants it." - The Sugar Speaker