Straczynski Wants To Reboot Trek

[A l t e r E g o 9]

Straczynski Wants To Reboot Trek

 

Inspired by a recent SCI FI Wire poll, Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski posted a message to a newsgroup urging fans to write to Paramount, owner of the rights to the Star Trek franchise, in support of a new Trek series that he and Bryce Zabel (Dark Skies) developed last year. (continued in spoiler or click link above)

 

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Although the studio originally passed on the treatment due to "political considerations," Straczynski feels that they might reconsider if they knew that fans were eager for such an idea. "I'm taking the unusual step of going right to the source ... right to you guys," Straczynski said in the message. "Fueled in part by a number of recent articles and polls, including one at www.scifi.com/scifiwire in which nearly 18,000 fans voted their preference for a new Trek series, and 48 percent of that figure called for a [J. Michael Straczynski] take on Trek."

 

Straczynski said that he and Zabel share an affection for the original Star Trek series, and a disappointment in the later iterations of the series. Together, they created a new treatment and a five-year story arc with the intention of returning to the roots of the world created by Gene Roddenberry. "If you want to see a new Trek series that's true to Gene's original creation, helmed by myself and Bryce, with challenging stories, contemporary themes, solid extrapolation, and the infusion of some of our best and brightest SF prose writers, then you need to let the folks at Paramount know that. If the 48 percent of the 18,000 folks who voted at SciFi.com sent those sentiments to Paramount, there'd be a new series in the works tomorrow," Straczynski said.

 

Straczynski added that he felt that the current stewards of the series have been too cautious in their stories, and the franchise has suffered as a result. "Over time, Trek was treated like a Porsche that's kept in the garage all the time, for fear of scratching the finish," Straczynski said. "The stories were, for the most part, safe, more about technology than what William Faulkner described as 'the human heart in conflict with itself.' Yes, there were always exceptions, but in general that trend became more and more apparent with the passage of years. Which was why so often I came down on the later stories, which I did openly, because I didn't feel they lined up with what Trek was created to be. I don't apologize for it, because that was what I felt as a fan of Trek. That's why I had [Roddenberry's widow Majel Barrett] appear on B5, to send a message that I believe in what Gene created."

[Takara_Soong 4]

The people at Sci-Fi are using the results of a very badly worded poll for their own benefit. There wasn't even an option regarding keeping Enterprise going in that poll.

 

From article in AE's post:

Straczynski said that he and Zabel share an affection for the original Star Trek series, and a disappointment in the later iterations of the series.

 

So he's saying they didn't like TNG, DS9, Voyager or Enterprise. Do you really want someone like that in charge of a new series? I don't.

[MrPsychic 1]

No offense, but it seems like people are grasping at straws and trying to use anyone to boost their cause of keeping Enterprise alive... hmm

[Takara_Soong 4]

This appears to be moot anyway.

 

From TrekWeb.com:

 

UPDATE : Straczynski just posted another message, which follows :

 

"Actually...belay everything I just said.

 

In the 24 hours between the time I composed the prior note, and sent it, and it made its way through the moderation software, two things happened:

 

1) I heard from a trusted source that Paramount is giving the Trek TV world a rest for maybe one to two years, depending on circumstances, no matter who would come along to run it. So it's not right to have folks putting in time doing something that ultimately would be pointless, I don't think that's a proper use of anybody's time.

 

2) At the same time as the above, an offer came in to run a new TV series for fall of '06, and since there's no way anything Trek can happen in the interim, I've said yes (now we have to negotiate the deal, but that should be fairly straightforward).

 

So on two counts, the whole thing is kind of moot.

 

We can reconvene a year or two down the road to see where this takes us, but in the interim...my apologies for waking everybody up in the middle of the night.

 

As you were.

 

Thanks and with great chagrinedness --

 

jms

[Jack_Bauer 1]

I don't like the sound of this.

 

It seems like he would be ignoring the majority of the Star Trek universe. If he could return to the roots of Star Trek and still acknowledge the rest of the universe, including Enterprise, I might give it a shot.

 

I also get the impression that Straczynski is a bit of a control freak. He wrote an entire season of B5 by himself and no actor was allowed to ad lib a line without formal approval.

[Wishfire 2]

Even if they didn't like everything after TOS, there

s no way they could ignore everything else. For instance, they couldn't create a story that incorporated Federation technology that was suprerior to TNG-era technology, and they could not describe an event that TNG, DS9, or VOY makes known as never having happened. Either way they'd violate canon, which would bring down the wrath of the Trekkies.

[amcroja 0]

i would like see some differant but i think his new new trek serie should put on the air atfer enterprise runs or before if we save enterprise . if they bougth series . rick breman needs to go face it he no gene roddenberry the close thing to it the createor of b5 i don't think pramount would let him volate other canon of the prevous series just let try it if fails it would be cancelled alll you know could take place in 31st century.

Edited February 16, 2005 by amcroja

[Capt_Picard 0]

I would have liked it if an old Trek actor came out and said that they wanted to keep Enterprise going or something new... but I don't think that Stracynski might understand Star Trek and its fans... and without understanding there is failure.

[recycle 0]

just few enterprise good,people do anything for it think..Oh found out last night by mq his nick if we keep the chat room pack alot for long time they will try get actor or actress as special guess..i just like old treks better this trek music made it..so hope see you in chat..i really just like 3 enterprises best..i like see actor or actress in chat maybe from enterprise or so etc..