J.J. Abrams Takes Command of Star Trek

[Garzo 0]

from Variety:

 

Posted: Thurs., Apr. 20, 2006, 10:00pm PT

 

Trekkies have a new leader

'Star' treatment for J.J.

 

By DAVE MCNARY

 

J.J. Abrams is becoming the next Gene Roddenberry.

 

Paramount is breathing life into its "Star Trek" franchise by setting "Mission: Impossible III" helmer J.J. Abrams to produce and direct the 11th "Trek" feature, aiming for a 2008 release.

 

Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, Abrams' producing team from "Lost," also will produce the yet-to-be-titled feature.

 

Project, to be penned by Abrams and "MI3" scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, will center on the early days of seminal "Trek" characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.

 

Deal reflects Paramount's bullishness on "MI3," which launches worldwide next weekend, and underlines the goal of Paramount chief Brad Grey and prexy Gail BermanGail Berman to re-energize the pipeline via high-profile tentpoles while revitalizing the Paramount brand with top-tier talent such as Abrams.

 

"MI3" is the first pic to be released that's been greenlit by Grey.

 

"Star Trek" has been Hollywood's most durable performer other than James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1 billion and 726 TV episodes from six series.

 

Decision to relaunch "Star Trek" comes less than a year after UPN pulled the plug on "Star Trek: Enterprise" amid dismal ratings following a four-season run and four years after "Star Trek: Nemesis" turned in the worst performance of the 10 films with $43 million domestic.

 

Original series created by Roddenberry launched in 1966 on NBC and ended in 1969.

 

During the following decade, the original 78 episodes of "Trek" became staples in syndication and helped mobilize the fan base along with conventions, books and merchandise. Paramount released "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979 and saw domestic grosses hit $82 million. The next three films grossed a combined $263 million domestically, so Paramount started the second TV series, "The Next Generation," in 1987, with Rick Berman and Roddenberry co-exec producing.

 

Under Sherry Lansing, Rick Berman had been teamed several years ago with Jordan Kerner and Kerry McCluggage to develop an 11th feature set in the early days of Starfleet Academy.

 

Date in print: Fri., Apr. 21, 2006, Los Angeles

[Garzo 0]

Wow, I'm still letting this sink in. J.J. Abrams, huh? I was a fan of "Alias" but have not followed "Lost" and have little interest in "Mission: Impossible 3" -- I just don't know if it's all worth it. The Star Trek universe is so vast, why focus on Kirk and Spock as young academy recruits? Why not explore other areas with an all new crew? How about the fall of the Federation? How about cool fun space pirates commandeer a Starfleet vessel and have their own wild adventures?

 

I guess the powers-that-be are going for the safest bet -- an all-new good-looking young cast playing established characters. I just can't see anyone else playing Kirk and Spock than William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

 

This doesn't mean it won't work. Hollywood excels at delivering what audiences want, and I'm sure Abrams is a talented and imaginative Star Trek fan. I will definitely go see it, although I was hoping that Bryan Singer would get a whack at the franchise.

[Stephen of Borg 2]

I'm just happy there is another movie now!!!!!

 

here's the other article

 

 

Paramount Pictures announced today that Lost creator J.J. Abrams will co-write, produce and direct the eleventh Star Trek film, set for release in 2008.

 

According to an article in the Daily Variety, the new film will be a prequel to the original Star Trek series, featuring younger versions of characters like James T. Kirk and Spock. The movie will chronicle events such as their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first mission into outer space. The as-yet untitled new film will be written by Abrams together with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Abrams is the creator of television series such as Felicity, Alias and Lost, and will soon be making his debut as a feature film director with Paramount's Mission Impossible: III. He's also written the scripts for films such as Regarding Henry and Armageddon. Kurtzman and Orci cooperated with Abrams on the MI: III script, and were previously part of the Alias writing staff, as well as writing the scripts for films such as The Island and the upcoming Transformers movie.

 

Besides Abrams, the film's producing team will include Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, who both also produce Lost. The Variety article made no mention of the fate of Rick Berman, who has been heading the Trek franchise for the past two decades.

 

According to Variety, the decision to produce a new Trek film is part of an effort by new Paramount head Brad Grey to try and raise the profile of Paramount by producing several "high-profile tentpole" movie, and having them developed by some of the most talented people in Hollywood.

 

The Starfleet Academy concept is an idea that has been floating around Paramount for several decades now. In February, former Trek movie producer Harve Bennett told the Trek Nation that as recently as two years ago he had a discussion with the then-current regime at Paramount about reviving the idea. Variety confirmed Bennett's statements, writing that several years ago Rick Berman was asked by Paramount to develop a Starfleet Academy feature together with Jordan Kerner and Kerry McCluggage. Presumably this idea evolved into the Star Trek: The Beginning concept, which now appears dead in the water.

 

 

 

Star Trek isn't dead!!!! B)

Edited April 21, 2006 by Gamera

[jadziaezri 0]

with ideas like that it should be. don't resurect it just to murder it. Give it a rest and allow us to miss it while they think up a quality idea. otherwise they will alienate ppl.

 

that my fellow trekkies is mho

[Mike 5]

They are shooting for a release date in 2008. That's still 2 years away and I feel that is plenty enough time for us to miss it..I miss new episodes and movies now..I'm looking forward to hearing more about this as we get closer..This could be really good if it is well written, acted and directed..Time will tell..

[Stephen of Borg 2]

I think the movie will rock with Abrams writing it. Look how much of a hit Lost and Alias is. I have no worries at all, this will be great

[Trekmachine 0]

Yes! very cool B) Star Trek 11

[Theunicornhunter 2]

I'm not really sure if this will be good or not - a lot depends on who they choose to play the roles - I just can't see anyone else doing Kirk/Spock and I do wonder if they couldnt' have come up with something better. And I'm wondering how much they're rewrite Trek in the image of Lost or something similar?

[Stephen of Borg 2]

they have been wanting to do this movie for years so it was going to be made eventually

[Stephen of Borg 2]

CNN Report About New Movie

[Jack_Bauer 1]

StarTrek.com is now reporting this story as well. Looks like we have confirmation.

 

I'm very excited about this creative team. These guys are proven and I get the impression that they are fans of Star Trek which I believe should be a prerequisite of the job.

 

The Kirk/Spock prequel thing is a little odd but it way work. There are some interesting characters that could be thrown in there, Finnegan most notably.

 

Gary Mitchell is too young and Ben Finney is too old to be there at the same time as Kirk and Spock.

[Stephen of Borg 2]

it has just been announced on today's Entertainment Tonight

 

it's definitely official. Can't wait

[Kor37 9]

I've never seen Lost and have only seen the original MI movie so I'll ahve to take everyone's word that Abrams is a good choice. I think this could be a good thing if done correctly. As for younger actors playing Kirk and Spock, you get used to it. I've watched the films made by the New Voyages people and I can get into younger actors playing Kirk and Spock.

[trekz 7]

Time indeed will tell. It could be great or it could be another Nemesis. When you commit to doing a younger Kirk and Spock, you are going to have millions of long time fans nit-picking every little detail, word, and raise of the eyebrow. It could be a tough thing to pull off. The creative team on paper looks very good, but I hope they do some Trek research and remain true to Gene R's philosophy and positive outlook. From what I've seem of Alias and Lost, both can be pretty dark. Not all fans may buy into that. But I look forward to new Trek. I lived through no Trek between the end of TOS, and the run of TAS, TAS's end and ST: TMP. There were some comics and conventions and reruns, but it was not fun. Give me more Trek and the sooner the better (and the better, the better!)

[ddillard 2]

I have mixed feelings about the new movie. Not because of the writer, as I love his work, I am just not sure that the chosen story line is a good idea. I do not really see how they can make a movie based on the academy time that would hold the interest of many people.

[Tina 0]

Its going to be HORRIBLE(And i am a Star Trek fan and still holding my head in shame about Enterprise DAMN YOU SCOTT BAKULA!). [As you can tell i am a true pessimist]

 

I am a Huge opponent of Prequals and remakes and this one seems unnessisary.(Did we need a new Superman movie? Posiden? THE OMEN?)

 

I mean who would play Kirk and Spock? Look who was cast as Anakin Skywalker(in The SW prequals) and James bond (in Casino Royale). Royally messed up on those counts. They would have to get the Story and casting right to make it work

 

But i am not going to hold my breathe

 

I just wish they would make a TNG/DS9/Voy one

[jadziaezri 0]

common movie about what happened when voyager got home!

[APW 0]

Its great that another movie is in the works.

But I have reservations about the Kirk-Spock Academy storyline. I love the TOS characters, but I'm just not sure I'm going to be all that excited about this film.

 

Star Trek needs something bigger, a grander storyline to re-energize the product. Almost a Star Wars trilogy-like story in which some great evil threatens the very core of the Federation itself. Maybe even from within. Then we could have the TNG/DS9/Voyager mixed cast come together in some fashion and over the course of a couple or three movies restore the Federation.

 

Those aliens from the TNG episode "Conspiracy" would be excellent villains. Weren't they (at least unofficially) said to be related to the Trill symbionts? That means they'd be smart, long-lived and potentially as dangerous (or more so) than the Founders. Section 31 would make another worthy enemy.

 

Its not that hard to come up with something more dynamic than teenaged Kirk and Spock at the Academy.

That's the safe movie to make.

But IMO,Trek doesn't need safe.

[trekz 7]

Its going to be HORRIBLE. [As you can tell i am a true pessimist]

 

I am a Huge opponent of Prequals and remakes and this one seems unnessisary.(Did we need a new Superman movie? Posiden? THE OMEN?)

 

I mean who would play Kirk and Spock? They would have to get the Story and casting right to make it work

 

But i am not going to hold my breathe

 

I just wish they would make a TNG/DS9/Voy one

I share your pessimism to some extent Tinadoll. Prequels are dicey and I dislike many unnecessary remakes! It's going to need to be a nearly perfect story and casting combo to succeed. OMG I wish they would just do a combined TNG/DS8/VOY movie!

 

Its great that another movie is in the works.

But I have reservations about the Kirk-Spock Academy storyline. I love the TOS characters, but I'm just not sure I'm going to be all that excited about this film.

 

Star Trek needs something bigger, a grander storyline to re-energize the product. Almost a Star Wars trilogy-like story in which some great evil threatens the very core of the Federation itself. Maybe even from within. Then we could have the TNG/DS9/Voyager mixed cast come together in some fashion and over the course of a couple or three movies restore the Federation.

 

Those aliens from the TNG episode "Conspiracy" would be excellent villains. Weren't they (at least unofficially) said to be related to the Trill symbionts? That means they'd be smart, long-lived and potentially as dangerous (or more so) than the Founders. Section 31 would make another worthy enemy.

 

Its not that hard to come up with something more dynamic than teenaged Kirk and Spock at the Academy.

That's the safe movie to make.

But IMO,Trek doesn't need safe.

Good points APW. A grand storyline of a huge threat would be awsome. The "Conspiracy" race could be a good idea. Section 31 would be a strong internal threat. Maybe even that scary race (what was it, Species 8427?) that looked sorta like the Aliens creature.

 

But I agree Trek should "Go for it" to woo back fans. And a TNG/DS9/Voy combined cast would attract fans of each of those series. Throw in Spock and you get TOS fans too.

Edited April 27, 2006 by trekz