For anyone who has followed the movie and television business in the last few years , they know one matter is dependable : mega - franchise are king . mightily now , every studio apartment is reckon for its own version of Marvel ’s universe . But Paramount has one sitting mightily under its nose , and it ’s called Star Trek .
Top double : Tobias Richter / The Light employment
franchise provide the political capital that allows projects to get greenlit — whether it ’s a remake , a reimagining , a volume series or a comic Christian Bible . Having a smashing script is only a small part of the equation ( too modest , regrettably ) . What marketable element is going to tolerate the pic or serial to spread out in China , Russia , Germany , Latin America and other territories around the human race , in a cosmos in which stars mean virtually nothing anymore , but the cartoon you watch when you were seven can easily get a $ 200 million budget ? This is one grounds that Paramount has been so fast-growing about marketing Star Trek overseas , hold its lusterless performance abroad in previous incarnations ( Star Trek IV was predict only The Voyage Home in Europe and even open up with a brief Star Trek primer to get fans up - to - warp speeding . It did n’t aid ) .
Every studio wants and call for its franchise ( much like Captain Kirk needed his pain ) . Disney not only has the Marvel films , but Star Wars and the Theme Park spin - off ’s like plagiariser of the Caribbean , Warner Bros. has the DC Comics heroes and Harry Potter franchise , Fox has X - Men and , now , Planet of the Apes , Sony is laboring under the delusion that Spider - Man and its associated twirl - offs are a vital franchise ( although if anyone can take out it off , Drew Goddard probably can ) and Universal , which only had Fast & The Furious and Jason Bourne , is doing a full court press to revive its moribund Universal Monsters into a twenty-first century mega - franchise . And while Paramount has the critically reviled but democratic Transformers , they also have another enfranchisement that potentially can rule them all : Star Trek .
And yet you would never know it from the way in which the make has been shabbily developed over the last ten years . Since the Enterprise debacle and the cancellation of that series , Star Trek went into hibernation until it was revived highly successfully by J.J. Abrams insert the iconic characters to a new multiplication of fans around the world . Whether you love or loathe the film ( or just love them a helluva lot ) , one thing that is dissatisfactory is the fact that it pick out four year between the first two films — and at least another three until the next sequel . In picture years , this is an timeless existence . And there is literally nothing else to sate the vacuum in between , except for the books and comics . The fact is , it ’s time for Paramount and CBS to start out do by Star Trek like a clientele , and not just an annuity they can cash in every few years . They have their own Marvel , their own Star Wars , their own Guardians of the Galaxy , but it ’s meter to start out treat Star Trek like Marvel and DC and devise , presume I say it , a transmedia strategy that delivers on the promise of this franchise which will not only satisfy the millions of fan craving more Star Trek but also sate the studio coffers many multiplication over .
MGM ’s 50th day of remembrance festivity of James Bond was a text edition marketing scheme put to death with unbelievable finesse in which they revisited the catalog , introduced newfangled licensing program which culminated in the freeing of one of the near and most successful films in the series , Skyfall and create a newfangled genesis of Bond fans . It ’s also worth mention that Skyfall was helmed by a theatre director who jazz James Bond . And with the impending 50th anniversary of Star Trek , the time for Paramount to get its act together when it come in to Trek is now .
age ago , the loser of the television series , Enterprise , was erroneously attributed by deposed Trek overlord Rick Berman to the preponderance of too much Star Trek . The fact is anyone who knew anything about Star Trek acknowledge at the time that the eroding military rank and correct loge - office staff of films like Insurrection and Nemesis had nothing to do with a deficiency of interest in Star Trek , they had to do with the fact people were n’t concerned in see spoiled Star Trek . They were abandoning a Star Trek that had become thudding and formulaic and mired in old - fashioned storytelling whereas Star Trek always succeeded well when it was audacious and forward - thinking . Star Trek was at its best when it boldly go .
But how do you whelm the internal problems at the studio with bifurcated ownership between Paramount Pictures and CBS Television with feud fiefdoms unable to cooperate until now , last in mutual fear and detestation of each other ? Well , I ’m glad you enquire , here ’s some thoughts …
Star Trek needs its Kevin Feige …
So what does it mean to ferment Star Trek into Marvel ? The first thing Marvel decide to do when they choose to finance and raise their own prop was they engage someone who knew and loved Marvel , Kevin Feige . And Kevin put together a team of writers and producer who functioned much as John Lasseter and his team did at Pixar — insure quality control over the films and television series ( what Jeph Loeb is doing with creating idiot box shows for Netflix is nothing unretentive of Marvel - ous , yes , I roll in the hay the puns , or as the Brits might say , brilliant ) which is why , with the exception of Iron Man 2 , which was still a fiscal winner , Marvel has n’t produced a clunker yet .
And what was dub its most off - concept and risky venture yet has turned out to swash the biggest R.O.I. , the medium - budgeted Guardians of the Galaxy . Yes , they ’ve still been tentative in some regards — not greenlighting a $ 30 million universal gas constant - betray bleak Widow moving-picture show and where ’s my Moon Knight TV series , for instance — alternatively continuing to focus on mega - budget film which inevitably imply powerful crystals that can enslave the existence as their McGuffin . But their film continue to get better and well each time , and out - gross each film before it . And , in telecasting , despite the mixed receipt earned by S.H.I.E.L.D. the show has revived creatively and new series like the World War II - set Agent Carter ( yes ! ) and the Netflix prove like Luke Cage , Jessica Jones and Daredevil seem even more bright .
And even if the studio can find its own Kevin Feige ( and , I for one , would love to see Rod Roddenberry involved as a consultant in this process as piece who ’s protective , but not slavish , to his family legacy ) , who ’d be the showrunners tax with making the new films and series ? It ’d be easy to provide up names like Ron Moore and Bryan Fuller , who could both do a noteworthy chore in the Trek trenches again unencumbered by their previous simplicity and putting all they ’ve learned in the intervening years to proficient use . But both are probably more Captain Kirks than Admiral Noguras — they ’d desire to be make the shows and not just overlording them . And I strongly suggest one or both of these television auteurs should get the helm of a Trek series . Hell , would n’t it even be fascinating to see the erudite Nick Meyer take a go at re-explain the Holy Scripture . But there ’s also some Brobdingnagian Trek fans out there who you ’d never associate with the franchise and whose end result I could n’t begin to imagine which would make it even more exciting . Some of the names that come to judgement are the man behind “ The Negron Factor , ” Mad Men ’s Matt Weiner ( who used to hang out with the Star Trek writers back when he was on the lot doing Becker ) and uber rooter Seth McFarlane . But you ’d be aghast to fuck how many prove TV showrunners and Co - Ep ’s are major trekker who would do virtually anything ( and work for less than their inverted comma ) to shepherd a novel Star Trek to the screen . finally , Paramount and CBS need to put together a brain trustfulness to focus as adviser and their very own in - house Tom Hagen consigliore ’s to help them understand and work ( in the respectable sentience of the tidings ) their crown jewel with a phaser - proof five year plan to start .
Star Trek require to come back to television …
The liberal problem with Star Trek ’s take to television remains the nature of the rightfield cleave between Paramount and CBS . While Paramount controls the moving picture rights , CBS own goggle box and most of the consumer products licensing .
And thus , you have two ten - ton gorillas with whom the enfranchisement ’s fate rests : Brad Grey and Les Moonves . Now the fact is in today ’s TV environs , CBS is not going to allow one of their most valuable properties to be produced for a internet they do n’t own , and this is the bad problem . For everyone who thinks Netflix is going to abuse in and be a Jesus Christ here , there ’s very little chance of that materialize ( or rather , being allowed ) .
If Star Trek is plump to add up back , it ’s pop off to be on a CBS - hold in entity , perhaps with a Netflix or Amazon streaming component to offset the costs . The problem here is Star Trek does not fit CBS ’ visibility at all , it skews immature and does n’t go the CBS demo . NCIS : Vulcan is not in the cards . But here ’s the good word , you know where it could solve ? Showtime , which is also owned by CBS . And here ’s where it gets better ; you cognize what almost every overseas telegram channel has been look for this development time of year : a scifi Game of Thrones . True that . And guess what meet those parameters ? Star Trek . And I ’m not sing about the erstwhile “ teaser plus five act and a rag ” Star Trek , but Star Trek in the 21st century . A Star Trek that goes back to world - building , boldly going and intergalactic geo - politics . A Star Trek that is advanced and boasts cutting boundary visual effects and storytelling . That ’s the kind of Star Trek series , with perhaps a 10 or 13 installment order that Showtime might air . And , if not , Paramount is also a partner in EPIX so it ’s potential , and perhaps even probable , if CBS were the studio partner , they might be uncoerced to grow it for EPIX which has so little market insight with such a low - legal profession for success , it might be the equivalent of what first - discharge syndication was for Next Generation 25 years ago .
But , you know , that ’s not the only channel CBS is a cooperator in with Warner Bros. They also own , gulping , The CW . Now , I recognize what you ’re thinking ? No way . But , for those of you who have n’t noticed lately The CW has sort of turn into Syfy Channel , Jr. Now why is that ? Because in the age of vitiated ratings , genre fans are some of the most loyal fans out there and scifi also is one of the few genre that still repeats so it ’s perfect for cyclosis and dwelling house television . But what would Star Trek on the CW look like . manifestly , it ’s a very dissimilar show that on Showtime or EPIX . The obvious answer is the dreaded Starfleet Academy which instantly evokes groans from most fans . But that does n’t have to be the pillow slip . One of the o.k. episode of The Next Generation was “ The First Duty , ” which almost entirely take topographic point at Starfleet Academy . I ’ve always thought that a Starfleet Academy show which is more consanguineal to The Paper Chase than Beverly Hills 90210 could be a terrific show . College is the crucible in which one ’s adult life and worldview is often mould so a advanced and bright Starfleet Academy could absolutely work and it would for certain be a good fellow series to a Star Trek coif on a starship on another outlet , perhaps aim a younger demo than another serial and serve as a gateway drug , much as the J.J. movies did , for non - Trekkers .
Color Me Mine
So we ’ve already talked about continue the movie serial publication , adding at least two new television serial . What else ? Perhaps a re - resource of Next Generation in the way J.J. address Classic Trek in the newfangled creation . Perhaps not . A new animated serial is long delinquent and is an opportunity to revisit absent friends whether it ’s new voyage of the original starship Enterprise or Next Generation or other seminal moments in the Star Trek universe .
But as they say with the ginsu tongue , that ’s not all . It ’s been a few years since Direct - To - Video was a real business which has for the most part been supplanted by VOD , but there ’s no cause you ca n’t do at least one , if not more , MOW or direct - to - VOD picture show a yr that focus on the more “ inside baseball game ” elements of the dealership ; an all - Klingon movie , part 31 , a Harry Mudd film , a retro reversion to “ The Cage ” ( which is what Enterprise should have been ) back when space was dangerous and unknown and , if there ’s a Shak’ari , a final escapade for Bill Shatner as Captain Kirk . These would be the equivalent weight of what the lover films are doing now which are clearly satiate a void for fans , but would be done with first - rate production economic value , acting and special essence in the actual Star Trek universe . They ’d be relatively cheap to create and exceedingly remunerative for the studio apartment and licensing revenue . And rather than detract from stake in the lineament celluloid series , they would help affirm interestingness in the interim .
A Wise Decision , Captain
And last but not least , to demonstrate you value the rooter , it is essential to remaster all the Trek films for the 50th anniversary with newfangled bonus materials , including both the theatrical releases and the goggle box baseball swing of most of the film . And this is the clip to expend the money to revisit the Robert Wise Director ’s Edition of Star Trek : The Motion Picture in hi - def which deserve to see its Blu - Ray unveiling . Ultimately , MGM treated Bond with respect and the Lowry 4 K return were stunning and the packaging was elegant and respectful of an august five decade account and its significance in pop culture chronicle .
It is imperative that Star Trek be treated this way rather of as some soupy refuge from an SNL skit which is far too often how the dealership has been doubtfully treat by its studio lord ( retrieve the Star Trek Awards on UPN , the equivalent of the Star Wars Holiday Special for Trek ) . Too often the percept that dominates studio apartment intellection is Trek fans are a bunch of freaks , the one ’s that more often than not show up in the documentaries about Trek fans that apprehend Spock , but are only a small part of the robust tapestry of Trekkers who bang the Trek universe and are fairly well - conform individuals ( you know , the people we made Free Enterprise about ) .
In addition , it ’s unconvincing CBS will incur the costs involved in re - creating the visual gist for Deep Space Nine and Voyager the way they did for Star Trek : The Next Generation give its anemic sale ( which is a disgrace because they were attractively raise ) , but it should strongly consider take two for Deep Space Nine which was the last gravid Trek show produced . In the casing of Voyager , it ’s unlikely there would be much value in either syndication or home video for this championship so upconversion is a , accord , inferior selection . This would allow the series , shot on photographic film to be present in howdy - definition , with the quality of the optical effects somewhat diminished since they ca n’t be chance up to dead on target 1080p . It ’s an selection that was employed somewhat effectively for Farscape and would give up the studio to , at least , release the show on Blu - Ray at lesser quality than a reliable 1080 transfer without revisiting the visual effects . Even if CBS choose to upconvert both titles rather than do a dearly-won visual effects restoration , the creation of new fillip materials on equality with the superb stuff raise for both Enterprise and ST : TNG is a must .
Keep on Trekking … .
And none of this precludes the continued succeeder of the movie enfranchisement under the stewardship of Bad Robot . Both films under the breastplate of J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk have been hugely successful and critically acclaimed ( despite the damning protestations of some die - hard Trekkers ) and with Roberto Orci at the helm of the next moving picture , an avowed and passionate Trek fan himself , there ’s no reason to think the next movie will be any less successful than its two predecessors and certainly has the potential to be the respectable one yet . The brain combine behind these film made a very impudent decision early on which was that these film survive in an alternating universe to the original movies and TV serial so neither needs to preclude either from keep on to live long and prosper . intelligibly , Bob Orci will have a prominent role in the new Trek order and as a fan and uber successful screenwriter and TV producer his contributions to the future of Trek are essential . While I would ’ve read a few months ago that it ’s time to take off the grooming wheel and let the Modern series continue without the participation of old Trek genius , the chance of Shatner and Nimoy re - link for the fiftieth anniversary is too thrill a medical prognosis to ignore and I certainly hope that they do a ascertain a way to make it so .
So there you go . This is what should and , quite candidly , need to happen . Much like the plot of many a outstanding Star Trek sequence , the Eminians and the Vendikans , um , I mean Paramount and CBS need to find a manner to work together harmoniously . It ’s a formula for winner , honoring the past , and underwrite the next seniority of a darling and important enfranchisement for many decades to come in . May your way be as pleasant .
MARK A. ALTMAN who the Los Angeles Times once call “ the reality ’s foremost Trekspert ” is the writer / producer of the film , Free Enterprise , starring William Shatner and Eric McCormack . He has been a writer / producer on legion television series including Castle , Necessary Roughness , Femme Fatales and is co - author of the upcoming oral story of Star Trek , The Fifty Year Mission , from St. Martin ’s Press .
Mark will be moderating a panel on “ 50 Years of Trek : From The Cage to Today ” at 7 post-mortem examination on Saturday , October 11th atNew York Comic Con .
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