What were they thinking? AVENGERS style TREK

[Xavier_Storma]

What were they thinking? The possibilities were endless…

Looking at the shared universe franchises of THE AVENGERS, the X-MEN and soon to join the club STAR WARS and DC Comics, I wonder if the analysts at Paramount will knock their heads on their tables after realizing the stupidity of the decision they took back in 2006 to re-invent STAR TREK.

Yes, we have to go back half a decade to discuss this matter further.
2006: BATMAN BEGINS and CASINO ROYALE launched a very successful reboot of their respective franchises. It was hard to sell established continuity, since the producers and managers thought that the average Joe, who goes to the movies is unable to remember more than 2 films back into a movie series. And no doubt, both relaunch movies were great.

But now, half a decade later, cinema changed once again: Movie franchises which span not only one, or two sequels, but consist of sidequels, prequels and spinoffs are more popular than ever. Marvel started the trend, having produced 6 films in the shared continuity in less than 10 years! The X-Men are following suit having so far released 5 films, with number 6 and 7 following; joining the club will be the fantastic four… but that was just the beginning…
It appears now that every studio tries to create it’s own shared universe: DC comics will launch it with MAN OF STEEL this year, Fox is connecting dots in the Alien/Prometheus/Predator franchise, and it is possible that Blade Runner is/will become part of it, too; universal is creating a spy franchise out of the Bourne series... and I guess we will see a sidequel to the teen-loved Twilight series down the road, too!

Now look at TREK. How outdated it feels (again). Yet, Paramount failed to realize… all the other studios are craving for… are building up… all that was already there. There is no other universe like the established TREK universe, spanning more than 700 hours of TV and 10 movies. A sandbox for every author.

Imagine how an AVENGERS-style TREK film could look like, teaming up original Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer!

They had it all, yet they failed to see… I wonder how you guys think about it... let me know.

[CorporalCaptain]

I think you're wrong.

[King Daniel Into Darkness]

Brent Spiner wanted to do a "Justice League of Trek" to follow Nemesis, and mentioned it in one or two interviews. Time travel would have united the heroes (including saving Data "Relativity"-style) to face a group of villains.

I'm certain it would have sucked.

Here's the fan-made version:

[teacake]

What do you mean KingDaniel, that trailer is just a-mazing!!!

[Xavier_Storma]

You know... AVENGERS was also plain stupid, just like TRANSFORMERS, yet it did money and shaped the future of cinema franchises.

If someone could do it right, it would be TREK, since timetravel, alternate realities etc. belong to it from the early days.

[Robert Maxwell]

Movie franchises have been around forever. The success of [i]The Avengers[/b] depended on a whole lot of things falling into place, with the most important element perhaps being Robert Downey, Jr. Star Trek doesn't have that.

[ralph]

A gang with high muscle ton, the use of brute force, a frenetic rhythm. A good action movie only, without any possible comparison.

[anh165]

Xavier_Storma wrote:

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Imagine how an AVENGERS-style TREK film could look like, teaming up original Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer!

They had it all, yet they failed to see… I wonder how you guys think about it... let me know.

Worst idea ever.

[BillJ]

They could've all pushed each other around in wheelchairs and called it Star Trek: The Geritol Generation.

The TNG gang looked downright lethargic the last time we saw them, and the DS9 and Voyager casts really aren't looking any better. It's best just to remember the high-points and let the rest of Modern Trek rest in peace.

[King Daniel Into Darkness]

Joss Whedon did a fantastic job with Avengers, IMO. All the characters had moments to truly shine, the action was amazing and it left you feeling great. Ditto Abrams with Star Trek. Compare with the pre-2009 Trek movies, where they rarely gave thought to anyone outside of Kirk/Spock and Picard/Data. Now imagine a Trek mashup movie where ALL the crews (surviving members in TOS' case) come together. All the modest budget goes on Shatner, Nimoy and Stewart's pay cheques so no big expensive sequences. A director not as good as Abrams or Whedon. A Berman-era Trek mindset behind the whole thing.

It might have been okay. But after seeing Picard and Kirk's meeting in Generations (where they rode horses together and then killed Kirk) I see a far greater chance of failure.

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I think the original post is arrant nonsense. Paramount clearly made the right call.

[Robert Maxwell]

Trek '09 was a massive failure because it made $385M at the box office.

FLOP!!!!

[anh165]

Robert Maxwell wrote:

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Trek '09 was a massive failure because it made $385M at the box office.

FLOP!!!!

"I love GENERATIONS. In fact, over the years it has become my favorite TREK film.

It's so unconventional and so against mainstream. It's epic in scope and never before and never after that again,..." - Xavier_storma

[Robert Maxwell]

anh165 wrote:

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"I love GENERATIONS. In fact, over the years it has become my favorite TREK film.

It's so unconventional and so against mainstream. It's epic in scope and never before and never after that again,..." - Xavier_storma

I actually liked Generations, but Xavier_Storma's overselling it a wee bit. This is assuming he actually said that and you aren't putting words into his mouth/keyboard.

[anh165]

I couldn't make that up. No matter how hard I try.

The golden nugget is the "so against mainstream" billing.