Jonathan Frakes: "Star Trek won't be coming back to TV."

[fireproof78]

There are lots of shows that were considered "good" that were cancelled. There's concept. Of course there is execution. But there's also time slot and competition and how receptive an audience is at any point in time. Even in the streaming world, people only have so much time to give to entertainment.

Well, if you want to think that pessimistically, why should anybody ever launch a new TV series? Nothing can ever succeed, right?

He's just pointing out how the studio generally sees things. They're not going to bother with a new series as long as they're making money off of the content they already have.

This.

Studios are not wanting to take risks on new work that could fail, and new ideas that won't make money,

It might be pessimistic (and it kind of is) but that is how studios have been operating for a while, and its going to take some demonstration of audience interest to change that.

That's why we have Furious 7, multiple Transformers movies, Marvel movies until 2019, the next Star Wars movies and spin offs. They are safer bets than something original.

Star Trek is another story. CBS has yet to indicate they want to put any money towards the franchise because, even with Star Trek, there is no guarantee of return.

Yeah, it's pessimistic, but the general attitude of Hollywood studios is kind of pessimistic and has been for a number of years. And there really is not any indication that it will change any time soon.

 

[Ithekro]

Sci-fi is expessive as you usually need to build sets and costume that are not normally avalible from other productions or just in Hollywood in general. Period pieces usually have left overs from whenever, and modern day shows can just do location shooting and some clothing from J.C. Penney's tailored for their actors.

Sci-fi on a ship or space station needs a lot of standing sets (bridge, engineering, hallways, and such). The easy way to do that now would be to purchase the stages/studio were some of the exensive fan production sets are already or under construction presently. That would be expensive, but the work would be done for the most part. They would be stuck with a particular style, which might go against corperate logic, but its a set. They can repaint it and move things around until they like it.

There would still be no guarantee they'd get a return on even that investment, much less anything the actors and screenwritters they'd need to pump out a season's worth of shows. The cost of develpement might force two seasons worth of shows just to make back their money.

 

[Tim Walker]

There might be two conceivable ways to reduce the costs of costuming.

In the movie Pitch Black there were what appeared to be ethnic costumes-Arab? I think. Perhaps there are similar costumes left over from period pieces. Hire a few extras from varied backgrounds, dress them in ethnic outfits.

Actually, you might do more with less. Like Serenity/Firefly, you could could give a cosmopolitan air to the show.

As for Star Fleet uniforms, consider the military uniforms worn in the Stargate franchise.
Imagine similar uniforms, with similar rank insignia. But add com badges in the arrowhead shape.

...how about adding some kanji to the background? Maybe a buddha?

 

[Ithekro]

Those can work, but would it work for Star Trek?

 

[Tim Walker]

Well, if you want to think that pessimistically, why should anybody ever launch a new TV series? Nothing can ever succeed, right?

He's just pointing out how the studio generally sees things. They're not going to bother with a new series as long as they're making money off of the content they already have.

Good point. He was just being realistic about what the suits think. Which doesn't mean he is a pessimist (he might well have positive ideas) just realistic about what others think.

 

[Tim Walker]

Those can work, but would it work for Star Trek?

Yes, I think they could work in Trek-if kept in the background.

Come to think of it, something like this worked in NuBSG.

 

[Tim Walker]

If the hero ship visits a Preserver planet, I can imagine the use of historical/ethnic costumes. Again, left over from other endeavors.

 

[Tim Walker]

Sci-fi on a ship or space station needs a lot of standing sets (bridge, engineering, hallways, and such). The easy way to do that now would be to purchase the stages/studio were some of the exensive fan production sets are already or under construction presently. That would be expensive, but the work would be done for the most part. They would be stuck with a particular style, which might go against corperate logic, but its a set. They can repaint it and move things around until they like it.
.

What about props? I recall a story about a fan who made a mock up of the TOS shuttlecraft.

 

[Dukhat]

The comparison is valid since they are both unknown characters as people posted on here have said if you made a series about her people would go, "Tasha who?"

Wrong. House is unknown, because he was a brand new character with no previous backstory. Yar isn't. No matter how new and exciting they portray her, the audience already knows her ultimate fate: to be meaninglessly killed on some no-name planet by some oil-slick monster. So what's the point?

Oh, and...Yar must be crazy to think there'll ever be a show about Yar

 

[Lance]

The 'x factor' that people fail to take into account is that TV Trek and Movie Trek are handled by different branches these days, rather than all being under the one single umbrella like they used to be. And it was heavily publicised that when JJ was in charge, there was some friction between the movie producers and CBS over things like merchandising and such like. So different goals are not unprecedented.

Chances are that the movie people hold all the cards as far as production goes, and that they have simply put a moratorium on anyone bringing it back to TV until the movies have run their course.

 

[BillJ]

The comparison is valid since they are both unknown characters as people posted on here have said if you made a series about her people would go, "Tasha who?"

Wrong. House is unknown, because he was a brand new character with no previous backstory. Yar isn't. No matter how new and exciting they portray her, the audience already knows her ultimate fate: to be meaninglessly killed on some no-name planet by some oil-slick monster. So what's the point?

Oh, and...Yar must be crazy to think there'll ever be a show about Yar

I think the more interesting series would be a docu-comedy about the huge mistake Crosby made quitting the show and the hijinks that ensued as she spent most of the next decade trying to claw her way back in.

 

[BillJ]

He was just being realistic about what the suits think. Which doesn't mean he is a pessimist (he might well have positive ideas) just realistic about what others think.

I'm actually pessimistic overall.

I don't think the economics make sense for someone like CBS to bring Trek back. On a personal note, I'm not sure a new Trek series, regardless of where it takes place, is something I'd even be interested in. TV, for the most part, has moved on from people like me. I enjoy the episodic format of the original Star Trek. I enjoyed getting an entire story in a single sitting. Modern shows spend so much time trying to lay bread crumbs from week to week trying to keep audiences coming back that they seemingly don't know how to tell a short to the point story any more. I'm to the point where I enjoy going to the movies far more than watching TV.

Then I just don't find characters on TV entertaining anymore.

 

[Ithekro]

The comparison is valid since they are both unknown characters as people posted on here have said if you made a series about her people would go, "Tasha who?"

Wrong. House is unknown, because he was a brand new character with no previous backstory. Yar isn't. No matter how new and exciting they portray her, the audience already knows her ultimate fate: to be meaninglessly killed on some no-name planet by some oil-slick monster. So what's the point?

Oh, and...Yar must be crazy to think there'll ever be a show about Yar

I think the more interesting series would be a docu-comedy about the huge mistake Crosby made quitting the show and the hijinks that ensued as she spent most of the next decade trying to claw her way back in.

They could use that for Galaxy Quest.

 

[Trekkin]

Knowing the Trek fandom, I imagine we would have lots of people that would hate it - we're kind of like that. The people clamouring for a series (especially the ones who don't like that latest films) would probably get a bit of a shock if a series ever materialised. It's would be just as likely to not be a certain fans 'proper' Trek, as the next film potentially might be.

I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that Paramount didn't actually own the rights to the Star Trek films - CBS still owns the brand, and have just licenced it out.

Again,I may be wrong.

 

[thepigeon]

The comparison is valid since they are both unknown characters as people posted on here have said if you made a series about her people would go, "Tasha who?"

Wrong. House is unknown, because he was a brand new character with no previous backstory. Yar isn't. No matter how new and exciting they portray her, the audience already knows her ultimate fate: to be meaninglessly killed on some no-name planet by some oil-slick monster. So what's the point?

Oh, and...Yar must be crazy to think there'll ever be a show about Yar

You are the only thinking there will be a show on yar not me since you keep brining it up. And seeing how you can't grasp the conversation at hand it is surprising you are not banned yet.

 

[T'Girl]

the audience already knows her ultimate fate: to be meaninglessly killed on some no-name planet by some oil-slick monster. So what's the point?

Tasha Yar died honorable in the line of duty, while on a rescue mission to recover two of her shipmates. What show were you watching?

 

[drt]

Knowing the Trek fandom, I imagine we would have lots of people that would hate it - we're kind of like that. The people clamouring for a series (especially the ones who don't like that latest films) would probably get a bit of a shock if a series ever materialised. It's would be just as likely to not be a certain fans 'proper' Trek, as the next film potentially might be.

I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that Paramount didn't actually own the rights to the Star Trek films - CBS still owns the brand, and have just licenced it out.

Again,I may be wrong.

You are correct.

On both points. Even if a new show were stated to explicitly take place in the Prime universe, I think there will be unhappy fans pointing out continuity issues, stating it is not a proper continuation, etc. - shoot it already happened with Enterprise, and that was with the same production crew. An all new production crew has no chance to make such fans happy - might as well just start with a clean slate.

 

[Tom]

Knowing the Trek fandom, I imagine we would have lots of people that would hate it - we're kind of like that. The people clamouring for a series (especially the ones who don't like that latest films) would probably get a bit of a shock if a series ever materialised. It's would be just as likely to not be a certain fans 'proper' Trek, as the next film potentially might be.

I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that Paramount didn't actually own the rights to the Star Trek films - CBS still owns the brand, and have just licenced it out.

Again,I may be wrong.

That is correct, we just don't know the extent of the contract between the 2 companies. CBS is the owner, lock, stock and barrel as they say.

Could Star Trek be under better ownership? I believe so , but it is what it, is and unless some company wants to spring over a billion to buy the franchise it will stay that way. I sometimes wonder if a company like Universal or Disney owned Trek would it be as non-existent as it is today.

 

[Dukhat]

You are the only thinking there will be a show on yar not me since you keep brining it up.

How soon you forget your own post:

I can only think of two characters that would be great for a netflix series and that is commander Riker or Tasha Yar.

And seeing how you can't grasp the conversation at hand it is surprising you are not banned yet.

I can grasp it just fine since all of my posts were in response to your original post I requoted above and that you seemed to have forgotten writing. And I'd watch the "banning" talk if I were you, since that's what get's people banned, not normal conversation like what I'm having.

Anyway, I'm kinda done talking about this.

 

[thepigeon]

You are the only thinking there will be a show on yar not me since you keep brining it up.

How soon you forget your own post:

I can only think of two characters that would be great for a netflix series and that is commander Riker or Tasha Yar.

And seeing how you can't grasp the conversation at hand it is surprising you are not banned yet.

I can grasp it just fine since all of my posts were in response to your original post I requoted above and that you seemed to have forgotten writing. And I'd watch the "banning" talk if I were you, since that's what get's people banned, not normal conversation like what I'm having.

Anyway, I'm kinda done talking about this.

Nowhere in my post did I say that they would make a series try again bub and learn to read.