Hi all, Long time lurker here! I met Jonathan Frakes at an expo recently. He's absolutely lovely, and left a great impression on me. I put it out there that I hope there is one more TNG film to come. He said he hoped so too, as he felt the cast was currently on "fire". I wanted to ask him more about this on a Q&A panel, but didn't have a chance. Considering that Picard ended on an open note, the series had strong critical and commercial success, I think we could get a really great film. Patrick Stewart wants to do it, too. What do you think the biggest obstacle is? Kelvinverse? Paramount? I'd say Picard season 3 really opened up a lot of doors here. Instead of going for a huge 100 million dollar budget tentpole, create a great Trek film on a reasonable budget like the older days. Bring on one more for this team!
The biggest obstacle is a writers strike. Then there's Paramount tightening it's belt as multiple media companies are doing.
The thing is, there’s no such thing as a ‘reasonable budget’ where Star Trek shows or movies are concerned. Trek is expensive to produce, and these legacy actors are expensive to hire. That’s why we’re getting 32nd century Starfleet Academy: they can reuse existing assets from DSC and have a new, cheaper-priced cast.
The Kelvin Films are permanently stalled. If the next Kelvin Film doesn't come out by 2026 (10 years after the last one), I don't think it's going to come out at all. It takes three years to make those films once they're greenlit, and we're already in 2023, so... I think if they do another TNG Film, it'll be a TV Movie or a Mini-Series, now that those are a thing for Star Trek. I wouldn't say "no" to one more, but I'd be totally fine with leaving it off with PIC Season 3.
Star Trek is still a big ticket in the Paramount film lineup. If belts are being tightened, then all the better reason to make a movie in the First Contact approach (reasonable budget - better return on investment) as opposed to the "blockbuster" approach of Kelvinverse.... Make an awesome TNG film, and the people will come.
TNG movies didn't work. At all. They had one decent film, FC, and even that didn't exactly set the world on fire. And if there's one thing the Picard series has proven it's that TNG flourishes on TV. One of the bigger obstacles in film is that it really is impossible to properly service an ensemble cast of seven characters in a two hour film. Someone gets neglected. One thing Picard S3 did have going for it over the TNG movies is that with ten episodes, you can at least provide a chance for everyone to have their moment. Regardless, I'm pretty sure Trek's days on the big screen are done. The fourth Kelvin film won't happen, and I find it very telling Paramount now has plans to do Trek TV movies on Paramount+, starting with the Section 31 movie. In fact, any potential TNG movie will almost certainly be a streaming movie rather than theatrical.
I'm not opposed to a final movie adventure for the TNG cast to be streaming, either. I don't think Star Trek theatrical movies are dead, there are just many circumstances and variables at play, as there always have been with these films.
I hope it happens, I think that the biggest obstacle is the usual one: budget needed vs expected returns, HOWEVER what they’re doing with the Section 31 movie could be the way to go: a lower budget streaming-only movie. Also, I know that Stewart was opposed to film the series in Caada, but perhaps for a one off movie he would be ok with it and doing so would lower the budget a lot, since things cost way less and they even have the virtual set available.
I think the biggest thing they have going is that Patrick wants it the most. Time isn't forever and they should get this done while they can. Paramount would know this too.
I don't necessarily disagree with you but I think the TNG movies' biggest issue was that they weren't very good. They weren't good because of a few different issues: inconsistent characterization, bizarre plotting and story decisions, etc. This doesn't mean that movies aren't a good medium for TNG or that it's only good on TV. I think a lot of unique factors led to the TNG movies being what they were but a good TNG movie is certainly possible. Think of TUC: a tight, timely, self contained story that is mostly well plotted and enriched by the characters' histories yet not dragged down by them. There could certainly be a TNG version of this!
Patrick is also expensive. Which is why we haven't seen a show or movie with Shatner since Star Trek: Generations.
I absolutely agree! Also, the fact that they started immediately after the series didn't help with "the passage of time" aspect (really benefitted the TOS films). I agree, there could be an AMAZING TNG film. Who could have thought we would ever get quality like Picard season 3?
I suspect we'll never see another Trek movie in the theatres. They've been proven to work fine on TV / streaming with the same production value.
That's why I am a fan of re-cutting S3 of PIC as two films. Re-cut them, put them out on a limited release basis, before plunking on Paramount+.
If there was a new TNG feature film I would definitely want to support it, but I don't see the need for one after Picard Season 3. I don't see what else there is for them to do that hasn't been done already in Star Trek: Picard, and that's all three seasons. Granted, there's still a lot of questions left out there, like the fate of the Romulans or Klingons, etc. but I don't see that as a good enough reason to make a movie about, when that could be answered in another streaming series or special. Now, if they did a Paramount Plus exclusive TNG film I think that would make more sense because the financial stakes are lower and it only really has to appeal to diehard TNG/Trek fans.
Fate of the Romulans was addressed in S1. They are a largely broken and nomadic people now. Starfleet tried to help them after the nova. Fate of the Klingons: that was addressed in TNG! Allies of the Federation, internal politics and House (in)fighting always a problem.
If Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, and the rest of the cast, couldn't get enough asses in the seats to turn a decent enough profit, I highly doubt the cast of TNG is gonna do any better. Don't get me wrong, I love the cast, but to make any kinda money, you gotta appeal to a wider audience then just Trekkies. Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, even Karl Urban, are genuine "movie stars," and they couldn't do it in their last film. Which sucked, because Beyond was pretty damn good. I just don't think the TNG cast has that kinda mass appeal.
I guess it all comes down to dollars and cents. You have a good point about the Trek09 stars. That said, it depends on what kind of movie we are making here. The TNG cast in a popcorn simplistic popcorn flick for the masses, you're right.. probably not. However, the TNG cast in a thoughtful film balanced with suspense and excellent writing (produced on a lower budget).. absolutely.
TNG itself barely paid attention to half the cast most of the time, we shouldn’t have been surprised when they got glossed over in the TNG movies. Shoot, even in Picard S3 they mostly used Beverly as a convenient womb and then for exposition dumps.
I think they could knock it out of the park. The cast is has never been better acting wise. Their hearts are in it. Terry did great work with season 3. I think they should go for it.