Spoilers Section 31 General Discussion Thread

[Quantum21]

I liked the Section 31 movie, but if Paramount wanted to make this a series they already would've done it. Just look at them filming the Starfleet Academy show that literally no one asked for these days. The talk about them providing a S31 series if people demand it is just that, talk. After all, people demanded a Star Trek Legacy series and we aren't getting that.

No, it's a long and complicated history, filled with false starts, delays and so on.

Short form is: tv series was ready for filming(scripts, production design, everything); covid and star availibilty delays; tv movie filming; now the idea is doing a series without Yeoh...but the very latest, latest is that Yeoh is open to guest starring, so we could see 10 episodes and she might appear in one or two.

 

[Dukhat]

Keep thinking that.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Nope, it's a backdoor pilot. That's not why it's not a series...Yet.

Factually incorrect.

Discovery was the backdoor pilot for S31, just as it was for SNW and the upcoming SFA show, and just as PIC was the backdoor pilot for the unlikely Legacy project. That's the very definition of a "backdoor" pilot - some characters and/or concepts, not necessarily central to the main show, that inspire another separate (a.k.a. "spin-off") show that features those characters and/or concepts.

This tele-movie is simply a stand-alone story that, at one time, was a full-on pilot for a series that Paramount/CBS opted to not pursue (so, there is no ...Yet - this is most likely the end of it). In essence, it is a failed pilot that cost a metric ass-ton of bank to build and they wanted to recoup some of their losses before calling it a day.

 

[Firebird]

Factually incorrect.

Discovery was the backdoor pilot for S31, just as it was for SNW and the upcoming SFA show, and just as PIC was the backdoor pilot for the unlikely Legacy project. That's the very definition of a "backdoor" pilot - some characters and/or concepts, not necessarily central to the main show, that inspire another separate (a.k.a. "spin-off") show that features those characters and/or concepts.

This tele-movie is simply a stand-alone story that, at one time, was a full-on pilot for a series that Paramount/CBS opted to not pursue (so, there is no ...Yet - this is most likely the end of it). In essence, it is a failed pilot that cost a metric ass-ton of bank to build and they wanted to recoup some of their losses before calling it a day.

It’s less Assignment: Earth and more The Questor Tapes.

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't think Paramount is going to greenlight any additional Trek stuff until the Skydance deal is completely finished. They will undoubtedly have their own plans for how to use Trek in the future. Not saying that will be "fire Kurtzman" - but they will probably give notes quite different from what Paramount has to date.

That's also my take. It's why I stopped talking about Legacy. My opinion didn't change any, but I don't see any point in spinning wheels about it every day either. I'll wait until the dust settles and then, at that point, whatever happens will happen.

I think the idea of TV Movies for Star Trek is sound, but too bad they botched it right out the gate with S31.

 

[137th Gebirg]

It’s less Assignment: Earth and more The Questor Tapes.

Yep. Good analogy.

 

[Quantum21]

You are just 100% wrong.
It was conceived a few years ago as a series and cut down to a movie. Everyone here except you knows this so please just accept it.

It's very probable I have more info than you. Regardless of that, I've laid out what happened and my version is more accurate than yours.

 

[Quantum21]

That's also my take. It's why I stopped talking about Legacy. My opinion didn't change any, but I don't see any point in spinning wheels about it every day either. I'll wait until the dust settles and then, at that point, whatever happens will happen.

I think the idea of TV Movies for Star Trek is sound, but too bad they botched it right out the gate with S31.

Legacy has no chance of happening. Sec31 series is maybe 60/40, for.

 

[Dukhat]

It's very probable I have more info than you. Regardless of that, I've laid out what happened and my version is more accurate than yours.

By all means, please share with us the info you have that proves us wrong. Because so far, @TimeIsAPredator is correct, and you are not.

 

[Lord Garth]

Legacy has no chance of happening. Sec31 series is may 60/40, for.

Setting aside everything else: Michelle Yeoh's price tag and busy schedule, since she's in so much demand, would be a major hindrance.

 

[137th Gebirg]

It's very probable I have more info than you...

Prove it.

Legacy has no chance of happening. Sec31 series is may 60/40, for.

60/40? Based on what?

Wow... So we have a series of posts claiming some secret-squirrel insider knowledge, backed by absolutely nothing else other than the poster's word.

That's never happened here before, has it?

 

[Tiran O'Saurus]

If you believe that, I've got some Luve Stupis to sell you.

 

[eschaton]

I think the idea of TV Movies for Star Trek is sound, but too bad they botched it right out the gate with S31.

You could do a Trek TV movie on the cheap if it was essentially all an away mission in the woods or something. No need for expensive bridge sets.

Maybe a Trek version of Prey? Of course, that cost $65 million, but I think you could shave it down a lot if you minimize the CGI usage.

 

[Quantum21]

Factually incorrect.

Discovery was the backdoor pilot for S31, just as it was for SNW and the upcoming SFA show, and just as PIC was the backdoor pilot for the unlikely Legacy project. That's the very definition of a "backdoor" pilot - some characters and/or concepts, not necessarily central to the main show, that inspire another separate (a.k.a. "spin-off") show that features those characters and/or concepts.

This tele-movie is simply a stand-alone story that, at one time, was a full-on pilot for a series that Paramount/CBS opted to not pursue (so, there is no ...Yet - this is most likely the end of it). In essence, it is a failed pilot that cost a metric ass-ton of bank to build and they wanted to recoup some of their losses before calling it a day.

Incorrect. They changed it to a tv movie and then winked and nodded and told you that's all it was publicly.

A few years on they're more open to saying they can make more so now they've come half way.

Now of course it's not a given it will be made, I give the odds as maybe 60/40 at best. But it is in fact, a backdoor pilot because there was no official announcement made that there's a chance of a series.

 

[Dukhat]

Incorrect. They changed it to a tv movie and then winked and nodded and told you that's wall it was publicly.

A few years on they're more open to saying they can make more so now they've come half way.

Now of course it's not a given it will be made, I give the odds as maybe 60/40 at best. But it is in fact, a backdoor pilot because there was no official announcement made that there's a chance of a series.

So, this is all just your opinion, with nothing factual to base it on. Gotcha. You could have just said that initially.

 

[Quantum21]

Setting aside everything else: Michelle Yeoh's price tag and busy schedule, since she's in so much demand, would be a major hindrance.

She already was the main factor in getting this TV movie made. Wanna bet she'd make some time to film an episode or two with a week a filming here or there? Totally doable. Having her in the series was not the plan though.

 

[Yistaan]

Wow... So we have a series of posts claiming some secret-squirrel insider knowledge, backed by absolutely nothing else other than the poster's word.

It's not just the poster's word, Trekmovie DID claim there could be more as recently as a few weeks ago: https://trekmovie.com/2024/12/31/di...-can-lead-to-more-streaming-star-trek-movies/ .

That being said, this is obvious marketing hype/lies and I agree there won't be anymore S31.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Incorrect. They changed it to a tv movie and then winked and nodded and told you that's wall it was publicly.

A few years on they're more open to saying they can make more so now they've come half way.

Now of course it's not a given it will be made, I give the odds as maybe 60/40 at best. But it is in fact, a backdoor pilot because there was no official announcement made that there's a chance of a series.

Again, based on what? Provide actual proof or this is all just spamming. Which is against board rules, BTW.

 

[Dukhat]

It's not just the poster's word, Trekmovie DID claim there could be more as recently as a few weeks ago: https://trekmovie.com/2024/12/31/di...-can-lead-to-more-streaming-star-trek-movies/ .

That being said, this is obvious marketing hype/lies and I agree there won't be anymore S31.

From Osunsanmi:

“Hopefully the fans love Section 31 and love this format, and we’re able to continue this format with other stories and be able to expand the universe so much faster, because it doesn’t have to all be television series. It can just be one pop, one pop, one pop. If the audience – the fans – they love it, the sky’s the limit with what we can do… I think I might get into a bit of trouble if I expand upon that. But I think as long as there’s love from the audience, there’s incredible fertile ground that was laid with Section 31 to continue to grow the franchise and grow the world. The door’s open.”

So basically he's just saying what Matalas said about Legacy. That he hopes it will be popular enough to make more, despite absolutely no green-light from CBS/Paramount.

 

[eschaton]

They clearly set up the end of the Section 31 movie to allow for more adventures, but that's not surprising. Basically nothing Hollywood does any longer has proper narrative closure, because they always want to hold out the possibility of more if it was a smash hit.

I think the ending would have been way, way more poignant if Georgiou died - hell, if everyone died but Rachel Garrett.