If Paramount+ Put You in Charge Of Trek, Where Would You Take It?
- Thread starter Danja
- Start date
Pretty standard stuff:
- Episodic; all episodes should tell a self-contained story that viewers need no prior knowledge to enjoy
- Ideally, new crew with no callback characters
- A small team of staff writers, but I'd push for a model in which we allow freelancers to submit scripts so that we get as many ideas and perspectives as possible; this would, ideally, be the source of most stories
- No interest in established "lore"/"canon"; in the show bible sent to writers I'd explicitly instruct that stories must not revisit previous episodes, both of this new show and of Star Trek in general (though obviously some common recurring concepts like Vulcans can be used if it suits the story)
- If needed, reduced effects budget to allow us to make more episodes per year
I wouldn't specify any specific tone or style - the goal being to replicate TOS' anthology-esque feeling of every episode being almost like a standalone movie - but I would ask the script editor to ensure the show remains largely family-friendly, avoids excessive violence ("excessive" being open to debate), and that the series retains a generally positive tone, though individual episodes would have room to play around with whatever mood they wanted.
- Episodic; all episodes should tell a self-contained story that viewers need no prior knowledge to enjoy
- Ideally, new crew with no callback characters
- A small team of staff writers, but I'd push for a model in which we allow freelancers to submit scripts so that we get as many ideas and perspectives as possible; this would, ideally, be the source of most stories
- No interest in established "lore"/"canon"; in the show bible sent to writers I'd explicitly instruct that stories must not revisit previous episodes, both of this new show and of Star Trek in general (though obviously some common recurring concepts like Vulcans can be used if it suits the story)
- If needed, reduced effects budget to allow us to make more episodes per year
I wouldn't specify any specific tone or style - the goal being to replicate TOS' anthology-esque feeling of every episode being almost like a standalone movie - but I would ask the script editor to ensure the show remains largely family-friendly, avoids excessive violence ("excessive" being open to debate), and that the series retains a generally positive tone, though individual episodes would have room to play around with whatever mood they wanted.
Reboot.
Completely reboot the shows and do a new era. Start in the 24th century, set up a writer's bible with maps, tech outlines, timeline and regional powers. Establish exact parameters for warp, transporters, shields and distances.
Humans would be minimized, no visits to Earth, no hybrid characters.
I would make a reality show called Star Trek: Betazoid Weddings. I guarantee that even people who've never heard of Star Trek in their life will watch this show.
But in all honesty, I would simply shelve Star Trek for the foreseeable future until I could figure out how it could appeal to the casual masses rather than the niche audience of Roddenberry/Berman era fans.
But in all honesty, I would simply shelve Star Trek for the foreseeable future until I could figure out how it could appeal to the casual masses rather than the niche audience of Roddenberry/Berman era fans.
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sell it to another network. Trek is a bad fit on The Official State Media Channel 2, I mean Paramount. Failing that,
Star Trek Land Country Man, the tale of Drysemitee 6, a lonely outpost that might just strike it rich with a dilithium well. People will eat that shit up like Little Debbies.
Star Trek Land Country Man, the tale of Drysemitee 6, a lonely outpost that might just strike it rich with a dilithium well. People will eat that shit up like Little Debbies.
First, bring all existing Trek properties to a conclusion, then put it on the shelf for five years and let some demand build.
After that, I would in a sense follow the original TNG formula. Go a few decades post Picard season 3 with a brand new crew on a brand new ship doing weekly episodic adventures. Be a sequel to established canon and continuity, but avoid all but the rarest of references to prior shows, characters, etc. No crossovers. No future knowledge. No sons of previous characters. No Q shenanigans. Nothing. Let it stand alone.
That's my formula.
After that, I would in a sense follow the original TNG formula. Go a few decades post Picard season 3 with a brand new crew on a brand new ship doing weekly episodic adventures. Be a sequel to established canon and continuity, but avoid all but the rarest of references to prior shows, characters, etc. No crossovers. No future knowledge. No sons of previous characters. No Q shenanigans. Nothing. Let it stand alone.
That's my formula.
I agree that the albatross of Paramount is hanging over the franchise. But yeah:
3 shows. Keep Starfleet Academy, keeping all the sets and production in order is probably cheaper than having to start from scratch. Probably give them a mandate to figure out the tone and keep it more consistent.
25th Century show. Captain Seven, some Raffi because that's the relationship I guess, all new cast otherwise and also not set on the Enterprise-G (which shouldnt exist but Im fundamentally against reversing canon because I dont like it so she just leaves the ship I guess). Give her a regular ship for her to make her own legacy. Regular legacy cast but that's not what the show is about.
Bring back Lower Decks in some way (this is actually the first thing).
I think that covers the bases of different audiences, doesnt overdo the number of shows, balances having the audience in mind without basically handing over the franchise to the whims of the internet.
3 shows. Keep Starfleet Academy, keeping all the sets and production in order is probably cheaper than having to start from scratch. Probably give them a mandate to figure out the tone and keep it more consistent.
25th Century show. Captain Seven, some Raffi because that's the relationship I guess, all new cast otherwise and also not set on the Enterprise-G (which shouldnt exist but Im fundamentally against reversing canon because I dont like it so she just leaves the ship I guess). Give her a regular ship for her to make her own legacy. Regular legacy cast but that's not what the show is about.
Bring back Lower Decks in some way (this is actually the first thing).
I think that covers the bases of different audiences, doesnt overdo the number of shows, balances having the audience in mind without basically handing over the franchise to the whims of the internet.
I love this. I'm going to use it from now on, whenever I get an opening!
But anyway, what would I do, if we're talking about a franchise instead of just one show? No more than two shows at a time. One traditional "this is normal Star Trek!", one non-traditional (DS9 being the most obvious example in this category).
I'd do episodic with serialization overlayed over it. The serialized storyline(s) would not automatically wrap up at the end of every season. It would continue until its natural ending point.
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That would be perfect.
Have an ongoing core TOS/TNG style vanilla-flavoured Star Trek show with the classic vibes that takes itself seriously and continues the universe from where Picard left off. Carry on alternating between spin-offs, but make them an alternative to the more traditional series instead of a replacement. Like how Doctor Who ran alongside Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures.
Continuity is continued but the focus is on the new. Assume the audience doesn't know or care what a Romulan or a Harry Kim is, so all returning elements have to be properly reintroduced. No one should feel like they're missing a reference. Use the decades of world building as a solid foundation, not a nostalgia mine.
Aim for intelligent and engaging episodic stories written by actual sci-fi writers if possible! Elements are pulled together into season arcs that coalesce and deliver a payoff at the season finale. Characters grow and remember previous stories, consequences remain, no reset button.
Continuity is continued but the focus is on the new. Assume the audience doesn't know or care what a Romulan or a Harry Kim is, so all returning elements have to be properly reintroduced. No one should feel like they're missing a reference. Use the decades of world building as a solid foundation, not a nostalgia mine.
Aim for intelligent and engaging episodic stories written by actual sci-fi writers if possible! Elements are pulled together into season arcs that coalesce and deliver a payoff at the season finale. Characters grow and remember previous stories, consequences remain, no reset button.
Star Trek: Legacy (Captain Seven series.)
Star Trek: Excelsior series starring John Cho as Sulu (To keep the Kelvin Universe fans happy)
Star Trek: Janeway
Enterprise Prequel/sequel: Romulan War mini series.
Enterprise B TV movie.
Star Trek: Stargazer (Picard mini series starring James Mcavoy as Picard)
Star Trek: Eugenic Wars mini series
Star Trek: Time War (to tie up loose ends from the TCW, bring in Rasmussen from TNG)
Star Trek: Kirk (mini series that brings back Shatner for one last ride)
Do a large crossover event with legacy Star Trek characters from all series. Ex: Picard, Archer, Kirk, Janeway, whoever you can get from DS9)
Clearly define continuities. Kelvin Universe/Discovery Universe/Legacy Universe. Just clean things up going forward.
Star Trek: Excelsior series starring John Cho as Sulu (To keep the Kelvin Universe fans happy)
Star Trek: Janeway
Enterprise Prequel/sequel: Romulan War mini series.
Enterprise B TV movie.
Star Trek: Stargazer (Picard mini series starring James Mcavoy as Picard)
Star Trek: Eugenic Wars mini series
Star Trek: Time War (to tie up loose ends from the TCW, bring in Rasmussen from TNG)
Star Trek: Kirk (mini series that brings back Shatner for one last ride)
Do a large crossover event with legacy Star Trek characters from all series. Ex: Picard, Archer, Kirk, Janeway, whoever you can get from DS9)
Clearly define continuities. Kelvin Universe/Discovery Universe/Legacy Universe. Just clean things up going forward.
If I were in charge, one of the first things I'd greenlight would be an ongoing series of TV movies as a continuation of Strange New Worlds. These would depict the further adventures of Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise crew. They would make use of sets that are already built and would serve as both a sequel to Strange New Worlds and a companion piece to The Original Series, taking place between episodes.
I'd aim to reliably release one every two years, alternating with another TV movie series from Lower Decks. There's still meat on that bone, and animation is inexpensive enough that it makes sense. The goal would be to produce at least two of each, possibly more if demand calls for it.
On the series front, I'd aim for no more than two shows. One would explore the early years of the Federation. It's an era absolutely loaded with potential. Legacy characters would be kept to a minimum, but appearances by Scott Bakula would not be out of the question.
The other series would be a TNG 2.0 type show, set at least a generation after Picard season 3. It would follow a brand new ship with a brand new crew as they venture out to explore the galaxy.
I'd aim to reliably release one every two years, alternating with another TV movie series from Lower Decks. There's still meat on that bone, and animation is inexpensive enough that it makes sense. The goal would be to produce at least two of each, possibly more if demand calls for it.
On the series front, I'd aim for no more than two shows. One would explore the early years of the Federation. It's an era absolutely loaded with potential. Legacy characters would be kept to a minimum, but appearances by Scott Bakula would not be out of the question.
The other series would be a TNG 2.0 type show, set at least a generation after Picard season 3. It would follow a brand new ship with a brand new crew as they venture out to explore the galaxy.
Make the Tarantino movie. It would have brought Trek back to the public eye in a way it hasn't been since 2009 and Into Darkness.
And it would have been batshit crazy.
And it would have been batshit crazy.
You mean the idea to return to the gangster planet? That would be a fun one-time romp, but hardly an ongoing means to make Trek viable to the casual audience.
I would continue with Academy and move forward in the 32nd and 33rd century settings.
At this point, James McAvoy is the same age Patrick Stewart was when TNG was in production. I don't think he'd be the go-to to play Stargazer era Picard anymore.
Mandate 15-18 episode seasons for regular shows.
I’d skip Legacy almost entirely. The E-F and E-G essentially become this generations E-B and E-C.
I’d be really tempted to do the Archer show but it would have to be a one season mini-series. 5-6 episodes at 90 minutes each. If they aren’t down…pass.
Set the new “flagship” show 75-100 years after Picard S3 on a new Enterprise with an entirely new crew that have no real ties to TNG, DS9, VOY, LD and Prodigy. Structure wise it follows SNW with a mix of standalone stories and an overarching plot.
Create a Starfleet Medical/Doctors show set during the “lost era” be it a version of “Leonard McCoy Frontier Doctor” or something else.
Convince the Trump adjacent cabal running Paramount to let me put a Trek show on CBS. Maybe the Tawney Newsome workplace comedy thing. Or something like Star Trek: JAG a legal/courtroom drama.
I’d also get them to let me re-run all the nu-Trek shows from Discovery on as summer programming on CBS when it’s nothing but repeats already. Let it try to build an audience that way.
I’d skip Legacy almost entirely. The E-F and E-G essentially become this generations E-B and E-C.
I’d be really tempted to do the Archer show but it would have to be a one season mini-series. 5-6 episodes at 90 minutes each. If they aren’t down…pass.
Set the new “flagship” show 75-100 years after Picard S3 on a new Enterprise with an entirely new crew that have no real ties to TNG, DS9, VOY, LD and Prodigy. Structure wise it follows SNW with a mix of standalone stories and an overarching plot.
Create a Starfleet Medical/Doctors show set during the “lost era” be it a version of “Leonard McCoy Frontier Doctor” or something else.
Convince the Trump adjacent cabal running Paramount to let me put a Trek show on CBS. Maybe the Tawney Newsome workplace comedy thing. Or something like Star Trek: JAG a legal/courtroom drama.
I’d also get them to let me re-run all the nu-Trek shows from Discovery on as summer programming on CBS when it’s nothing but repeats already. Let it try to build an audience that way.
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