Do you think Trek XI will attract new fans?

[I am not Spock]

I remain sceptical that this film can attract a younger (or new) fanbase which was not there before. Obviously, Trekkies will flock to see the film, but newbies will likely be put off by the (what they see as a) burden of 40 years of established heritage.

Maybe if it attracts new fans, it will be a situation similar to what happened with the resurrected Dr Who series. The new fans will ONLY like the new material, and not bother to investigate the previous versions of Trek. If the film performs well, and leads to more films, we may see Trekdom become more divided than it has ever been before. We already have the TOSers, Roddenbury Purists, Niners, ENTers, etc. This film may create a faction of 'Abrams Only Trekkers'.

 

[slappy]

I don't think Abrams and Paramount would've taken on this challenge had they not planned on putting an aggressive and focused marketing campaign into effect. They're going to specifically target new viewers because they know they already have the Trekkies. I think there will be a concerted effort to create interest in new fans. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen.

 

[Borgminister]

Hopefully not just Fringe viewers...

 

[M'Sharak]

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

I hope it attracts new fans. It's really hot over here...

It's really hot over here.

Yeah, cause it's warm.

Cause the temperature is too high for my comfort.

Know what I mean?

Do ya?

(You can tell I'm a writer for Family Guy, because I keep killing the joke... cause it's warm.)

 

[Bill Morris]

New fans live on an island spelled Newfoundland but pronounced newfanland (population: less than half a million, many of which, however, are old fans).

 

[JRS]

It will attract new fans..and frankly it has to. The budget it so big that they will need box office a la Dark Knight.
More fans is good for Star Trek, i juts hope they will get interested of the other Treks as well...

 

[trekkerguy]

It will attract new fans..and frankly it has to. The budget it so big that they will need box office a la Dark Knight.
More fans is good for Star Trek, i juts hope they will get interested of the other Treks as well...

They won't need box office even close to that, $150million is an average cost for a summer blockbuster.

Yes I absoloutely think it will attract flocks of new fans.

This is the Batman Begins of Trek.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I don't think Abrams and Paramount would've taken on this challenge had they not planned on putting an aggressive and focused marketing campaign into effect. They're going to specifically target new viewers because they know they already have the Trekkies. I think there will be a concerted effort to create interest in new fans. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen.

I agree --

I'm sure they aren't going to make this film, then sit back and say "OK, here's the new Star Trek. Come see it."

No -- they understand all too well that the name 'Star Trek' has the wrong connotation for much of the general public. I bet they will actively set out to make this film look interesting to the average moviegoer in certain TV ads directed at them.

They more than likely have a plan in place to try to make this film look like something that the average non-fan WILL want to see. The question is will that plan work well enough.

 

[Admiral2]

I remain sceptical that this film can attract a younger (or new) fanbase which was not there before. Obviously, Trekkies will flock to see the film, but newbies will likely be put off by the (what they see as a) burden of 40 years of established heritage.

I keep trying to tell people this, but nobody listens.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I don't know whether it will attract new fans to the "permanent Trek fanbase" or whatever you want to call it. As long as it attracts customers to the theaters and DVD market and what-have-you then it's a success.

Can this movie be a big hit and make the studio lots of money without swelling the ranks of trekkie Internet posters and convention goers? Yep. Is that enough? Hell, yeah.

 

[Rarewolf]

Maybe if it attracts new fans, it will be a situation similar to what happened with the resurrected Dr Who series. The new fans will ONLY like the new material, and not bother to investigate the previous versions of Trek

I don't think the BBC have encouraged new fans to seek out the old episodes - it's generally been kept seperate with little in the way of repeats. Some of the ranges that have introduced classic characters - like the toys and trading cards - have done well enough.

Whereas 20th Century Trek will continue to be repeated. It's easy for new fans to try.

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Do you think Trek XI will attract new fans?

Of course!

 

[Therin of Andor]

newbies will likely be put off by the (what they see as a) burden of 40 years of established heritage.

We were all newbies once. I gave up a chance to attend a convention in early 1980 because I was worried I didn't know enough about Star Trek, having only seen TMP and a few TAS and TOS eps.

I ended up running the pre-existing local fan club for twelve years.

ST IV and "First Contact" brought thousands of new fans into ST fandom.

The new fans will ONLY like the new material, and not bother to investigate the previous versions of Trek.

So what?

If the film performs well, and leads to more films, we may see Trekdom become more divided than it has ever been before.

Older fans have a right to ignore the new film, or celebrate it! But if they want more new ST, embracing and welcoming the new newbies to the fold will improve everyone's fannish enjoyment.

We already have the TOSers, Roddenbury Purists, Niners, ENTers, etc. This film may create a faction of 'Abrams Only Trekkers'.

So what? There's room for all. And we need newbies to keep more new ST product coming.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The new fans will ONLY like the new material, and not bother to investigate the previous versions of Trek.

So what?

If the film performs well, and leads to more films, we may see Trekdom become more divided than it has ever been before.

Older fans have a right to ignore the new film, or celebrate it!

Agreed. I really can't get worked up about the fate or future of the ever-loving "fan base." Really.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I really can't get worked up about the fate or future of the ever-loving "fan base." Really.

Exactly. Because they can be an extremely fickle bunch. Let JJ do ST his way, and we'll either love it or hate it. And it'll be fun to have some new people to love and hate it with.

 

[Basil]

Not as many as Paramount hopes -- my prediction is that the film will do well enough to make a modest profit but not be the juggernaut the studio wants . . . it will open bigger than previous Treks and lose momentum fairly quickly after that but do reasonably in DVD sales and cable reruns.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I certainly hope it will attract new fans.

But frankly, I'm crossing my fingers hoping it makes money, more than anything else. That is the essential element here.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

^
^^ Well, frankly the film will need new fans to make money.

I suppose the level of fandom is the question. I'm talking about attracting new people who simply want to see this film -- and possibly a sequel -- as opposed to attracting new fans to the existing fanbase.

I think that if a person wanted to see the film and ended up enjoying it enough to want to see a potential sequel, then he is in essence a "fan", even if he does nothing Star Trek-related between this film and the next one (such as join us on this board)

 

[Warp Coil]

Not as many as Paramount hopes -- my prediction is that the film will do well enough to make a modest profit but not be the juggernaut the studio wants . . . it will open bigger than previous Treks and lose momentum fairly quickly after that but do reasonably in DVD sales and cable reruns.

I suspect this will be the case. The film won't be a failure. It'll make some sort of profit for the studio. It may even become the highest grossing Trek film in history. Yet, due to its massive budget and the high expectations Paramount has, it'll still be underwhelming. Trek will probably gain a few new fans. People are awfully picky though, and probably won't look back at TOS or the other Trek series, because it's "old".

Granted, there's absolutely no way to really know without seeing footage. Until we see a trailer and maybe a few clips, as well as the marketing strategy Paramount takes, it's pure speculation.