Harlan Ellison Wants To Help Out With Star Trek Sequel?

[Sabataage]

I would like to see more substance in the sequel, but there are already have 3 writers, I doubt they would add a fourth. It would be nice if they had him on as an advisor of some sort in order to add a little input.

He was a consultant on Babylon 5. Other than the "Planet Killer" concept, which was basically a scientifically plausible version of the Death Star (it kills the planet and all life on it without blowing it to pieces), I'm not sure what other story concepts he invented. While I haven't read anything he's done written, he's an entertaining lecturer and personality. I don't think I'd ever want to meet him though.

 

[Sabataage]

double post

 

[M'Sharak]

And M'Sharak, I'll edit my post to take the Ellison focus out of first paragraph out if you'd prefer me to.

Nah, I don't think that will be necessary.

 

[strikefalcon]

He's too coarse of a personality for my taste. And I remember his comments from that Tom Snyder episode from 1976 where he criticized "Star Trek" for praising positive morals and keeping the crew of the Enterprise a group of heroes, as if fans would want to watch a ship full of criminal perverts rape the universe or something.

Oh wait, we do have the mirror universe... You get what I mean.

Besides, in the article he mentions wanting to get paid just for a first meeting. If he's that greedy, just imagine how closely he'd have his lawyers watching the final film if they part ways during the pre-production process looking for any small shred of any idea possibly mentioned while they were working together...

 

[M'Sharak]

So that's another "no". Next?

 

[Sector 7]

There's absolutely no doubt the man is a genius writer, and I have no doubt he could put out an amazing script. But personally, I hope JJ will stay far, far away from him. There's no denying that his outsize...personality, let's say, often takes the focus off the work he's done. And in this case, I want Star Trek XII and its actors to be the main attraction, not any behind-the-scenes drama that might ensue.

Focus for who?

Sorry, I should have qualified that with a YMMV. Focus for me. I agree, few others who saw the movie would care. This is JUST my opinion, but it seems like every time I hear about the man or read something he's written, he's complaining about something or suing someone about something he's not happy about, and it just takes away from the pleasure I might otherwise get from his writing--which is admittedly brilliant. I can't help it that I have a hard time separating the writing from the writer, or the acting from the actor. It's just the way I am. Therefore, I tend to stay away from anything he's involved in (although I will willingly admit that he made me laugh in the Babylon 5 ep where he was the voice of Sparky the computer). I certainly do respect him for standing up for his principles, though.

Bottom line, I love my new JJ-verse Star Trek, and I don't want Ellison involved. I'll just leave it at that so I don't violate M'Sharak's very sensible request any further. And M'Sharak, I'll edit my post to take the Ellison focus out of first paragraph if you'd prefer me to.

He's too coarse of a personality for my taste. And I remember his comments from that Tom Snyder episode from 1976 where he criticized "Star Trek" for praising positive morals and keeping the crew of the Enterprise a group of heroes, as if fans would want to watch a ship full of criminal perverts rape the universe or something.

Oh wait, we do have the mirror universe... You get what I mean.

Besides, in the article he mentions wanting to get paid just for a first meeting. If he's that greedy, just imagine how closely he'd have his lawyers watching the final film if they part ways during the pre-production process looking for any small shred of any idea possibly mentioned while they were working together...

Since it has been pointed out to me that my opinion about Harlan Ellison is not welcome in a thread titled "Harlan Ellison..." I shall merely voice my agreement with the above statements.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I'd be interested in seeing him do some writing, but I want the film to be JJ's "vision" (for good or ill) rather than Harlan's vision.

 

[M'Sharak]

Since it has been pointed out to me that my opinion about Harlan Ellison is not welcome in a thread titled "Harlan Ellison..." <snip>

Not quite. It's just that the lawsuit has already been the subject of a lengthy, very thorough and sometimes nasty wrangle in a couple of other threads which were dedicated to it (I can probably dig up the links, if you want to read them) and in which all the known facts of the matter were aired. I'd like to avoid having that spring up again here, if it's at all possible. It's just a different topic.

 

[Kirk-Fu]

Absolutely not. He's bitched about Trek for years yet now he smells money and wants to get involved? JJ would be smart to completely ignore the offer.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Although I am wary of Ellison he did have some legitimate complaints about Star Trek in the last twenty years. TNG Voyager, Enterprise were all full of main characters and protagonists who were very "perfect", "flawless", and without sin, these shows haven't aged well for me, of course Enterprise just plane sucked, one and tow dimensional characters, those that don't change and grow are boring and very unrealistic. I think DS9 was the exception thanks to its war angle. If that is what Ellison saw in Trek then I agree with him, though I haven't really a clue what his criticisms were, anyway, Star Trek under Abrams has already demonstrated that it has characters that are three-dimensional and maybe that has been the attraction for Ellison, perhaps not, maybe it is the money, whose to say.

 

[Therin of Andor]

What I want to know about is what was the Star Trek movie idea he pitched and attempted to convince Gene Roddenberry make?

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/phase2_7.php

 

[Trek Survivor]

Since it has been pointed out to me that my opinion about Harlan Ellison is not welcome in a thread titled "Harlan Ellison..." I shall merely voice my agreement with the above statements.

Are you going to answer the questions asking what you did on Trek or what?

 

[Australis]

I think having Ellison on board is a poisoned chalice. OTOH, better in the tent pissing out. Hmm, not sure. I'd say probably not, unless it's a really really good idea. And even then maybe it should be saved for XIII.

But if I was JJ I'd have my lawyers go really carefully through any offer before it's made to his lawyers. Er, I mean him.

Sector 7, you still haven't told us what you did on Trek,. Enquiring minds would like to know.

 

[Valin]

I enjoyed the move immensely, but it would be something to have an actual SF writer involved with the script, like in many of the TOS episodes.

 

[Sabataage]

I enjoyed the move immensely, but it would be something to have an actual SF writer involved with the script, like in many of the TOS episodes.

Exactly. As entertaining as it would be for them to rehash or combine the plotlines of classic TOS episodes, if they brought in an actual Science Fiction writer or adapted another's stories for the Trek universe (they did that all of the time on TOS) then they could really break new ground and create something new. This author doesn't have to be Harlan Ellison though.

 

[Kelso]

Forget the movie... I'd pay to see Ellison in a story meeting with Bob and Alex.

 

[Australis]

Sector 7, enquiring minds, still waiting.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

But if I was JJ I'd have my lawyers go really carefully through any offer before it's made to his lawyers. Er, I mean him.

You say that like Ellison has a history of scamming po' widdle Paramount. Any lawsuits Ellison has been involved in have involved the studios screwing him. Not the other way around.

 

[RAMA]

Hell, why not...

RAMA

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Since it has been pointed out to me that my opinion about Harlan Ellison is not welcome in a thread titled "Harlan Ellison..." I shall merely voice my agreement with the above statements.

Are you going to answer the questions asking what you did on Trek or what?

His bluff has been called.