JJ Abrams: Star Trek Sequel Will ‘Start Over’

[shapeshifter]

Relevant Quote:

Vulture: Alcatraz comes out soon, joining Person of Interest — two Bad Robot shows on at the same time. With both these projects out, do you feel like you’ve escaped the shadow of Lost?
Abrams: Well, I’m working with Damon Lindelof right now on the new Star Trek. And what’s great is when we start talking about story, Lost will come up because we’ve both been through that together. He ran the show for six years. I left the day-to-day stuff by the end of the first season, but my association with that show is something that is incredibly gratifying. I’m thrilled I was involved in it in any way, and grateful to Damon for running that show, I think brilliantly, for six years. But it’s very difficult to ever do something when you’re thinking about something else you’ve done. So I don’t really dwell on any of the movies. Even working on Star Trek right now, we cannot in any way rely on the first Star Trek. We can’t think, Okay, we’ve got it in the bag, everyone loves these characters. We have to start over in a way.

So, if I understand this correctly, any sense of continuity to past Nutrek, even for the characters, is fair game to any changes. The nu-story is King, no matter how it may contradict it's own continuity?

edit: Oops, link to story.

 

[Hythlodeus]

I don't think you understand that correctly. What JJ probably meant was, they just can't rely on the success of the first movie, they have to be sure the sequel itself is a good movie and can stand on his own. (not continuity wise).
At least that's how I understand the quote.

 

[Shatnertage]

^Yeah, that's my read as well. I don't think he's talking continuity at all--he's just saying they can't rest on their laurels.

 

[mojodaddy]

I think his intended meaning is pretty much right there in his statement. He does not have some false impression that they will be able to phone in everything for this next movie just because people like the first one. I think it speaks highly of him that his intention is to put as much work into this one.

 

[RAMA]

^Yeah, that's my read as well. I don't think he's talking continuity at all--he's just saying they can't rest on their laurels.

That's what it sounds like to me.

 

[BillJ]

^Yeah, that's my read as well. I don't think he's talking continuity at all--he's just saying they can't rest on their laurels.

Agreed.

 

[Kelso]

I frequently wonder if I am seeing the same articles that other posters are seeing.

 

[Set Harth]

Every Star Trek movie is a reboot.

Hence, REBOOT.

He's just telling it like it is.

 

[StarMan]

I frequently wonder if I am seeing the same articles that other posters are seeing.

Indeed. Although misleading headlines don't help.

 

[Skywalker]

Every Star Trek movie is a reboot.

Hence, REBOOT.

He's just telling it like it is.

This time it'll be Sulu going back in time and helping a new crew save the galaxy.

 

[Set Harth]

And this time Sulu is black.

 

[number6]

They will be attacked by black space faring gay nazi ninja midgets with an obsession for Gorn Porn and Matzo balls. The Enterprise crew will be reassembled as they are all on shore leave following a previous battle with a pair of Nuclear Hedge Clippers.

A High Ranking Starfleet official will be assassinated while giving a speech, farted to death by a Klingon who had inadvertently eaten the boiled cabbage garnish his Gagh was served on. It was a case of unfortunate circumstances. The crew needs to fly to Kronos and establish a treaty, but are sidetracked by a swarm of flesh eating tribbles and a tribe of Syphilitic Viking Prom Queens from the planet Chlamydia IV.

Naturally Kirk tries to seduce them and faces a medical and surgical drama that will unite Kirk, Spock and McCoy in their brotherhood of stream crossing.

This infuriates Uhura and spurned by Spock becomes addicted to her orb. Woody Allen files suit for the vague Sleeper reference and together with the Guardian of Forever foil a plot of alien abduction of the mind of an egotistical science fiction writer transplanted from the 20th century, living on Deep Space B5.

Sisko summons the prophets and a huge space battle ensues with loads of loud explosions, second in volume only to the sound of fan fapping in the back row.

JJ then comes out from behind the curtain and removes a kidney from the guy in the front row.

That is what JJ Abrams meant by "start over." Isn't it obvious??

 

[Gojira]

I don't think you understand that correctly. What JJ probably meant was, they just can't rely on the success of the first movie, they have to be sure the sequel itself is a good movie and can stand on his own. (not continuity wise).
At least that's how I understand the quote.

That is my take too. In other words they can't rest their laurels on the success of the previous film.

They are not starting over from a story or continuity perspective but from a perspective that says they cannot just ride the coat tails of the previous movie.

 

[F. King Daniel]

All he's saying is that you won't have to have seen XI to understand and enjoy XII. Which is fine - the majority of Trek movies are stand-alone. Even the ones that build on old episodes, like Wrath of Khan or First Contact can be watched and understood by a newbie.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No one is ever going to talk about continuity as if it's a big important deal unless they're being pressed on it by a questioner. There's no reason that Abrams would be talking about continuity in this context.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Not least of all that that word doesn't even appear in the interview.

 

[Shatnertage]

All I know is that "Gorn Porn and Matzo Balls" would be an excellent name for a blog. I'm a little hazy on what the content would be--maybe the musings of a lifelong Trekkie/kosher cook?

 

[number6]

As long as I get a royalty!!

 

[UFO]

All I know is that "Gorn Porn and Matzo Balls" would be an excellent name for a blog.

As long as I get a royalty!!

Isn't anyone just happy to have advanced the greater good of humanity any more?

 

[number6]

No.