What if ________ had directed Star Trek _________ ?

[Warped9]

Not wanting to derail another thread too far off topic I'd like to propose a little thought exercise for the sake of discussion and fun.

What if ___________ had directed Star Trek - ______________. What might it have been like?

This idea was prompted by me musing about what if Robert Wise had directed The Final Frontier.

I think it's safe to say that a lot of the silliness in the existing version would have been axed, including the supposed Uhura/Scotty stuff. If we allow the measure of run-and-jump in the film remaining might Wise have brought a more TMP like tone to it. It's interesting to ponder.

And so the exercise is to propose one of the films, TMP-TUC or GEN-NEM, as well as an alternative director and speculate what you think they would have done differently.

Now ideally we would consider directors who were available at the time the respective films were made, but for the sake of simplicity we can allow current available directors to be plugged into the equation as well.


Anyone?

 

[BillJ]

This idea was prompted by me musing about what if Robert Wise had directed The Final Frontier.

I think it's safe to say that a lot of the silliness in the existing version would have been axed, including the supposed Uhura/Scotty stuff. If we allow the measure of run-and-jump in the film remaining might Wise have brought a more TMP like tone to it. It's interesting to ponder.

I'm not sure how much different many of the Trek films would've turned out if they had different directors. It seems the studio always had their hands in the productions in a major way.

This is especially true when it comes to the Berman films from what I've read.

 

[Warped9]

I'm not sure how much different many of the Trek films would've turned out if they had different directors. It seems the studio always had their hands in the productions in a major way.

Well it's a thought exercise for the sake of discussion. Obviously it's not real world.

 

[HaventGotALife]

Well, I guess I'll take a stab at it, but I am no filmmaker.

I would've liked to have seen Ridley Scott direct Star Trek: Nemesis. I think he could've brought something to the production that had to do with Roman history (Gladiator) and he was able to work with the writer for Nemesis on Gladiator. Might have had enough power to keep Berman's hands off the script. I think he would've opened up the filming and the type of shots used in Nemesis to make it more realistic and less stylized.

 

[HIjol]

What if Michael Bay had directed "First Contact?"

 

[Maurice]

Wise would never have shot TFF as scripted.

How about...

What if Philip Kaufman had directed TMP? The Planet of the Titans aside, Kaufman wouldn't have produced as methodically paced a film and Wise. He'd likely also have played up the creepiness factor of the Ilia probe and what happens when this supposedly very sexual being's mind gets copied into this probe by a being which has no inhibitions. "Touch the creator" indeed.

 

[Khan 2.0]

if Wise had directed TFF i think wed have got something abit like Prometheus (without the gore body horror)

 

[mendelin]

if Wise had directed TFF i think wed have got something abit like Prometheus (without the gore body horror)

I love TFF, this movie is funny, very "trekkie", made with love and understanding of characters. Yes, there are silly moments, but every Trek movie have to have these moments.


What if Leonard Nimoy had directed "Generations"? The lowest moments of GEN were all parts with original crew. Chekov and Scotty we're OK, but their plot lines were strange. Kirk's death... Well, it was unnecessary (IMO). May be Nimoy could improve something or even remove scenes with original crew.

What if William Shatner would direct "Star Trek 13"? I guess, he would bring the heart to Reboot movies.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

I not sure about the veracity of this, but wasn't Spielberg's name at least in the running for TMP at some point? I'm positive I've read that somewhere.

That certainly would have been interesting to watch, but ultimately, I don't believe his style is a good fit for Trek.

 

[lurok]

And so the exercise is to propose one of the films, TMP-TUC or GEN-NEM, as well as an alternative director and speculate what you think they would have done differently.

Burton, Lynch, Scott, Verhoeven (the obvious 'bankable' SF/fantasy name directors of the era); the mind literally
boggles

 

[Warped9]

Ridley Scott doing TMP could have been creepy. I don't mean that in a gratuitously gross way, but perhaps enough to really heighten the danger and scare factor of facing the unknown. I'm thinking some of Alien's sensibility applied to Star Trek.

Of course Scott was already doing Alien.


What about John McTiernan directing TWOK? Might have had more of a Hunt For Red October feel to it. And hopefully without a lot of the Meyer stuff I didn't care for.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

TMP has been compared to 2001 for it's style. What if Kubrick had directed that?

 

[Warped9]

TMP has been compared to 2001 for it's style. What if Kubrick had directed that?

It could have been even more polarizing. TMP is practically oozing warmth and enthusiasm compared to the sterile nature of 2001.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

What about John McTiernan directing TWOK? Might have had more of a Hunt For Red October feel to it. And hopefully without a lot of the Meyer stuff I didn't care for.

The giant teddy bear from Die Hard and Hunt For Red October would have stood in for Peter Preston.

 

[Khan 2.0]

ST TMP directed by S Spielberg. Score by J Wiiliams.

 

[HIjol]

I not sure about the veracity of this, but wasn't Spielberg's name at least in the running for TMP at some point? I'm positive I've read that somewhere.

That certainly would have been interesting to watch, but ultimately, I don't believe his style is a good fit for Trek.

I was also certain he was in the running, but maybe this is what we both remember....???

Btw...just watched STID and I think I counted 337 lens flares.



JJ and Steven?

According to the report at the Vulture, Abrams is now finishing a script he plans to direct which is “a tip of the hat to [Spielberg’s] movies of the 70’s and early 80’s.” As for the plot the report states:

we’re told that like Spielberg’s Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T., the project will deal with everyday people whose personal relationships are tested when they are thrown up against extraordinarily fantastic – and possibly other-worldly – events.

The only other details is that it would be a Paramount Picture, in collaboration with Spielberg’s DreamWorks, to start production in the fall with a small budget (around $25 Million). According to the report, Abrams wants this film to be the "anti-Avatar" and not a big effects movie.

New York Magazine could not get official confirmation of its story from Paramount or DreamWorks (and neither could TrekMovie.com).

Plausible

However, even without confirmations, this story is very plausible. Abrams is a known admirer of Spielberg’s. In fact, Spielberg visited the set of Star Trek during production and even assisted Abrams with a scene. And it is no secret that Abrams has been working on a new project. Last May Abrams told TrekMovie that he would like to "do something else" before considering taking on another Star Trek movie. Last October, at the Star Trek DVD press conference JJ Abrams stated that he was writing a script that he wanted to direct in 2010. In November Abrams told TrekMovie this other project was one of the reasons he was going to co-produce but not direct Mission: Impossible: IV, which goes before cameras this Summer.

Still leaves time for Star Trek sequel

So assuming that Abrams sticks with his plans to direct a movie in 2010, the next question will be: what does that mean for the Star Trek sequel? To date Abrams has only confirmed he will produce the sequel, but he is open to directing it. For the Star Trek sequel to make its delivery date of June 29, 2012, production would have to start no later than the Summer of 2011. That still gives Abrams time to direct another film, especially if it is a lower budget film, and then return to directing Star Trek. However, if Abrams commits to another project that is going to bleed well into 2011, he will have no choice but to bring in a new director for the Star Trek sequel.

 

[Khan 2.0]

i think Spielberg is mentioned as a possible TMP director in the making of TMP? ( sure i read it somewhere)

 

[T'Girl]

If someone like Spielberg said they'd do it, but with the condition of total creative control, would the studo turn them down?

 

[HIjol]

What about John McTiernan directing TWOK? Might have had more of a Hunt For Red October feel to it. And hopefully without a lot of the Meyer stuff I didn't care for.

The giant teddy bear from Die Hard and Hunt For Red October would have stood in for Peter Preston.

LMAO at Herkimer Jitty

With McTiernan, and his love for putting McLane in literal tight spots, methinks we would have spent most of the movie in the Jeffries tubes...

 

[HIjol]

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