It's nice to see he's keeping the drumbeat going. It makes me fairly hopeful that this will pan out, maybe coinciding with the release of the third movie.
It's vague how much he's working with Abrams or how much Abrams would be involved, but just for professional courtesy and good PR, Fuller needs to get his blessing. I could envision some sort of joint PR campaign between the both of them, passing the torch from Abrams' movies to Fuller's series.
Which means that at the very least, there would be nothing in the TV series that directly contradicts the notion that it's in Abrams' universe, even if there's nothing that actually establishes it as fact, either. It could go entirely unaddressed (except in fan squabbles of course).
I would like to make my own Star Trek series too, and work with JJ Abrams on it as well. But just because I say that, doesn't mean it's going to happen.
That's because CBS security wouldn't let you in the front door. I don't think someone with Fuller's track record would have that problem.
If a
Star Trek TV series is made, it will be because someone like Fuller or Seth McFarlane - someone with the track record to give him credibility - overcame CBS's objections (or simple indifference) to the franchise through persistence, passion and making a smart and credible case for how a new
Star Trek series can make CBS a boatload of money.
The next Trek series will be under the purview of whoever CBS wants it to be.
I sincerely doubt CBS gives a flip about
Star Trek. It doesn't fit their strategy at all, for any of their properties (CBS, the CW, Showtime). The only reason they'd entertain the idea is because of the credibility of the people making the case for it.
JJ Abrams made one movie that was in the top 10 for box office that year. That's the single most important element in reviving the franchise. It shows not only that people still want
Star Trek, but that there's a global audience for it. CBS sells TV shows globally. If next year's movie does just as well (and I don't see why it wouldn't), then that's even more evidence that Fuller can use.
So for Abrams to vouch for the new series, or maybe even work on it to some extent, will be an important factor in convincing CBS to greenlight it. It will definitely be an uphill battle. There are no space operas on TV right now, so any space opera is a huge risk. CBS does not take risks. They are the #1 network because they are conservative and don't stick their necks out. Fuller will need every weapon in his arsenal if he wants this to happen.
