It seems (logically so) that the business plan behind ST XI is to try and appeal to the masses. Even with a budget of $150 million and a big name director behind it can Star Trek XI overcome the stigma of being a Star Trek film a become a true "tent pole" franchise?
I've read of late where tptb behind this film feel this films box office returns will be in line with those of "Batman Begins"
Personally, I don't think that is a realistic comparison. The ST brand name has been in decline for close to 15 years. To expect a domestic gross north of $200 million may be shooting a little high. This film does not have a box office star to attract a new audience (I was expecting casting along the lines of Richard Donner's "Superman" where the cast Marlon Brando + Gene Hackman to attract non genre fans)and at the moment the most popular and well known member of the ST cast (William Shatner) is not involved.
I think a more realistic gross is in the $130 million range. (I'm talking about domestic gross) which would put ST XI in line with the latest Die Hard film + put it around #15 for the year. I would think the absolute ceiling for the film would be around $160 million which is where the re-launch of the 007 series with "Casino Royale", but 007 does seem to have far more mass appeal at the moment + may not be a fair comparison.
This isn't 1979 where there was massive interest in a new S.T. project with actors and characters that were part of everyone's extended family.Can the series also re-capture many of the fans who have left the series once the original characters + actors were no longer involved?
Another fair question to ask is will the public accept new actors in these iconic roles? Remember the reaction to Timothy Dalton as James Bond?
One could argue that in the past TOS did appeal to the masses with the original films. The original TOS films performed a little below the modern day X-Men FILMS. Most of the TOS fils finished in the top 10 of the year they were released (TMP #2 in 1979 TVH #5 in 1986) but is Star Trek's mass appeal to be limited to the past? Can this film break the recent business model + expand Star Trek's appeal to the masses?
So again I ask, will the general public be interested in the new Star Trek film?
Any thoughts?
I've read of late where tptb behind this film feel this films box office returns will be in line with those of "Batman Begins"
Personally, I don't think that is a realistic comparison. The ST brand name has been in decline for close to 15 years. To expect a domestic gross north of $200 million may be shooting a little high. This film does not have a box office star to attract a new audience (I was expecting casting along the lines of Richard Donner's "Superman" where the cast Marlon Brando + Gene Hackman to attract non genre fans)and at the moment the most popular and well known member of the ST cast (William Shatner) is not involved.
I think a more realistic gross is in the $130 million range. (I'm talking about domestic gross) which would put ST XI in line with the latest Die Hard film + put it around #15 for the year. I would think the absolute ceiling for the film would be around $160 million which is where the re-launch of the 007 series with "Casino Royale", but 007 does seem to have far more mass appeal at the moment + may not be a fair comparison.
This isn't 1979 where there was massive interest in a new S.T. project with actors and characters that were part of everyone's extended family.Can the series also re-capture many of the fans who have left the series once the original characters + actors were no longer involved?
Another fair question to ask is will the public accept new actors in these iconic roles? Remember the reaction to Timothy Dalton as James Bond?
One could argue that in the past TOS did appeal to the masses with the original films. The original TOS films performed a little below the modern day X-Men FILMS. Most of the TOS fils finished in the top 10 of the year they were released (TMP #2 in 1979 TVH #5 in 1986) but is Star Trek's mass appeal to be limited to the past? Can this film break the recent business model + expand Star Trek's appeal to the masses?
So again I ask, will the general public be interested in the new Star Trek film?
Any thoughts?
and the teaser trailer attached, I feel that the general population is ripe for a new Star Trek movie (how long has it been for a Star Trek film that appeals to non-fans, I'm willing to think actually 12 years since First Contact).
