City on the Edge Redux

[Control Voice]

How about using the new actors in an audio drama version of Harlan Ellison's original script for the classic 'City on the Edge of Forever.'
It would be an interesting project for the 50th anniversary, and the script is different enough to be quite interesting to modern day Trekkers and I'm sure it would make Mr. Ellison very happy.

 

[Ovation]

But if Mr. Ellison became happy, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. Some universal constants must remain unadulterated.

 

[CaptainBearclaw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOxt9PoJNkg

 

[Commishsleer]

But if Mr. Ellison became happy, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. Some universal constants must remain unadulterated.

Come on he'd find heaps to be unhappy about in it.

Theoretically a COTEOF would be a good idea but not with nuKirk.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Ellison threw a very public hissy fit threatening legal action when a rumor began circulating that JJ Abrams was thinking about using elements from "City" in the first Trek film. If something like this were done, someone would have to first approach Ellison, and its unlikely Ellison would agree unless he were paid well.

Check out this link.

In short, it's unlikely to happen.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I think it is highly unlikely we will ever see Edith Keeler again in any form thanks to the difficulty that is Mr. Ellison.

 

[Commishsleer]

If you want Edith Keeler in the next movie just pay Ellison the money and grovel a bit.
He probably deserves it for maintaining the rage all these years.
And joking aside he probably does deserve some recognition for his work.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Hasn't he got enough Hugo's piled up on his tv?

Also, he has infamy. Everyone with infamy should be satisfied.

 

[Melakon]

In the NuTrek "City" homage, Uhura's the one who goes back in time while delirious. She falls in love with The Rodent, who in the prime universe killed himself with McCoy's phaser. Of course in this new alternate universe, he has to live for some stupid reason.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

The Rodent? That bum in the alley?

 

[SeerSGB]

Ellison threw a very public hissy fit threatening legal action when a rumor began circulating that JJ Abrams was thinking about using elements from "City" in the first Trek film. If something like this were done, someone would have to first approach Ellison, and its unlikely Ellison would agree unless he were paid well.

Check out this link.

In short, it's unlikely to happen.

When the man's right, he's right.

 

[Control Voice]

Wow,
I always thought Ellison's anger stemed from disappointment in the final version of 'City.'
Now I wonder, if Desilu had issued him a bonus check for his script work back in '66 if he would have been praising the episode all these years.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Ellison threw a very public hissy fit threatening legal action when a rumor began circulating that JJ Abrams was thinking about using elements from "City" in the first Trek film. If something like this were done, someone would have to first approach Ellison, and its unlikely Ellison would agree unless he were paid well.

Check out this link.

In short, it's unlikely to happen.

When the man's right, he's right.

And I agree with him.

 

[Nightowl1701]

Here's how to make it work for NuTrek:

By the time Kirk and Spock arrive in 1930 Earth, make it where Bones has already been there for about three months and has been doing house calls for the unfortunate in the soup kitchen. Make McCoy the one who falls in love with Edith. (Kirk's got Carol now, and Bones is younger and still struggling to recover from a far-more-recent divorce.) When Spock's semi-repaired tricorder reveals the alternate-future Edith to be Edith McCoy, that's where Kirk faces his big dilemma - to save history, he not only has to let an innocent and kind woman die, but break Bones' heart all over again... and risk losing him as a friend and officer permanently.

 

[Commishsleer]

You know they had the Guardian of Forever in TAS.
There must be some way of negotiating with Ellison or legally the characters belong to Star Trek.

 

[Maurice]

I'm with Ellison all the way on matters like this. If you want something for nothing, plenty of amateurs are willing to give it to you, but don't expect people who do it for a living to just roll over and let you have their work for free.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Ellison in his own words:

If [director J.J.] Abrams — with whom I’m currently on strike — or anyone else at Paramount or elsewhere, thinks they’re going to use my creations — whether the City, the Guardians, Sister Edith Keeler or any elements created by Harlan Ellison … they had damned well better lose the unilateral arrogance, get in touch with me or my agent Marty Shapiro and be prepared to pay for the privilege of mining the lode I own.

This was back when the rumors hit the net about Abrams using the Guardian, which turned out to be false. Note that the article I linked to reports incorrectly that this was happening.

 

[Harvey]

Star Trek cost a reported $150 million; Star Trek Into Darkness cost a reported $190 million. If Bad Robot wanted to use a few of Ellison's ideas in the next movie, they could certainly afford to pay him for their use.

 

[Therin of Andor]

You know they had the Guardian of Forever in TAS.
There must be some way of negotiating with Ellison or legally the characters belong to Star Trek.

He has said that DC Fontana was granted "special permission", IIRC. Similarly the novels by AC Crispin. (And Barbara Hambly, and PAD?)

 

[SeerSGB]

Star Trek cost a reported $150 million; Star Trek Into Darkness cost a reported $190 million. If Bad Robot wanted to use a few of Ellison's ideas in the next movie, they could certainly afford to pay him for their use.

Unless they ponied up hefty figure up front, I don't see him making easy for them if they approached him.