Could "Prime Directive" be the sequel plot?

[Sabataage]

According to Memory Alpha, the writers of XI (or as RLM puts it: Star Trek, The, urr, Star Trek) were 'inspired' by some of the TOS novels when writing the script. The two they reference specifically are Spock's World and Prime Directive. After reading the summaries for both novels, I think Spock's World's influence on the movie is obvious (its about Spock.. and his world). Prime Directive's influence is less clear. Other than the destruction of an alien planet (for very different reasons), the two stories have very little in common... Unless its influencing another story down the pipeline. Given the nature of the movie industry I have no doubt they were already brainstorming plot lines for the sequels while working on XI. I haven't read Prime Directive, but the plot of it could make for one exciting epic movie.

A lot of people here are still rankled by Kirk's sudden promotion. I think if Prime Directive were done as the follow-up it would address that criticism in a dramatic and interesting way. Basically, Kirk is accussed of causing the destruction of an alien world. He has to clear his (and his crew's) name and then face the real threat behind the disaster. I think him dealing with failure, getting thrown out of Starfleet and then fighting his way back to the captain's chair would make a great character arc and movie.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Nah. I love the novel, but the first movie was about uniting the crew. We should have at least one movie with them together before seperating everyone. And although Prime Directive is great, the story would always work better as a novel (they'd also have to cut tonnes out to fit it in two hours).

According to old trekmovie.com interviews, Prime Directive's influence was more to do with the characterizations than the story. Also, due to the secrecy surrounding STXI, Chris Pine and Zach Quinto auditioned by reading lines from the novels.

Other novels that influenced the film are Final Frontier (the character of George Kirk, as XO of the Enterprise under Captain April) and Best Destiny (Winona Kirk, and young Kirk as a hellraiser). Stuff like Kirk skydiving came from the books too (although I think they based that on the deleted scene from Generations), as did Uhura's first name.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Uhura's first name.

"Nyota" Uhura dates back to "Star Trek II Biographies" by William Rotsler, who consulted with Nichelle Nichols by phone before putting his suggestion into print in that Young Adult tie-in. "Nyota" was then popularized by the novel "Uhura's Song", by Janet Kagan, who used Rotsler's book for research, as did subsequent novel authors.