Gene Roddenberry Biopic

[trekfan_1]

There has not been that much news about the upcoming Gene Roddenberry biopic. I hope it still happens.

Great Bird could be a possible title IMHO. And I think Joaquin Phoenix would be perfect to play Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry was in his early to mid forties when he conceived Star Trek. Phoenix is 48 years old so the age is perfect. He can play up to 10-15 years younger and 20ish years older without much trouble . He doesn't quite look like Gene but you don't really have to look like the person you're impersonating in a biopic. (I.e Tom Hanks as Mr Rogers). I realize it's just pipe dream and probably out of the price range of Gene Roddenberry productions. Also likely not a theatrical release.

But Gene Roddenberry had such a rich life . They have a great opportunity to produce a very interesting and successful bio pic in theatres IMHO.

More pipe dreams. I was thinking maybe they can cast Anson Mount, Paul Wesley and Ethan Peck to play Jeffrey Hunter, young William Shatner and young Leonard Nimoy .Bush to play Majel Barrett. Celia Rose Gooding to play Nichols etc. Kelvin actors likely too expensive/ schedule problematic.

Young Patrick Stewart played by McAvoy or Tom Hardy would be hilarious in a good way.

Looking forward to it when it comes even though the production will likely be much more scalled down from what I'm hoping for.

 

[The Wormhole]

More pipe dreams. I was thinking maybe they can cast Anson Mount, Paul Wesley and Ethan Peck to play Jeffrey Hunter, young William Shatner and young Leonard Nimoy .Celia Rose Gooding to play Nichols etc.

Thing is, none of them really look like younger versions of those actors. Which is fine for SNW, there's no reason why they should be physical clones of the original actors to play those characters. But if you're looking for actors to play younger versions of the actors themselves, it probably would be best to find someone who resembles them.

Besides, both Anson Mount and Paul Wesley are older than Jeffrey Hunter and William Shatner were when they were on TOS. In fact, Mount is currently six years older than Hunter was when he died.

 

[trekfan_1]

Thing is, none of them really look like younger versions of those actors. Which is fine for SNW, there's no reason why they should be physical clones of the original actors to play those characters. But if you're looking for actors to play younger versions of the actors themselves, it probably would be best to find someone who resembles them.

Besides, both Anson Mount and Paul Wesley are older than Jeffrey Hunter and William Shatner were when they were on TOS. In fact, Mount is currently six years older than Hunter was when he died.

Point taken. But thats why I mentioned Tom Hanks who looks nothing like Fred Rogers. Granted he was the main role . Getting actors who like the original alumni probably makes sense. It's mainly a selfish "cool" factor for me to see the SNW counterparts. And there's the obvious synergy of connecting the modern star trek productions together.

 

[The Wormhole]

But thats why I mentioned Tom Hanks who looks nothing like Fred Rogers.

I thought he did.

 

[trekfan_1]

I thought he did.

It is subjective. He did a great job in portraying Rogers' spirit and mannerisms. Make up/hair and wardrobe helped. But while watching Mr Rogers in my youth , never thought to myself " hey the guy in the movie "Big" looks like Mr Rogers" . But admittedly thats just my opinion

 

[137th Gebirg]

Personally, I think the Abramsverse actors look a lot more like their TOS counterparts than the SNW crew does. With the next maybe-maybe-not movie operating in fits and starts, I suspect many of them would jump at the chance to do something like this.

 

[iliescu]

This thread is great, hope to see a Biopic about Roddenberry (4)(IV).

 

[somebuddyX]

They should do a Mad Men version of the creation of Star Trek called "Wagon Train to The Stars" and you do the creation of TOS, the creation of the films, and then the creation of TNG and base it all on the stuff in the Fifty Year Mission. Warts and all.

 

[Lord Garth]

They should do a Mad Men version of the creation of Star Trek called "Wagon Train to The Stars" and you do the creation of TOS, the creation of the films, and then the creation of TNG and base it all on the stuff in the Fifty Year Mission. Warts and all.

Season 1
101. Pitching TOS to Desilu then, from there, pitching it to CBS and finally NBC.
102. Producing "The Cage".
103. Producing "Where No Man Has Gone Before".
104. The first season, from Pre-Production to Premiere Night.
105. The rest of the first season, leading up to renewal.
106. The second season and the Save Star Trek Campaign.
107. The third season and cancellation.
108. TOS becomes popular in reruns. Gene's other projects don't take off... which brings him back to Star Trek!

Season 2
201. Gene works on The God Thing, other attempts come and go, then they're all caught off-guard by Star Wars.
202. Paramount wants to make Phase II, then changes their mind (again!!!) and wants to make TMP.
203. The making of TMP.
204. After TMP, control of the movies are taken away from Gene. Ends on a cliffhanger: Paramount wants to make TNG.
205. Pre-Production of TNG, including casting, and leading up to rolling cameras on "Encounter at Farpoint".
206. Producing the first season of TNG, including all the nonsense with Leonard Miazlish.
207. The second season of TNG and all the power struggles.
208. From the third season of TNG to Gene Roddenberry's death.

 

[trekfan_1]

Has there been ANY news on this project? I'm started to wonder if it's being shelved.

 

[Kor]

Somebody in another thread suggested Christian Bale as GR. He does have a way of visually disappearing into a role, and I think the shape of his nose already leans toward a passing resemblance.

Kor

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

Somebody in another thread suggested Christian Bale as GR. He does have a way of visually disappearing into a role, and I think the shape of his nose already leans toward a passing resemblance.

Kor

Interesting. I could see Bale as GR.

 

[trekfan_1]

Still crickets about this project. Is it still happening?

 

[Lord Garth]

Chirp, chirp.

Re-reading my post above, I actually really want to see a streaming series like the one I outlined above.

 

[HotRod]

I doubt we'll ever see any kinda biopic on Roddenberry, if only because if he were still alive, he'd have probably been "metoo'd" out of existence.

And probably rightly so.

 

[Kor]

Well I remember maybe eight years ago or so somebody was trying make an independent Gene Roddenberry biopic, centered on production of "The Cage." And from what I understood, that one was going to be more "warts and all," pulling no punches when it came to problematical behavior. There was even a little preview/trailer type video. But apparently that project didn't go anywhere. I vaguely remember searching for the video later on and not being able to find it again.

Anyway, at this point Roddenberry is probably no longer enough of a household name for such a project to get big public anticipation on the basis of his name alone.

Kor

 

[137th Gebirg]

Maybe for the 75th…

 

[Lord Garth]

I doubt we'll ever see any kinda biopic on Roddenberry, if only because if he were still alive, he'd have probably been "metoo'd" out of existence.

And probably rightly so.

There's no "probably" about it. Rightly so, period.

Still would've made for an interesting watch, though. What made Mad Men work was that they didn't pretend the sexism and racism didn't exist, but they didn't portray it in a positive light either. If they could find a way to depict it without celebrating it, then they'd have something.

I think people need to see that the Great Bird wasn't so great, even though he had a good idea for a show (since we're obviously still talking about it 60 years later).

 

[F. King Daniel]

I can't see the estate being thrilled with a biopic that paints him in a bad light, nor Paramount because they'd see it as damaging their brand.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Truth hurts. Needs to be told. Warts and all.