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How would you reboot TNG?

Rebooting TNG is the worst idea in the long, sad History of Bad Ideas! You can't capture lightning in a bottle a second time. With The Classic Series, it's different, obviously ... only so much Ham and Cheese. It's just crying out for a reboot, what with the atrocious overacting, the cardboard sets and primitive special effects.

Any TOS fan must admit the JJ films did away with those things.
 
you need to do what Kelley said. Recapture the optimistic outlook of the show. TNG did that.
Voyager was toooooo "happy with itself"
DS9 was all "uh oh were gonna die"
 
I wouldn't "reboot" TNG. I would simply pick up the way the X-Files did many years later. I'm sure TNG would have tremendous ratings just like the X-Files has enjoyed.
 
I would reboot TNG by having USS Titan (Riker's command) and Admiral Picard coming on for an inspection. Many characters would. return.

The Inspection Team -
Admiral Picard
Captain Beverly Cruiser
Captain Elizabeth Shelby
Lieutenant Commander Ro Laren

Rikers Senior Crew -
Captain William Riker
Commander Worf - Exec, Tactical Officer
Commander Deanna Troi - Conselsor
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Owgwa - Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant Wesley Crusher - Helmsman/Conn
Ensign B4 - Science Officer
 
I had an idea that rebooted TNG, but it was somewhat indirect because the idea was to reboot all of Trek (primarily TOS and TNG) that fused the eras together in a smooth transition where the common thread was the same Enterprise. Essentially the story started with Kirk taking over from Pike then later transitioning to Uhura in command and finally Picard taking over for the final run of the series.


I've gone pretty far in invisioning my personal Trek Reboot - it's a mix between all the shows, I've gotten pretty far in planning I guess ebcause all the ideas have been wondering in my brain for years!! I've got ideas of how it all looks, a few bits of casting and I've even outlined a first episode.

Spoilered due to length:

What if in 1987 the original series was rebooted, the original crew in brand new modern adventures? Aesthetically that is my vision for a Star Trek reboot, however since 1987 we have had a whole load of new characters, aliens and ideas introduced in spin-offs. Why not use that catalogue to create a ‘DC/Marvel Universe’ of Star Trek? Any TNG-era details are not set 100 years into the future, but rather the ‘present day’ of this new 23rd Century.

Our backstory is similar. Vulcans made First Contact with Earth in the late 21st Century as Zefram Cochrane tests his first warp drive vessel. In this universe it is the Humans, Vulcans, Andorians and Betazoids who form the United Federation of Planets.

Starfleet does end up in a short (and devastating) was with the Klingons, however this ended in the Organian Peace Treaty – the signing was the last work of Admiral Jonathan Archer.

THE UNIVERSE
As our story begins, the Klingon War was a decade ago. The Federation is at peace doing what it set out to do – explore.

Our main setting is the THIRD Enterprise; NCC-1701 after NCC-101 and NX/NCC-01. Captains have included Jonathan Archer, Jackson Winter, Robert April and Jean-Luc Picard (yes, him).

The Romulans are known but reclusive. They are rumoured to be quite militant, and have a small empire – not nearly as much as the Klingons. The Vulcans – particularly Spock – know a lot more about them than the rest of the Federation but are keeping big secrets. These two races, as with the Ferengi, are pretty much as they were in the prime universe.

During the war many ships were lost One of which was the USS VOYAGER, which went missing in the Badlands. This Voyager has a tough, gritty and trying fight for survival through the Delta Quadrant. And yes they encountered the Borg.

In the corner of the galaxy bordering with the Gamma Quadrant is a station called TEROK NOR. This orbits a planet called Bajor, which has in the past 5 years left the tyrannical reign of a race called the Cardassians, who Starfleet has never encountered. Bajor is in negotiations to join the Federation.

CREW OF USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701
CAPTAIN JAMES TIBERIUS KIRK
James ‘Jim’ T Kirk is a respectable but ambitious officer. Born on a farm in Iowa, he was raised by his mother Winona as his father George was in space. This guy had a solid upbringing with Uncle Forrest as his surrogate father – he’s not nearly as a jerk as his Trek09 counterpart!
Winona is unsure whether Starfleet is the right path for her son, however Forrest is encouraging. Jim joins Starfleet aged 16. One month later, the Kirks receive word that the USS Stargazer is destroyed with George onboard. Many survived however, including its Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
Jim, in tribute to his father, is even more determined and sees himself doing big things. As a cadet he is soley responsible for saving all his classmate during an away mission which wins him high commendation.
Jim’s Starfleet career is nearly jeopardised, however, when he reprograms the ‘No Win Scenario’ Kobyashi Maru. It is Picard himself who persuades Starfleet to give him another chance.
Kirk joins the security crews on the Hood and Defiant before joining Captain Picard on their Enterprise. He is made Head of Security before First Officer (NOTE: In this universe the first officer always doubles with another role.)
When Picard & Mitchell are lost he is given the Captaincy by Admiral Nogura. He is assigned a new Science Officer/Diplomatic Advisor named Spock, his old friend Leonard McCoy is made Medical Officer and Uhura is made First Officer.

MR. SPOCK
Spock is son of Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and a human named Amanda Grayson. He was raised on Vulcan and passed the Science Academy with flying colours, wanting to please his parents.
He has always been conflicted by his human side, Spock was picked on as a child and this frustrated him. He immersed himself in work wanting to compress his emotions and wanted to learn about Earth, so this inspired him to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Diplomatic Corps.
After a time there Spock returned to Vulcan where he learned of a reunification movement underground on Romulus. Thousands of years ago both races were unified, but the Romulans found their own space and hid behind a ‘Neutral Zone’, rejecting pure logic and invading local planets.
Spock has spent time with the reunificationists on Romulus and truly believes in their cause. Upon his return Spock joins the Enterprise as Science Officer and Diplomatic Advisor to Captain Kirk. He wishes however to return to Romulus and continue secret talks...

DOCTOR LEONARD H. McCOY
Leonard McCoy joined Starfleet following his divorce to complete his Medical Training. He got to know Jim Kirk on the hood as his physician – regularly fixing him up following planet scrapes and Holodeck adventures.
McCoy left the Hood following the ships’ decommissioning, returning to Georgia to open a practice.
When Captain James T Kirk took over the Enterprise, Dr Mark Piper retired. Kirk tracked McCoy to his practice and begged him to become the Enterprise’s CMO, to which he agreed after some reluctance.

COMMANDER NYOTA UHURA
An intelligent and warm woman, Uhura initially used her linguistic skills as a translator for Starfleet Intelligence before helping to further develop the Universal Translator. Later she became Communications officer for Jean-Luc Picard.
Nyota has a sympathetic ear as an empathic Betazoid and often acts as an unofficial Counsellor to her crewmates. She accepts her friend James T Kirk’s invitation to become his First Officer.

LT. CMDR MONTGOMERY SCOTT
Practically the same as his Prime counterpart, ‘Scotty’ helped design many key engines Starfleet use today, he built practically the whole engine system for the Enterprise – his baby. His wit is sarcastic but cn often be taken in good humour

CHIEF HIKARU SULU
A middle aged ‘Chief Petty Officer’, Sulu cut his teeth as one of the finest pilots during the War. He is happy to stay where he is rather than be promoted.
Sulu is still haunted by the death of his husband Travis Mayweather during the war, but he enjoys reminiscing about his past in order to teach the next generation of officers. His daughter emora is also a helmswoman on the Endeavour.

ENSIGN PAA’VEL CH’KOV
Paa’Vel is a chen Andorian Navigator coming on board direct from the Academy having been handpicked by Picard
Although she struggled at the Academy, Ch’Kov was determined to prove her worth coming onboard as a junior. Despite academic difficulty she has quickly proved herself as a security officer, however she can be a difficult and seemingly abrupt person.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ENTERPRISE CREW
CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD
Fourth Enterprise captain, formerly of the Stargazer, very ‘by the book’. Goes missing on a shuttle with Gary Mitchell.

COMMANDER GARY MITCHELL
Former Science Officer. Goes missing, however returns having gone insane.

DR MARK PIPER
Older former CMO of the Enterprise. Shocked at Pike’s disappearance, Piper chooses to retire.

LT JOHN KYLE
Enterprise’s Transporter Technician.

YOEMAN JANICE RAND
Captain Kirk’s Yoeman. New to the service, Sulu is quick to show her the ropes.

SUPPORTING CAST
AMBASSADOR SAREK
Spock’s Father and Federation Ambassador to Vulcan. Disappointed in Spock when he shows interest in reunification; he does not approve or find it logical.

AMANDA GRAYSON
Spock’s Mother; Sarek’s Wife. Rather than being the quiet wife, Amanda often questions’ Sarek’s logic, often when it has to do with their son.

WINONA KIRK
Kirk’s proud mother.

DOCTOR CAROL MARCUS
Scientist and childhood sweetheart of Jim Kirk.

ENSIGN DEMORA SULU
Hikaru’s daughter, follows in her father’s footsteps as a helmsman, but as a commissioned officer under Picard on the Endeavour.

ADMIRAL ALANNA NOGURA
She is Captain Kirk’s boss; Head of Starfleet Command.

TOBIN DAX
Joined Trill; aide to Ambassador Sarek. Has lived several lives.

SENATOR PARDEK
A leader in the underground unification movement

ADMIRAL BENJAMIN SISKO
Although initially reluctant, Sisko becomes the head Starfleet Officer when Terok Nor becomes Starfleet’s Deep Space Nine.

QUARK
Ferengi Bar Owner on Deep Space Nine. Does a lot of dodgy deals on the side, always trying to con Starfleet Officers.


ANTAGONISTS
CHANCELLOR GOWRON
Leader of the Klingon High Council. Although he can just about tolerate Humans, he has no desire for total peace.

GENERAL CHANG
Leader of Gowron’s Militia.

COMMANDER KOR
A determined officer, Kor become’s Kirk’s sworn enemy.

CYRANO JONES
Bartender at Quark’s

TIMELINE
21ST CENTURY
2063 Cochrane makes the first warp drive flight in the Phoenix. This catches the attention of Vulcans, and First Contact is made.


22ND CENTURY
2150 ENTERPRISE NX-01 launched under Captain Jonathan Archer.
2158 Romulus establishes a neutral zone around their home world, ordering Vulcans and other races not to interfere.
2162 The United Federation of Planets is founded by Earth, Andoria, Vulcan and Betazed.

23RD CENTURY
2205 Hikaru Sulu born in San Francisco.
2208 Jean-Luc Picard born in La Barre, France.
2211 Jack Crusher born in Birmingham UK. George Kirk born in Iowa.
2219 Christopher Pike is born in New York City
2222 Montgomery Scott is born in Edinburgh
2227 Leonard H McCoy is born in Georgia
2230 Spock is born on Vulcan
2233 James T Kirk is born in Iowa
2236 Nyota Uhura is born on Betazed
2241 Pa’Vel Ch’Kov is born on Andoria
2239 USS ENTERPRISE NCC-101 is launched under Jackson Winters. Later Captains are Robert April and Christopher Pike.
2240 Spock joins Vulcan Science Academy
2241 Kirk joins Starfleet Academy. One month later USS STARGAZER is destroyed – casualties include Commander George Kirk and Lt Jack Crusher.
2244 Spock graduates from Vulcan Science Academy. Moves to Earth to join Starfleet Diplomatic Corps
2245 Ensign Kirk graduates from Starfleet Academy and becomes a junior crewman on the Hood.
2247 Spock leaves Starfleet Diplomatic Corps and moves secretly to Romulus.
2248-2251 The Klingon War. USS VOYAGER lost with all hands
2253 Cardassians end two-decades long occupation of Bajor. Bajorans begin using an exploring TEROK NOR space station.
2257 USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701 launches under Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Lt Kirk transfers to the Defiant. Crew includes Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Piper and Mitchell.
2258 Erik Pressman assigned Captain of the USS EXCELSIOR NCC-2000. Crew includes Will Riker, Data, Troi, Crusher, Yar, LaForge and a renegade Klingon named Worf.
2261 Lt Cmdr Kirk joins the Enterprise as Head of Security.
2263 Cmdr Kirk is given the role of First Officer as well. Ch’Kov becomes Enterprise Navigator.
2265 Picard & Mitchell lost on shuttlecraft. Kirk becomes Captain of the USS Enterprise. Spock comes aboard as Science Officer/Diplomatic Advisor. McCoy comes aboard as Chief Medical Officer. Uhura promoted to First Officer. Five Year Mission begins.

For the uniforms I picked my faviourite bits of the previous and put them into a badly photoshopped image. I passed it onto Sean Tourangeau who came up with tis:

http://stourangeau.deviantart.com/art/Lt-Sulu-585146574
 
I'm another one that wouldn't reboot TNG.

But...if I absolutely had to (or just to give the idea a go in a fanfic), I'd probably just flip all the genders around with the exception of the Crushers, which would likely change things a bit between both of them and Captain Genevieve Picard.
:biggrin:
 
Animate it. I always wanted to see an animated version of TNG. And I have always wanted to seen animated TNG long before The 2009 Reboot!

I prefer it be Anime style (Filmation version with extensive detail) instead of CGI. However, Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard looks interesting in CGI. I also want to see a Filmation-style TNG be cause back then the TOS animated show had to be "cartooned" be cause of violent protests against violence. But today's animation requirements aren't so harsh. The same actors could return as voice actors. Give it suspenseful music such as Seasons 1-4, 6 (Face Of The Enemy), etc.

And also animating it would avoid the constant "Rebooting" that happens all the time. If TNG ends up rebooted, (animated or live action) give it suspenseful music either way.

And perhaps tying up loose ends or whatever they call that phrase. Explain what all those Chief Engineers are doing, all the Navigators, Bring back Selar, but I am not sure which position, ... Perhaps give her the CMO job and give Beverly the Science Officer Job. (Selar being the science officer AND a vulcan would put an unfair stereotype.) Make the Science Officer position more prominent, make the Ship's Counselor / Adviser position less prominent, give Guinan many more appearances, and explain why Picard spoils Wesley so much. I would make Keiko a navigator, as originally intended.

"Deep Space Voyager The Next Generation" also sounds interesting. Actually it also sounds realistic.
I'm on board with animated, you beat me to it.

Voice casting? Michael C. Hall as Data.

Ray Stevenson as Picard

James Purefoy as Riker

Steven Yeun as La Forge

Rosario Dawson as Troi

Charisma Carpenter as Crusher

Ryan Reynolds as Q

Vin Diesel as Worf

Oprah as Guinan
 
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