I really haven't been reading spoilers...

[propita]

... not really to keep it a surprise, but I didn't care to spoil it, ju'st enjoy whatever's on the screen.

But I'm reading posts here and there--time travel, attacks on Earth, alternate timelines.

Instead of worrying about being true to canon, why didn't they just reset the entire franchise completely and start a new, clean canon (kinda like BSG and nBSG)?

THAT would let non-Trek fans join in at the start.

It would be interesting, wouldn't it? Same basic premise, but take the story in a different direction. I suspect that's what Paramount was hoping Enterprise would do. Too bad they interfered, yet again, with a ST series.

 

[Dac]

Because if they did that, Fans would cry havoc regardless if it were good or not.

Hell, look at NuBSG, a sizeable portion of Old BSG Fans still refuse to believe it exists, let alone that Starbuck is a "girl"

If you times that portion of BSG's fanbase up to Trek Proportions, Im sure a whole country somewhere would letterbomb paramount and/or issue a Fatwa on JJ Abrams.

There doing it this way to keep it in the family so to speak, so it carries on the existing "Universe" while breaking canon for the sake of good storytelling. Nothing wrong there if you ask me.

 

[PineQuinto]

I think the producers and JJ decided not to take the easy way out and wanted this to sort of tie into what has come before because they do in fact respect what has come before. I believe they chose to do it this way because they felt it was the best story they could tell in the best way they could tell it. It was a matter of choice. No one has to like that choice but JJ and company are hoping you do because I seriously doubt they want the film to fail.

Another thing to consider is that we hardly even know what the actual film is going to be like. We only have quick glimpses of action beats and internet rumor to go off of, and I don't think for a moment the assumptions we currently have are exactly what to expect. So this film could in fact be more in tune with a reboot than you or any of us realize.

Regardless of what exactly this film is, I believe a total reboot would still have its share of problems attracting a new fanbase as well. Star Trek has always been seen as a geeky show. It was true even during the height of its popularity. I am far from geeky-looking but when I say to others "I like Star Trek", most people look at me like I am some kind of freak. The franchise hasn't been cool since the late 80's/early 90's. A reboot doesn't automatically equal new fans. For instance, Battlestar Galactica was never a show I caught on to...the remake didn't make me want to watch that version either. I cannot speak for people who aren't fans of Star Trek (because I am a fan of it of course) but I must logically deduce that even if it was a total restart, there's no guarentee that it would bring them in.

I think JJ and the producers have done the best they can though to show that this isn't the Star Trek of old. They want to bring new fans in, but they are also trying to keep the old fans too. They knew they could not please everyone, but they made an effort for this to appeal to as broad a audience as possible (for a science fiction movie). Based on the positive buzz from most folks I've met out there I think they can succeed at doing that.

 

[BorgPhil]

There is ofc the danger that while trying to satisfy the hard-core fans and create interest in potential new fans, they could fall right in the middle of the two stools and satisfy no-one.

However, from what I've seen, I'm confident that won't be the case.

 

[datas_cat_spot]

It could have just been a "reimagination" if Paramount had wanted with no attempt at setting the story in continuity. It would really have needed to be drastically different from the series on order to make it clear it has no ties. At which point, the would be no purpose. If you're reimagining characters to the point they're unrecognizable, you've forfeited whatever draw they had to begin with. Paramount wants to be able to say "this is the story of how these characters came together" and leave it at that.

 

[Kelso]

Because if they did that, Fans would cry havoc regardless if it were good or not.

That will happen anyway.