Is a modern-day big screen reboot of TNG inevitable?

[Shalashaska]

Just thinking about it, after these TOS reboots run their course, which may be sooner than later with most of the cast only contracted for three films (as well as Anton Yelchin's untimely death), Paramount Pictures will have no where else to go with Star Trek on the big-screen.

Even though it'd be the cheaper option for Paramount (no licensing characters from CBS), I don't think we'll ever be seeing a new cast of characters being created for the big screen. One of the main draws of the reboot franchise is seeing the old characters revived in big-budget action/adventure spectacles. When the new actors eventually move on to other projects, will we be seeing a TNG reboot franchise?

Where should they go with them? Would the TNG crew work as well as the new TOS crew has? Would you like to see any DS9/VOY characters added to the mix?

 

[Terok Nor]

I don't think so. I think they'll just keep recasting and rebooting TOS characters because they presume that's all anyone knows or cares about. I know DS9, Voyager and Enterprise were not huge hits but TNG has been completely shortchanged over the years. It was a huge hit and introduced a lot of people to Star Trek, not to mention a lot of iconic races and characters. I feel it's being a little bit forgotten.

 

[Marc]

I don't think so. I think they'll just keep recasting and rebooting TOS characters because they presume that's all anyone knows or cares about. I know DS9, Voyager and Enterprise were not huge hits but TNG has been completely shortchanged over the years. It was a huge hit and introduced a lot of people to Star Trek, not to mention a lot of iconic races and characters. I feel it's being a little bit forgotten.

Given the changes to the Trek universe with the recent movies we could see a re-do of TNG, Voyager and DS9 (and the ensuing shitstorm amongst the fans

I would be interested to see how the design elements introduced with the past 3 movies would work if carried forward to 24th Century starships such as the Enterprise D and E and U.S.S Voyager.

 

[angry apple panda]

It's weird, because TNG was hugely popular, all the way up to the end of the series. And I still just, for the life of me, can't imagine that they would reboot TNG. The characters are iconic, but not nearly as iconic as the TOS cast. It makes me sad, but that's just how it seems.

TNG, I think, given the right choices, could have made it to the same heights in pop culture that TOS did, but after four middling films that didn't particularly honor the series well, and three successive series that had diminishing returns in ratings as time went on, I think TNG's legacy was muddled somewhat.

It's still kind of considered the less sexy, stuffy version of TOS to a good portion of the general public. I just can't imagine a rebooted, "sexy" version of TNG. I mean, you know, it'd be fun. I just can't see it getting made. Maybe I'll be proven wrong.

I honestly just hope they focus on new stories and characters.

 

[Greg Cox]

Not inevitable, but possible.

When the generation that grew up on TNG starts calling the shots at the studios, we may well see a TNG reboot. All you need is one high-powered director, bankable star, or studio head that just happened to have imprinted on TNG at an impressionable age and . . . voila, you have a TNG reboot.

Let's be honest, if Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan really wanted to do a SPACE: 1999 reboot, it would be green-lighted tomorrow. The same thing may happen to TNG someday.

 

[Vger23]

I don't think it would happen. The TNG film franchise was relatively unsuccessful even with the original cast. That would probably keep Paramount away, with the thinking that they wouldn't stand a chance with a re-cast.

I also think that the public perception of Trek is primarily "Kirk, Spock and Bones" with the other shows being thought of as quaint nerdy spin-offs like "Joanie Loves Chachi" nowadays. I think TNG was popular in the moment, but is now the "one with the bald guy" to most casual audiences.

 

[Greg Cox]

I don't think it would happen. The TNG film franchise was relatively unsuccessful even with the original cast. That would probably keep Paramount away, with the thinking that they wouldn't stand a chance with a re-cast.

Perhaps, but with the passing of time, old disappointments fade in memory and people start thinking that maybe they can do better this time. I mean, they're talking about rebooting THE SAINT again, even though the last reboot, twenty years ago, didn't make much of a splash. And we're revisiting KING KONG and THE EXORCIST again, even though both properties have had a checkered history when it comes to remakes and sequels.

It's cyclical. Everything old eventually becomes new again . . ..

 

[JirinPanthosa]

At this point a Trek2017 movie is statistically more likely than a TNG reboot.

Though I would not be shocked if at some point the Soong family cameos in Nutrek.

 

[nightwind1]

Rebooting TNG is unlikely. Ask any random on the street to name Star Trek characters, and 99 out of a hundred will name Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock (or Doctor Spock), or Dr. McCoy.

 

[angry apple panda]

Rebooting TNG is unlikely. Ask any random on the street to name Star Trek characters, and 99 out of a hundred will name Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock (or Doctor Spock), or Dr. McCoy.

Right. People know Patrick Stewart.

Next on the list is (maybe) Data, or "that guy with the metal thing on his face, whatsisname?"

If the TNG movies were of higher quality, with more wide appeal, especially in the later films of the series, maybe none of this would have been an issue. I feel like if they did reboot TNG, they might even simply use Picard and Data, and fill the cast out with completely different characters. Maybe they'll do something weird and novel like use Leslie instead of Wesley, but otherwise,

 

[angry apple panda]

(I can't edit posts yet? Annoying. Anyway, continuing below...)

But otherwise, the rest of the cast are mostly blanks to the wide audience. If the TNG films were more successful near the end, we would have gotten direct sequels, maybe spinoffs. People would remember the characters better. Maybe the Prime Universe would be in better shape popularity wise and we wouldn't have had to reboot. But the last TNG film was in 2002, and people have terrible attention spans. I feel like if Patrick Stewart never did X-Men, and just went back to stage acting after 2002, barely anyone would remember the guy.

 

[Jedman67]

There will never be a full TNG reboot. What might happen is a spinoff series or movies after the 2017 show runs its course taking place roughly in the same time period, but that would be it. Sure they might bring back Picard and Data but none of the others had the kind of lasting appeal to make a reboot likely. TNG was meant to appeal to the kids of the kids who grew up watching TOS.

 

[borgboy]

I remember hearing a weird rumor a year or so ago that the new Trek movie was casting someone to play Troi, which suggested that a TNG reboot was in the works.
If we're going to keep getting reboots I'd rather see TNG get a shot instead of re-rebooting TOS again.
As far as TOS being sexier, TNG can bring the sexy if they want to with Riker and Troi (who was always a sci fi sex symbol in her own right).

 

[angry apple panda]

As far as TOS being sexier, TNG can bring the sexy if they want to with Riker and Troi (who was always a sci fi sex symbol in her own right).

Oh I don't doubt there's sexiness. I just think in the context of pop culture, people don't remember that as much. Yes, there's absolutely potential for TNG to get the Big Sexy Reboot. But the greater public just might not buy it.

 

[BillJ]

but TNG has been completely shortchanged over the years.

It got seven seasons and four feature films. How is that shortchanged? Plus, Cardassians were mentioned in Star Trek (2009) and Kirk's equipment bag on Delta Vega was marked '1701D'. Plus you had Marcus' big board that had TNG nods in Star Trek Into Darkness.

 

[2takesfrakes]

The rights to these characters are already owned. They're paid for. So, making money off of them is a lot easier than trying to come up with something new. It might not be so obscene to have The Classic Series crew meet up with TNG's crew, through some space phenomenon, as a one-off, to see how it goes.

I've resisted the idea for so long of a reboot of TNG, and I meant it. I just love the original, so much. But ...the potential benefits of a reboot can't be ignored. First and foremost is even greater accessibility and availability of the original TNG series. That makes me happy. And as long as they don't do something hateful with the characters, like turning Data into a crazed killer robot, or something, then whatever adventures they have should work out, just fine. The optimism of the series should be preserved.

Outside of that, if they cherry pick what overall themes from the original show that they wanted, discarding the rest ... well ... what can I do? It's not going to be the show I fell in love with, so I can't get all that worked up, about it. Anyway, it's a reboot. Is it inevitable? I believe some occurrence of the TNG crew is inevitable ... but having another series, again? That's something else ...

 

[Jonny]

Not inevitable, but possible.

When the generation that grew up on TNG starts calling the shots at the studios, we may well see a TNG reboot. All you need is one high-powered director, bankable star, or studio head that just happened to have imprinted on TNG at an impressionable age and . . . voila, you have a TNG reboot.

Let's be honest, if Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan really wanted to do a SPACE: 1999 reboot, it would be green-lighted tomorrow. The same thing may happen to TNG someday.

The first line of your post sums up my thoughts perfectly and I agree.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

TNG was big when it was on but it kind of died out after Nemesis was lame.

I think they could make some money off a TNG reboot, but the reason they won't is that they could make more money off more TOS reboots or if 2017Trek is successful, those characters.

 

[maneth]

Oh dear. I'd much prefer it if they made new stories set in that universe, but I don't think we need a remake.

 

[SPCTRE]

It is very possible, although it will be impossible for me to look at a reboot and not think "this looks like that porn parody".

 

[JesterFace]

I wouldn't be interested in a TNG reboot, I doubt I would even watch it. Maybe few minutes to see what it's like but... that's it.