Ok. What is the chance of a Picard spinoff?

[James Cole]

Better Call Saul S1E1 - S6E9
Breaking Bad (entire series)
El Camino
Better Call Saul S6E10- S6E13

Ahh now that I have all the BCS Blu-rays I've been wanting to do a rewatch... this is a good idea for a different spin on things

SNW is revisiting characters we know in a way that I really enjoy. Picard gave us many old characters and I was happy with it. But I don't need another show with characters and settings we are now plenty familiar with.

Most of the Star Trek franchise's accumulated lore and world building was built up in the late 24th century. There's a lot that could be followed up on when the original actors are still able to play their characters and behind the scenes creatives still working.

SNW's own creators have said they are doing a reinterpretation of TOS. Legacy would not be that to the TNG/DS9/VGR era.

 

[fireproof78]

Legacy would not be that to the TNG/DS9/VGR era.

What would it be for that era?

 

[Mage]

Legacy would not be that to the TNG/DS9/VGR era.

What would it be for that era?

If you create the show that fans want with Legacy, it will be 100% that to that era. I LOVED the fanservice that PicardS3 did, because it was like the most indulgent dessert you ever had; not required in any way and way too much but it was so good. Because you knew it was all that.

When you create a show based on Seven Of Nine, Raffi and the Son Of The Picard..... there is no way it's not going to be a show build on, as the name says, a legacy.
Just give me something that has zero connection to anything in the past except the universe it is set in.

 

[Lord Garth]

What would it be for that era?

Picard and (theoretically) Legacy are a much later continuation of TNG/DS9/VOY, the same way the TOS Movies were a much later continuation of TOS. Different people in charge, different sets, different directing styles, and different writing styles, but a follow-up to what was already done before, as opposed to reinterpreting what was done before.

Except the TOS Movies had the same characters as the main cast, but the only character from Old Trek in the main cast of Legacy would be Seven of Nine. Everyone else in the main cast would either have been introduced in Picard or would be new characters specific to Legacy. Any other characters from Old Trek who appear would be making guest-appearances, if they did. They wouldn't be the main cast.

The main difference is directional. In SNW, you're looking at how things are and moving them inward, so it all leads into TOS. In Legacy, everything comes from out of TNG/DS9/VOY instead of moving into it. It's a starting point, not an end point.

 

[James Cole]

Just give me something that has zero connection to anything in the past except the universe it is set in.

How is that different then than say THE ORVILLE except without having to file the serial numbers off?

The main difference is directional. In SNW, you're looking at how things are and moving them inward, so it all leading into TOS. In Legacy, everything comes from out of TNG/DS9/VOY instead of moving into it. It's a starting point, not an end point.

One point I always make is that the Berman era ran episodic into the ground.

What were the main structural limitations of the Berman era? Episodic/reset button, the sausage factory model of knocking out 26 episodes a year, the perceived Roddenberry guardrails, and Berman's arbitrary particularities.

NuTrek has fallen into the streaming trap of treating a serialized season like a bloated film. Matalas has already said he wants to take a semi-serialized approach, which has a proven track record in the BUFFY and STARGATE franchises.

I don't think we're ever getting 26 episodes a year again. Although one credible rumor suggests that Matalas pitched producing 20 episodes for what NuTrek has spent on 10. PS2/PS3 were shot back to back, so it could be a refinement of this model, albeit with far more advance planning.

I'm in favor of keeping many Roddenberry guardrails (it is what makes Star Trek unique) but bending them more than Berman was willing to do.

 

[Danja]

I don't think we're ever getting 26 episodes a year again. Although one credible rumor suggests that Matalas pitched producing 20 episodes for what NuTrek has spent on 10. PS2/PS3 were shot back to back, so it could be a refinement of this model, albeit with far more advance planning.

It nearly blew out Sir Patrick Stewart!

 

[Lord Garth]

NuTrek has fallen into the streaming trap of treating a serialized season like a bloated film. Matalas has already said he wants to take a semi-serialized approach, which has a proven track record in the BUFFY and STARGATE franchises.

I usually prefer full serialization BUT, in this case, with the amount of ground Terry Matalas would likely want to cover, I think semi-serialization would be the way to do it. Especially since Legacy would have a much shorter episode count than any of those series.

One thing that I've just sort of accepted with Picard and Discovery is that the main story being told that season ends full-stop with that season. While I've been okay with it, I prefer what Terry Matalas did with 12 Monkeys where the story flows from one season into the next. And just like with the aforementioned Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. If Terry can do that, I'd consider it to be a one-up over both DSC and PIC. DS9 was another series, within Trek, where the storylines continued until the series ended rather than the season.

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't think we're ever getting 26 episodes a year again. Although one credible rumor suggests that Matalas pitched producing 20 episodes for what NuTrek has spent on 10. PS2/PS3 were shot back to back, so it could be a refinement of this model, albeit with far more advance planning.

I think they'll stick with 10. They want to have multiple series.

Making it cheaper could help to make it run longer, though, if it's greenlit. Especially since long-running shows are usually cancelled because they become too expensive. So, you could have half the desired 20 episodes per season, but with twice the seasons, making it even out.

 

[James Cole]

I think they'll stick with 10. They want to have multiple series.

Making it cheaper could help to make it run longer, though, if it's greenlit. Especially since long-running shows are usually cancelled because they become too expensive. So, you could have half the desired 20 episodes per season, but with twice the seasons, making it even out.

Berman era had 6-7 day shoots. NuTrek has 10 day shoots per episode (which means PS1 has two episodes worth of material somewhere on the cutting room floor!).

I could see there being an order for 20 episodes, with an option for another 20. Hopefully some kind of four year plan for season arcs and upfront costs.

Find some efficiencies by planning ahead and sticking to it. Also cut down on the sinecures and overhead. This alone could cut 25% of the budget that would be oblivious to the end viewer.

Bottle shows could cut another 25%.

Four seasons of Legacy for the cost of two STP seasons.

 

[Reanok]

20 episodes would be too hard on Patrick Stewart at his age I'd be glad if we got another 10 episodes foe a Picard spinoff or a movie. I hope Terry Matalas made them.

 

[Danja]

I could see there being an order for 20 episodes, with an option for another 20.

That's what they did with Prodigy.

 

[Lord Garth]

20 episodes would be too hard on Patrick Stewart at his age I'd be glad if we got another 10 episodes foe a Picard spinoff or a movie. I hope Terry Matalas made them.

Patrick Stewart wouldn't be the star of Legacy. It would be Jeri Ryan.

He might not even be in Legacy at all, except for maybe a guest-appearance.

 

[Citiprime]

Berman era had 6-7 day shoots. NuTrek has 10 day shoots per episode (which means PS1 has two episodes worth of material somewhere on the cutting room floor!).

I could see there being an order for 20 episodes, with an option for another 20. Hopefully some kind of four year plan for season arcs and upfront costs.

Find some efficiencies by planning ahead and sticking to it. Also cut down on the sinecures and overhead. This alone could cut 25% of the budget that would be oblivious to the end viewer.

Bottle shows could cut another 25%.

Four seasons of Legacy for the cost of two STP seasons.

I think a big condition of Legacy getting off the ground would be production moving to Canada.

Doing Picard in Los Angeles was a concession done to get Patrick Stewart on-board, but I feel like Paramount would want to move any future production to Canada in order to save costs, while also allowing it to take advantage of whatever sets and facilities they've already contracted for SNW, Section 31, Starfleet Academy, etc.

I don't know whether Matalas, Jeri Ryan, or any of the other principals might have any objections to that. But I can see that being a requirement, especially since they'll have to rebuild/build new Enterprise-G sets since according to reports all of that was destroyed after Picard ceased.

 

[James Cole]

I don't know whether Matalas, Jeri Ryan, or any of the other principals might have any objections to that. But I can see that being a requirement, especially since they'll have to rebuild/build new Enterprise-G sets since according to reports all of that was destroyed after Picard ceased.

12 MONKEYS and NIKITA did most of their shooting in Toronto, so Matalas might be able to bring in some of his own behind the scenes people. 12M was on a $3 million per episode budget, so he has a paper trail as well to support being able to do more with less.

Doing Picard in Los Angeles was a concession done to get Patrick Stewart on-board, but I feel like Paramount would want to move any future production to Canada in order to save costs, while also allowing it to take advantage of whatever sets and facilities they've already contracted for SNW, Section 31, Starfleet Academy, etc.

The only thing I could see keeping Legacy in Los Angeles would be if somehow the tax incentives were so favorable as to tip the scales, but even then you still run into the California cost of doing business / cost of living.

That's what they did with Prodigy.

I wonder why STLD isn't on a similar production schedule... maybe because the animation is less involved, or because its just taking RICK AND MORTY's ten episode season model? At least that series has a multiple season order. STLD could easily be done at season 5.

 

[Danja]

The last two Star Trek movies were filmed in Vancouver.

Skydance might be able to bring some of its contacts/resources to the project.

I wonder why STLD isn't on a similar production schedule... maybe because the animation is less involved, or because its just taking RICK AND MORTY's ten episode season model?

The story I've heard is that Prodigy S1 was originally supposed to be split into two seasons with ten episodes per season.

Covid then got in the way and P+ and Nickelodeon decided to just combine the two seasons into one season.

The only thing I could see keeping Legacy in Los Angeles would be if somehow the tax incentives were so favorable as to tip the scales, but even then you still run into the California cost of doing business / cost of living.

Picard was always intended to be a limited series (it wasn't supposed to run into infinity).

Legacy may well be treated (and budgeted) accordingly.

Ahh now that I have all the BCS Blu-rays I've been wanting to do a rewatch... this is a good idea for a different spin on things

I'm glad the board was able to be of assistance!

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Patrick Stewart wouldn't be the star of Legacy. It would be Jeri Ryan.

He might not even be in Legacy at all, except for maybe a guest-appearance.

He'd probably agree to do a PIC movie as one of the main stars. That I can see. But a series? No. I don't think he'll be able to manage this kind of demanding schedule anymore, no matter how many episodes there are - not as a series lead, at least. Guest star, absolutely. For one or two episodes and a few scenes. But a lead? Nope. Don't think so. Not to mention the fact that he'd probably once again insist on shooting the show in California and not Canada. Etc etc. I can't see them signing him up as a series lead, not under all these circumstances. Also, it would still depend on the plot. He will refuse to be in anything that isn't "new" enough for him.

 

[Campe]

An Enterprise in the 33rd Century wasn't a typo though. I figure DSC is at 3190, so 10 more years to get further from The Burn to make it a little bit different from Disco but not too different. And SFA is somewhere in-between

Spoiler: Red Directive

They just celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Federation so wouldn’t that be 3161ish?

 

[Lord Garth]

They just celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Federation so wouldn’t that be 3161ish?

Nope. They had a line that said "Difficult to celebrate during The Burn". So, they were celebrating the 1,000th Anniversary late. I think Earth and Ni'Var rejoining gave them the impetuous for this celebration.

Also, when Burnham arrives in "That Hope Is You, Part I", the computer tells her it's 3188. Plus the first stardate Burnham gives in the 32nd Century is 865233.1, which lines up with the year 3188. I think she should be giving an 866XXX stardate since Dicovery arrived a year after her, but that's just a nitpick.

Technically, we're giving spoilers. This is the PIC Forum. But it's nothing plot-relevant.

 

[Tiran O'Saurus]

The current year is 3191. The celebration is thirty years late.

 

[Campe]

Nope. They had a line that said "Difficult to celebrate during The Burn". So they were celebrating the 1000th Anniversary late.

Also, when Burnham arrives in "That Hope Is You, Part I", the computer tells her it's 3188.

I actually was just doing some additional looking on Memory Alpha and was going to addend my post. That is all true.