Scottie, Now would be a good time!

[jgalley]

^why would they consider it? their last endeavor failed miserably and they made no money (perhaps even lost, I don't care enough to look.)

Trek would be dead, that's why all the set pieces and whatnot were SOLD OFF..they had NO PLANS of EVER doing more.

So why would they consider it considering they don't even have anything left over to RE-USE? they'd have to WASTE money building ALL NEW SETS..JUST to try something that FAILED again.

No, they'll go to something else ENTIRELY before they'd go back to Star Trek.

the ONLY chance we have of seeing NEW Star Trek Series is if either CBS SELLS the rights...OR..they do a nuTrek series based off the alternate timeline.

Star Trek is the probably the last thing CBS is considering for anything other then movies (and even those are probably on thin-ice..if a nuTrek movie ever bombs..it's GONE.) And we certainly won't see the "prime timeline" show or setting again.

 

[peteym5]

They sold off the Trek sets from TNG, DS9, Voy, Ent so they do not have to pay storage fees. All the models were sold off because anything they will do in the future will be done by CGI which is cheaper. If a studio can spend $100+ Million on films or $20 million per season on a tv show I am sure they can pay about $100,000 to build sets for a new TV show. Rebuilding sets is not what is going to stop a new Trek series from going into production. Chances are a new Star Trek show will be popular enough to run multiple seasons unless it got a producer that made something that was not true to what Star Trek is.

You cannot look at just Enterprise being canceled because of low ratings. The fans on here can list a lot of reasons why they did not like the show over the other Star Trek shows. I personally was skeptical about a prequel and birth of the federation thing from when I first heard about the new show. Many rather have the next post TNG Era show over Enterprise. If it was done soon have Voyager ended.

To do a post TNG/DS9/Voyager series now may be problematic. You're going to have a new set of producers and writers coming in to create a whole new show and last thing is you want to restrict them to material of the a new show. They need the freedom to make a new show. They can recycle some prior ongoing story lines to new ones, but only after this new show has going on for awhile. I would not bring in the Borg until the show ran 3 years and I would bring them back as the menace that can wipe out most of Starfleet. Make them a real threat, not the weaken version we seen on Voyager.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I find it no strange coincidence that the last two Star Trek shows were not as popular because the creation process was rushed.

DS9 wasn't popular, either. No idea whether the production was rushed, but if it was, more shows should be rushed like that.

It's futile to try to link ratings and quality.

And I still see no compelling reason why CBS should bother to do a Star Trek series.

You cannot look at just Enterprise being canceled because of low ratings.

Low ratings would have been enough, but it was also doomed because UPN was being folded into the CW, which had a female-skewing strategy and wouldn't have been interested in any space opera show (traditionally a male-skewing genre) at that time. I doubt they're interested now either. They seem to be very happy with their witches and vampires.

However, there have been some indications that they want to increase their male audience, so the CW is probably one of the more likely places we'd see a space opera series emerge.

Trek would be dead, that's why all the set pieces and whatnot were SOLD OFF..they had NO PLANS of EVER doing more.

Sets can be rebuilt if they're serious about a new show. Or they can go the greenscreen route. If CBS wants a show, they'll give it the budget it needs for production. In any case, a new Star Trek series would not be able to use existing sets. They would look too dated now, especially after Trek XI. They would go for a new look, hewing more closely to Trek XI designs than anything previous.

 

[AviTrek]

Trek would be dead, that's why all the set pieces and whatnot were SOLD OFF..they had NO PLANS of EVER doing more.

Sets can be rebuilt if they're serious about a new show. Or they can go the greenscreen route. If CBS wants a show, they'll give it the budget it needs for production. In any case, a new Star Trek series would not be able to use existing sets. They would look too dated now, especially after Trek XI. They would go for a new look, hewing more closely to Trek XI designs than anything previous.

Yep, aside from ENT and the movie sets, none of the old sets would hold up in HD. So they would never have been used for a new show anyway.

 

[jgalley]

CGI sets..rebuilding old ones. doesn't matter.

FACT is, after Enterprise and Nemesis failings, they are not interested in doing a new Star Trek series based off the Prime Timeline.

that's the ENTIRE REASON nuTrek was even given a chance. And it succeeded. Whether those here want to hate on it or not.

FACT is, if we EVER see a new series, it's going to be based off the nuTrek timeline..NOT the Prime.

we'll NEVER see another Prime-Timeline series...nuTrek is the ONLY chance we have of a series.

you can come up with all the reasons and excuses you want as to why it may be viable. CBS won't do it. ESPECIALLY because of nuTrek's success. Why in the world would they go back to something that failed (a la Enterprise and Nemesis) when they have a something even "normal" STrek fans seemed to really like with the nuTrek reboot?

so tell yourselves what you want. It'll never happen. It's nuTrek or nothing.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

set design - bridge

a new Star Trek series would not be able to use existing sets. They would look too dated now, especially after Trek XI. They would go for a new look, hewing more closely to Trek XI designs than anything previous.

I totally agree.

nuTrek was even given a chance. And it succeeded. Whether those here want to hate on it or not.

FACT is, if we EVER see a new series, it's going to be based off the nuTrek timeline..

I agree. After Trek XIII the sets can go right into use in the next Trek TV series if it were even set on the JJVerse Enterprise. If it were not the sets can be used occasionally for any scenes set on the Enterprise, or they could be redressed as another bridge for the series.

Obviously for engineering on the new series it would have to be built from scratch due to the real-world location used for the Engineering set in Trek XI also for the practical use as a standing set in studio vs. on-location for a TV budget.

Unfortunately for all Trek TV series exteriors have been limited to Southern California due to budget.

 

[Harvey]

Re: set design - bridge

Well, if Stargate Universe could afford to travel to get better locations, a new Star Trek could probably do so as well.

 

[jgalley]

Re: set design - bridge

Well, if Stargate Universe could afford to travel to get better locations, a new Star Trek could probably do so as well.

and that's a viable example because Stargate Universe is doing so well!

oh wait....it was CANCELED.

doesn't that tell you something?

 

[Harvey]

Re: set design - bridge

It tells me that the ratings went from bad to abysmal. It tells me nothing about their use of location shooting.

 

[jgalley]

Re: set design - bridge

It tells me that the ratings went from bad to abysmal. It tells me nothing about their use of location shooting.

part of the cancellation is not bringing in the revenue vs cost. The last thing TPTB are going to do is have unneeded costs, like this, in a series that has failed them in the past..a la nemesis bomb and Enterprise cancellation.

so no...SG:U ultimately couldn't afford it...perhaps because of the crap story...or actors..or any other slew of things. Regardless your point is invalid.

CBS isn't going to take any risks with Trek. And it's only going to take one bomb to see it go bye-bye again.

so again..this should tell you something

 

[Harvey]

Re: set design - bridge

If Stargate: Universe had done well in the ratings, the cost per episode (2.5-3 million each) wouldn't have been an issue, plain and simple. To draw a comparison, Breaking Bad costs the same per episode, but because it hasn't tanked in the ratings (in fact, it had gone up), that cost isn't an issue.

 

[jgalley]

Re: set design - bridge

If Stargate: Universe had done well in the ratings, the cost per episode (2.5-3 million each) wouldn't have been an issue, plain and simple. To draw a comparison, Breaking Bad costs the same per episode, but because it hasn't tanked in the ratings (in fact, it had gone up), that cost isn't an issue.

and Trek has already failed them, like I said, monetary wise..so IF they decide to give it another go they are NOT going to have costs such as that...if the show does well..then perhaps..

which is my point. keep the examples coming..doesn't change that CBS killed Trek because it failed and they aren't really interested in another series..and if that did change they aren't going to throw around cash on it, at least at first, until/unless it actually does well.

so, again, it should tell you something

 

[T'Girl]

the ONLY chance we have of seeing NEW Star Trek Series is if either CBS SELLS the rights...OR..they do a nuTrek series based off the alternate timeline.

Or if they license the rights. Whether to set any potential new series in the prime universe, or the alternate of the last movie, would likely be a decision made by the creative team of any new production.

CBS likely wouldn't care, as long as they receive their licensing fee and a piece of the pie. Unless set aboard a ship identical to the movie Enterprise and in the same time period, new shooting sets would have to be constructed.

doesn't change that CBS killed Trek

Wrong. The series Enterprise was only the latest incarnation of a long term, highly profitable franchise. And yes it was removed after low ratings. However, CBS knows that they own a cash-cow named Star Trek, and they are hardly going to "kill it." What CBS owns, and what Paramount Pictures owns are two different properties. For any new series to be direct tied to the JJ-movie to an option, not a requirement.

 

[peteym5]

It is very unlikely CBS will sell the rights to Star Trek. Too much money involved. CBS did not kill "Star Trek Enterprise", it was still owned by Paramount and running on a network that folded a year after the series got canceled. Didn't Viacom kept Paramount Television and CBS seperate so they can sell programming to anyone?

Everyone should keep in mind when Enterprise was airing, there were external things involving Star Trek that probably cause a decline in the ratings. The prior show "Star Trek Voyager" was already unpopular among many fans. Certainly not the popularity TNG & DS9 had. Two bad movies in the theaters did not help. Plus one of the prior Trek shows were still airing on cable or syndicated TV at the same time Enterprise aired. Personally I thought Paramount did these four Star Trek shows in too short of a time that killed it.

There seems to be a question of which "Trek Reality" should be used. Maybe use the JJ Abrams reality or re-imagine something new from scratch. However you cannot ignore the basic or popular elements that came out of Star Trek before. You going to eventually bring in the Klingons, Romulans, Gorn, Tholians, Vulcans, etc. If it was more toward TNG era, maybe Feringi and Borg. But like I say, make the Borg a real menace and threat.

It was established the Cardassians were around, but we don't know much of who they were in Kirks time. We know at some future point, Cardassian military took control of their government. You have an unwritten book with them. Maybe tell the story of how this happen during the new show. Can do a coupe and/or nazi similar movement rising.

 

[ChristopherPike]

Given the situation. CBS owning 5 distinct TV series in the same brand. Kirk and Spock iteration being catered for BIG TIME on the silver screen. Something perhaps needed to refresh interest in a back catalogue of episodes available online or airing seemingly at random on stations everywhere. They need to draw in newcomers to that as well. J.J. Abrams' style somewhat different and maybe (I don't know) only pulling in people to TOS. Like an all-in-one sampler highlighting the rest of the franchise. Those maybe just too frightened of diving in because they don't get it. Something that basically puts out a message like "Next Generation. Enterprise. Deep Space Nine. Voyager. It's all Star Trek to me."

I'd try to do the impossible. Create a story that can appeal to fans of the disperate shows. Bring back together what a decade and a half ended up fragmenting. Or claw back a sizable percentage of what's left, at any rate. Have it make sense, with a plot that works within the Prime Universe, canon etc but also acts like a self-contained two-hour movie.

I'd do what fans have been doing for ages. Pick my own favourite 6 or 7 characters from across the franchise and devise a one-off adventure around that and a reason for them being together. That way there's a sense of familiarity for us old-timers and the other way too, when somebody new later dives in anywhere - only to spot a character they first learned about here.

Beyond that mixed up crew, there would be shorter moments for one or two people I'd missed, rather than create somebody new to serve the same purpose in the story anyway.

I'd do it in animation since there would be no other alternative for a non-Abramsverse project. Anything else being too expensive or requiring a reuse of the only surviving physical sets, which belong to Bad Robot/Paramount - companies now separate from CBS anyway.

A galaxy of acting talent between 5 different sets of casts. Have some of them lend their voices to beloved characters again, interacting in a combination we've maybe never even seen before. Except in "Of Gods and Men" perhaps...

You obviously can't throw everything including the kitchen sink into the mix. But I think what can be done, is a story:
a) set on an Enterprise. b) reintroducing a couple of characters per 24th Century spin-off. c) facing a problem caused by ENT. d) another created by Spock during the 2009 film. and e) be completely self explanatory - or at least, not require any knowledge other than what you show onscreen.

 

[ChristopherPike]

Here's what I posted over in the TNG forum, as a response to a group campaigning for a Star Trek: Titan series.

It's not perfect and it's only a plot. Characterisation is bare minimal beyond a few of the players. Mainly because the shortlist of TNG/DS9/VOY characters is free-flowing - changable so long as the line-up of the crew doesn't stretch credibility too much. That would obviously change depending on actors who would want to be involved. I'd like to think Picard would be in it, commanding respect from implaccable foes, over a court-room setting. Instead of the action hero in the films. That was really the heart and soul of his character many times over... as in "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Measure of a Man", "Devil's Due", "The Drumhead" and I could go on. Data/B-4 has to be largely out of the picture, because Brent Spiner's feelings are well known. If it were animation, then that's possibly a whole different thing for him.

There are very different demands on a story from live-action to animation, and it's obvious what I had in mine when I wrote this.

It's a fairly long synopsis, but if you're here and have time enough to read it.

Another new Star Trek pitch, for what it’s worth…

Sometime before the 50th Anniversary in 2016. Or for the 30th Anniversary of TNG in 2017.

A series with all-new characters isn’t where the franchise is at, or indeed Hollywood frankly… given the number of reboots capitalising on 30-something nostalgia. We just have to stick it out a little longer, until things have become a little less about bringing shows back from the 60s/70s and more about the 80s/90s.

I think where Star Trek is at right now is with familarity. We’re talking residule memories of 18 years on TV, on a level below Kirk & Spock. You have to grab every last bit of audience familarity under that and maybe have the one new character in the mix, be the exception to the rule.

The crew aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-E can be spiced up a little by subtracting some characters and adding others around in the 24th Century, to see how those we’ve maybe never seen work together, work together.

I would go for a feature-length movie on television to send off the Prime Universe. Something the movie after Nemesis could’ve been about. Something like an Undiscovered Country swansong for the 24th Century, with some elements of the 22nd and 23rd in the mix.

A bumpy road to peace being made with the Romulans.


**********


S T A R _T R E K
-_L E G A C Y_-

Film opens in 2387 with scenes involving the destruction of Romulus. Possibly Nimoy back as Spock, if that can be worked out. That’s your big Praxis moment that sets up a chain of events for the rest of the story.

Many years have passed (it’s possibly the eve of the 25th Century) and an older bearded, Admiral Picard is teaching a class at Starfleet Academy about early Federation history. What the organisation is about. Why it exists. Why it came about in the first place.

Next scene with Captain Riker aboard the Titan, on its way to the new Romulan Homeworld – Quirinus*, to provide aid and resettlement… continue peace dialogue with Ambassadors onboard. It's suddenly attacked and destroyed, while an away team are on the surface.

Picard, seizing the opportunity to get back to being on the Enterprise, rushes a round-up of TNG characters. But some can’t make it… Worf is within the Klingon Empire but promises to provide assistance, at a point near the Neutral Zone. LaForge is Captain of his own Galaxy class, the Challenger and not due back from exploring the Gamma Quadrant for several months.

So the Enterprise-E is pulled out of mothballs and sent out with whoever is available. Admiral Picard advises, with an all-new character as Captain (he’s probably going to die as is the tradition), Miles O’Brien takes over Engineering, Tuvok at Security/Tactical, an EMH in sickbay (maybe the VOY one, since he’s given full rights as an individual) and Deanna Troi, career paths having forced her marriage to Riker apart at this point.

One or more of the Crusher family and B-4 (whether or not, he’s Data) don’t make it aboard in time but are seen briefly in transmissions to the Titan or the Enterprise. Offering assistance, tracking down information and passing it along, in little scenes.

Surviving Titan crewmembers including Riker are being held by the Romulans, and about to publically excuted in a broadcast in front of the whole Star Empire. Diplomacy appears to win through when Picard arrives. A breakway military fraction (possibly led by Sela or a Tomalak figure) having been using the capture of the Starfleet Officers as leverage to meet with the new Romulan goverment and expressly with people from the Federation in attendance. There they present some shocking secret evidence they obtained, that threatens to derail negotations to incorporate the Star Empire into the UFP.

It’s historic footage taken at an event instrumental in the formation of the Federation, depicting a key moment in the Earth-Romulan War. That allows Captain Archer to put in an appearance from two centuries past. He’s shown giving orders to destroy a Romulan flotilla carrying dignitaries trying to broker peace, just days before the Federation charter was signed. (A moment Picard had been showing earlier in class.)

Picard (plus a couple of others advising) are kept in enemy hands and agrees to take part in a trial against the Federation. Some slimy Romulan prosecutor dredges up all the wrongs the alliance of worlds has ever allowed to happen… including the destruction of their homeworld. Various attempts by humans to keep the Vulcans and Romulans apart.

Meanwhile the Enterprise, with Riker in charge has been ordered back into Federation space. The crew (that’s O’Brien, Tuvok, the EMH, among others) race against time and across the quadrant, to bring Picard the proof he needs. Going up against some strong opposition to find what they’re looking for.

There’s a stopover at DS9 to retreive information (for a price naturally) from Quark on the whereabouts of an extremely eldery Andorian, who can provide eyewitness testimony and evidence, needed to sway the Romulans.

They go through the wormhole, to the other side of the Galaxy and the last known place their objective has been living. Meanwhile a few cloaked ships have been secretly monitoring the Enterprise's investigations - shadowing her all the way on her journey to DS9.

The trial continues with Picard now beginning to defend the Federation's actions down the years. Always coming down to a prosecution decrying it as history having been rewritten by its human founders.

There’s a clash between the Enterprise-E and (Sela’s or the Tomalak kind of leader’s) Romulan ships, in trying to get back to Quirinus. This is the moment when Captain Geordi LaForge’s ship, the Challenger comes into play. Having made surprise reappearance to join the battle. Still outnumbered, the Galaxy-class is disabled and the E's survival looking unlikely... they are ordered to hand over their "guest" and his evidence. It's at this moment, Governor Worf arrives with the Bird of Prey backup he promised.

In the end, Picard is able to provide proof that the historical records about Archer’s actions at the heart of all this, have been forged. For the Andorian brought by the Enterprise-E… is Shran – doing all this to repay one final debt to his long dead ally. More than that to have the upper hand on him.

It’s all been a conspiracy, designed to ensure what’s left of the Star Empire would launch into one final war with the Federation. To keep a once proud empire from joining their Vulcan brothers, on their enemy’s terms.

And in return, the Prateor reveals some classified information concerning Ambassador Spock’s fate. A last recorded final transmission or message received from the Vulcan a lá “The Immunity Syndrome”. From that and the ship's telemetry, the new mix n’ match Enterprise-E crew are somehow able to determine that Spock survived the supernova which destroyed Romulus, making it through to the other side of the Red Matter black hole created to stop it.


**********


* Quirinus being the name of a new capital planet survivors fled to in the Romulan Star Empire… Probably not such a catchy name, but it continues a Roman mythical influence – it being the name of a deity Romulus was supposed to have become after his death.

Star Trek Legacy, because it effectively criss-crosses all the generations within the same plot. No time-travel. From a TOS character at the start, to TNG/VGR ones coming together, some unseen ENT to fight over and a dash of DS9. A lot taken from the sixth film, because it's the perfect example how to do a last hoorah and say goodbye. While I’ve tried not to rely on anything that can’t be shown in the film itself.

I suggested it over in a thread where somebody brought up how they'd handle the last TNG movie. And I had some spare time to organise my thoughts into a story with a beginning, middle and end. Rather than a list of stuff I'd like to see, just to throw out there, in a random order. In-universe motivation to back up how I can pick and choose a few ex-Voyager crewmembers, throwing them on the Enterprise is perhaps sheer fan fiction. But hey, they're in Starfleet and have to obey when an Admiral comes knocking. I see maybe O'Brien being at a stage in life, Molly all grown up and Keiko off Earth for some reason - able to go running off for one last adventure. The Enterprise-E at one of DS9's docking pylons is something I've wanted to see, while they check in on Quark.

 

[thumbtack]

Whether to set any potential new series in the prime universe, or the alternate of the last movie

Those aren't the only choices.

 

[ChristopherPike]

As you yourself pointed out in the Re-booting TNG For TV thread...

Mainstream focus groups were unable to tell the difference between TNG, Voyager and Enterprise. Though a few were fairly certain that the cast had changed.

To me, simply shuffling the pack, to feature familiar faces in different combinations, would be enough to suggest change.

 

[AviTrek]

To me, simply shuffling the pack, to feature familiar faces in different combinations, would be enough to suggest change.

And the mainstream audience will say, "oh this is that show with the funny nose aliens. I didn't watch it before, so I won't bother watching it now" And the show will promptly be cancelled after 3 episodes.

 

[ChristopherPike]

And the mainstream audience will say, "oh this is that show with the funny nose aliens. I didn't watch it before, so I won't bother watching it now" And the show will promptly be cancelled after 3 episodes.

I can't really see past an obvious bias in that statement.

If you had said that like this...

"oh this is that show with the aliens with pointy ears. I didn't watch it before, so I won't bother watching it now"

You would basically be attacking what makes Star Trek, Star Trek and not Star Wars or any of the other science fiction franchises.

That type of viewer wouldn't be watching anyway... even if the whole cast went topless and decided to wrestle in gelo.

For me, the simple fact is... if the franchise has to become so unrecognisable, then maybe it shouldn't come back until there's a far more open-minded audience out there. Maybe a few more who have fond memories of Star Trek as it was.