So what happens to character images?

[Franklin]

Seeing the new Star Trek Monopoly game with all the captains on the board (including Kirk in gold shirt) made me wonder, in future licensing, when the young Captain Kirk's image is desired on a product, will Pine's image be used or will young Shatner's continue to be used? Or will both be used depending on the product? I guess the same question holds for the character images of the other six, too. Any answers or ideas?

 

[number6]

If there is to be a Brave New World, our generation will have the hardest time living in it.

 

[Rii]

In the long term I imagine that would depend upon the success of the film and the existence of any future productions in the same vein, the degree to which "nuTrek" becomes synonymous with "Star Trek" in the global consciousness. For most today, "nuBSG" and "BSG" are synonymous, whereas even with the success of Nolan's Batman films most are aware of the characters and universe outside of them. In the short term I imagine the new film will dominate the licensing arena regardless of its success.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

In the long term I imagine that would depend upon the success of the film and the existence of any future productions in the same vein...

I'd think so, yeah.

 

[Jon1701]

Seeing the new Star Trek Monopoly game with all the captains on the board (including Kirk in gold shirt) made me wonder, in future licensing, when the young Captain Kirk's image is desired on a product, will Pine's image be used or will young Shatner's continue to be used? Or will both be used depending on the product? I guess the same question holds for the character images of the other six, too. Any answers or ideas?

I'm no expert, but I can't help thinking it would be simpler and cheaper to license Pines and Quinto's images than it would Nimoys and Shatners, which are probably tied up in years of favoured nation clauses (not sure if that apply to merchandise). Do they get a buck for their likenesses I wonder?

In the short term certainly I think the new boys will take over. If the film tanks I can see us going back to the old guard.

 

[cooleddie74]

They ought to do two editions of the game with pieces showing the original TOS cast and one featuring the all new Abrams film's. Just to be fair. That also allows for a variation on the market to spur more sales.

 

[Jptrekker]

At some point, it's probably a goal of TPTB to make James Kirk into a James Bond character that is reinvented every decade or so with a new actor playing the part. Some merchandising for 007 uses Craig or Brosnan, yet some still uses Connery--yet everybody knows it's James Bond. The same marketing approach may be used for Star Trek in the coming decades--whoever it is wearing the gold shirt, it will still be James T. Kirk.

 

[Franklin]

The James Bond comparison makes sense, except Bonds isn't part of a marketing "package" of characters who were each played by one actor (so far). What I'm wondering is if any future "Captains of Trek" merchandise will feature Stewart, Brooks, Mulgrew, Bakula, and Pine. Shatner's Kirk image will fade into history while the others go on. (I'll leave everyone to judge on their own whether that would be good or bad. I'm just sayin'.)

 

[Therin of Andor]

What I'm wondering is if any future "Captains of Trek" merchandise will feature Stewart, Brooks, Mulgrew, Bakula, and Pine. Shatner's Kirk image will fade into history while the others go on.

What?

More likely, we'll see novels about Kirk's life featuring both Shatner and Pine on the cover, or Spock novels featuring both Nimoy and Quinto.

How much "Captains of Trek" merchandise has there ever been? The odd poster. A series of "TV Guide" covers.

They're more likely to use both Kirks in such a campaign. Pine in the gold and Shatner in his TMP or ST II admiral's outfits.

 

[MisterPL]

I work in licensing and, for what it's worth, CBS has created a clear distinction between Original Trek and this feature film. They're two separate properties. I doubt they'll want to see the two mixed any time soon.

And yes, that's probably got a lot to do with likeness rights.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I don't know, but if we're going to play "AbramsTrek Monopoly" I want to be the Corvette.

 

[Rii]

They ought to do two editions of the game with pieces showing the original TOS cast and one featuring the all new Abrams film's. Just to be fair. That also allows for a variation on the market to spur more sales.

Also it would allow one to mix and match pieces from each set and have nuKirk beat old Kirk.

 

[Classic Fan]

They ought to do two editions of the game with pieces showing the original TOS cast and one featuring the all new Abrams film's. Just to be fair. That also allows for a variation on the market to spur more sales.

Also it would allow one to mix and match pieces from each set and have nuKirk beat old Kirk.

In that case, re-issue the tri-dimesional chess set with nuTrek and Old Trek to battle it out.

 

[cooleddie74]

They ought to do two editions of the game with pieces showing the original TOS cast and one featuring the all new Abrams film's. Just to be fair. That also allows for a variation on the market to spur more sales.

Also it would allow one to mix and match pieces from each set and have nuKirk beat old Kirk.

In that case, re-issue the tri-dimesional chess set with nuTrek and Old Trek to battle it out.

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

(*Queen music blares as I don gold velour*)

 

[Messianni]

I'm guessing it'll actually be like they do with Doctor Who. There is a clear distinction between Classic Who (the first 27 years/first eight Doctors) and current Doctor Who (Eccleston/Tennent/Smith). They have their own licenses. They also have their own logos and packaging.

Star Trek merchandise has already shown this, with the classic Trek merchandise and new unified packaging, and the 2009 film, which has its own logo and unified packaging.

 

[cooleddie74]

Even the STAR WARS films from all four decades were united under one-size-fits-all packaging and promotions when it comes to their toys and collectibles. Gone are the days when you had separate packaging and logos for the Classic/Special Edition Trilogy and the prequels.

 

[DaveyNY]

Even the STAR WARS films from all four decades were united under one-size-fits-all packaging and promotions when it comes to their toys and collectibles. Gone are the days when you had separate packaging and logos for the Classic/Special Edition Trilogy and the prequels.

Actually...

There are two types of packaging for STAR WARS at the moment, though they look very similar...

The Clone Wars Collection & The Legacy Collection.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I would think they would use Shatner, it seems more natural when you are trying to show a progression through the years. Pine and Company would stand out as out of place by looking more contemporary and the disconnect of just knowing it is. My two cents anyway.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Seeing the new Star Trek Monopoly game with all the captains on the board (including Kirk in gold shirt) made me wonder, in future licensing, when the young Captain Kirk's image is desired on a product, will Pine's image be used or will young Shatner's continue to be used? Or will both be used depending on the product? I guess the same question holds for the character images of the other six, too. Any answers or ideas?

Considering that there are tons of books, comics, artwork... not to mention televised, animated, and movie shows with Shatner's face... and that we will, by contrast, have less than one total hour of real film showing Pine's face in this one movie... I find it unlikely that somehow Pine's face will be the "Accepted" Kirk face from this point forward.

40+ years worth of material trumps one flick, I think.

Now, if this were to turn into an ongoing series of films, or even a TV show, this might be a bigger deal. But even if it IS a "series of films," what would we be talking about, maybe three or four movies? How long will this cast be willing to pass up other opportunities in order to stay available for this particular property? Will any of them want to become typecast? Doubtful, if you ask me.

I really don't expect a second movie with this exact cast or these sets or this design. If it does happen, it would likely end up being a "trilogy"... or about six hours of total film time, at most. And this "new trilogy" will never be accepted as being the same as the original, based upon what we've seen, so it might be "The Trek-Prime Universe" as opposed to the "Trek Universe" or something. Sort of like setting novels in the "Mirror Universe" doesn't necessarily overwrite what's the case in the "real" Trek universe, either.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

If this movie is a big hit, licensees aren't going to be satisfied to shell out serious bucks for a Trek license unless they're allowed to use the likenesses of these actors and these designs.

"Forty years" doesn't mean squat in those terms. There is no sentiment involved.

If the movie bombs, Shatner's youthful likeness will probably continue to be marketable to the remaining, diminishing fan base.