What IS at stake?

[RobertScorpio]

It seems as if this movie is it...the last 'so called' chance. Either this movie does good, or STAR TREK will be shut down. In fact, based on past performances (meaning recent movies/tv shows) I think Paramount should be given credit for giving TREK another chance...

Or is this all fluff? If the movie failed, and bombed at the starting gate, would TREK be dead, or come back as a TV show..

What do you think is at stake here. Is this really STAR TREK's last chance?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[ManOnTheWave]

A lot of somebody else's money.

 

[Falcor5]

It seems as if this movie is it...the last 'so called' chance. Either this movie does good, or STAR TREK will be shut down. In fact, based on past performances (meaning recent movies/tv shows) I think Paramount should be given credit for giving TREK another chance...

Or is this all fluff? If the movie failed, and bombed at the starting gate, would TREK be dead, or come back as a TV show..

What do you think is at stake here. Is this really STAR TREK's last chance?

Rob
Scorpio

Yea with the huge budget for this movie if it bombs then I think Trek will be retired for a LONG time. They may try a reboot again in 10-15 years but I would not expect anything for of least a decade.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It seems as if this movie is it...the last 'so called' chance. Either this movie does good, or STAR TREK will be shut down.

Well, it was already shut down, so this movie is certainly a ninth life for the thing.

The studio could have gone either of two directions with Trek productions after "Enterprise" - assuming that they were willing to greenlight anything. This kind of high-profile re-invention was one (the less likely one, IMAO at the time). The other was low, low budget exploitation of the trademarks. So I expect that the latter will still be a viable choice should this movie bomb.

 

[Cky]

I swear I see this thread, or atleast ones like it, every damn week.

 

[RobertScorpio]

It seems as if this movie is it...the last 'so called' chance. Either this movie does good, or STAR TREK will be shut down.

Well, it was already shut down, so this movie is certainly a ninth life for the thing.

The studio could have gone either of two directions with Trek productions after "Enterprise" - assuming that they were willing to greenlight anything. This kind of high-profile re-invention was one (the less likely one, IMAO at the time). The other was low, low budget exploitation of the trademarks. So I expect that the latter will still be a viable choice should this movie bomb.

Yep..I see it your way too. I wonder if some would have been happy with low budget direct to DVD teleplays like Bab-5?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Cky]

^ I think the fanboys would have been happy with it, as long as it was all canon.

 

[SalvorHardin]

After what happened with Enterprise, I was really surprised they even tried to make another movie so soon and with a huge budget too...

So I'd say that if this bombs, which is quite possible, we will not be seeing any new attempts at TV or movies for at least a decade.
But then that's what I thought after Enterprise was canceled, so what the hell do I know.

 

[Sean Aaron]

Less films and more, better video games says I!

 

[Falcor5]

The studio could have gone either of two directions with Trek productions after "Enterprise" - assuming that they were willing to greenlight anything. This kind of high-profile re-invention was one (the less likely one, IMAO at the time). The other was low, low budget exploitation of the trademarks. So I expect that the latter will still be a viable choice should this movie bomb.

Thats a good point if it bombs they may still try to go ultra low budget and release some Direct to DVD movies or mini series based on the 24th Century Trek Shows.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm thinking more along the lines of cel animation.

 

[Lapis Exilis]

After what happened with Enterprise, I was really surprised they even tried to make another movie so soon and with a huge budget too...

So I'd say that if this bombs, which is quite possible, we will not be seeing any new attempts at TV or movies for at least a decade.
But then that's what I thought after Enterprise was canceled, so what the hell do I know.

Star Trek is the single most profitable franchise in modern entertainment history. If the movie fails spectacularly - which it won't, at most it will fail in the way movies before it have, not quite making back it's budget, and I don't even think that will happen; enough people will go see it out of nostalgia or curiosity or because Pine or Saldana are hot, or because there are space battles and 'splosions, that it will probably be a mild to mid-level success. If it's actually a good movie, it will probably be more successful than that. But regardless, Trek production of some sort will continue as they assemble a new team and a new idea. Though if this doesn't perform as hoped I think they're likely to go after the 24th century material and ditch canon completely. A high profile movie probably won't be seen again for a while. Still market rules hold and market rules are that audiences will pay for franchises.

 

[ClayHefner]

Less films and more, better video games says I!

YES, although that will never happen.

 

[seigezunt]

You can't kill myth.

 

[God Magnus]

Star Trek is the single most profitable franchise in modern entertainment history.

Is this really true in light of how well Star Wars products have done versus Trek? The SW movies have earned far more collectively than Trek haven't they? And in terms of merchandising, I see far more SW action figures getting eaten up by the kiddies than Trek toys.

I want Trek to succeed, and I agree that if this fails Paramount will just go back to the drawing board and come up with some other approach down the line. Trek is the biggest franchise they have under their belt and they're not going to give up on it easily.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Star Trek is the single most profitable franchise in modern entertainment history.

Is this really true in light of how well Star Wars products have done versus Trek?

Depends on how you look at it. The profitability of the Franchise has been declining since TNG went off the air leaving DS9 to carry on - when the curve always only goes in one direction, year after year, reasonable business people make unsentimental choices.

If this movie really disappoints the studio, there won't be any more expensive (that is, on the order of the modern Trek shows or costlier) Trek production in the foreseeable future. There are other franchises whose curves are going up that Paramount can put that money into, and leasing the Trek trademarks and finding new ways to sell the existing inventory brings money while costing very little.

 

[trekkerguy]

I swear I see this thread, or atleast ones like it, every damn week.

*Yawn* agreed... I'm going back to bed...

 

[darkshadow0001]

Don't you guys have lives instead of flaming this movie day in and day out??

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Don't you guys have lives instead of flaming this movie day in and day out??

It makes us horny.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I don't believe we are attacking, I think it will be a big hit and I am happy about that. I haven't read all the post, but this thread wasn't intended to flame on the movie. The question pertains to the future of Trek and what is riding on the success or failure of this movie.

And unless you have been living on another planet, a lot is riding on the success of this movie. That is why everyone, for the most part, wants it to succeed.

Rob
Scorpio