In an op-ed from Giant Freakin Robot [e13db543], it is revealed that the first season of Star Trek: Enterprise was originally intended to take place almost entirely on Earth. The revelation comes from the documentary 'In Conversation: The First Crew' on the season two Blu-rays. Rick Berman and Brannon Braga pitched a different concept for the first season, which would have followed the building of the Enterprise, the gathering of the crew, and humanity's first encounter with Klingons. The series was initially pitched as 'Wagon Train to the Stars.' However, the studio rejected the idea and the show returned to the traditional 'people in a ship boldly going' format. The first season of Enterprise struggled to find its identity, exploring temporal cold wars and post-9/11 terrorism allegories. Braga praises the show's fourth season as his favorite and blames studio interference for crippling the first season. The studio was nervous about making the show a prequel, so they wanted elements that tied it to the existing Star Trek series. Braga describes these elements as 'strangulating.'
In an update from the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Gazette [cc3ed0b6], Paramount Pictures has revealed their plans for the Star Trek franchise. These plans include a fourth film titled 'Final Chapter,' an origin movie, and a follow-up to the TV series Picard. The release dates for these projects have not been specified.
William Shatner, who portrayed Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series, has expressed regret about not being involved in the recent films. He has stated that he would consider returning if the right conditions were met. This news adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing developments in the Star Trek franchise [cc3ed0b6].
The article from CBR - Comic Book Resources [1cf99489] reveals that Star Trek: Section 31, a feature-length film, will introduce a younger version of Rachel Garrett, the captain of the Enterprise-C in the first half of the 24th century. Kacey Rohl will portray the character, who first appeared in the Season 3 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled 'Yesterday’s Enterprise.' The character will appear alongside Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery. Star Trek: Section 31 was initially announced as a spinoff TV series but was redeveloped as a feature-length film. Production took place from January to March 2024 in Toronto, Canada. The release date for the film has not been announced [1cf99489].
The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Gazette article also mentions the production of Star Trek: Section 31, a movie that has recently begun production. Six actors have joined the cast, but no further details about the plot or release date have been provided [cc3ed0b6].
Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh recently finished filming her upcoming streaming film, which could herald a new age of Star Trek films. The film, initially pitched as a TV series, follows Yeoh's character Phillipa Georgiou as an agent of the secret division of Starfleet. If successful, Yeoh is open to doing a sequel. Paramount Pictures is considering more streaming format films, including a follow-up to Picard. Two Star Trek films destined for theaters are also in the works, including the final chapter of the Kelvin timeline films and an 'Untitled Star Trek' film. The last Star Trek film in the series was released in 2016 [81db0498].
According to a recent article from Screen Rant [64128006], Michelle Yeoh's character, Emperor Georgiou, may be recruiting younger versions of legacy Star Trek characters for the upcoming Section 31 movie. The multi-era Section 31 theory suggests that familiar characters could join the division played by new actors. The Guardian of Forever gives Georgiou access to different Star Trek eras, allowing her to recruit younger versions of known characters as fellow Section 31 operatives. The movie could change legacy characters like Rachel Garrett by providing stronger characterization and new stories. Star Trek: Section 31 is set in an earlier point in the Star Trek timeline and is tied to nearly every Star Trek era. The cast of Section 31 includes none of the familiar characters from previous series, but there is speculation that other legacy characters may be hidden among the cast of newcomers. The movie is expected to stream on Paramount+.
Furthermore, the release of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a video game, may be delayed until 2026 [cc3ed0b6].
Paramount executives were concerned that the film 'Event Horizon' would clash with the optimistic and non-violent image of the 'Star Trek' franchise. The worry was not about direct appropriation of 'Star Trek's' concepts, but rather the graphic content and horror elements of 'Event Horizon'. The crew in 'Event Horizon' was portrayed as rough and colloquial operators, in contrast to the polished Starfleet personnel in 'Star Trek'. Director Paul W.S. Anderson recounted objections from Paramount, who felt that the film was besmirching 'Star Trek' by depicting terrible and violent events in space. Despite the initial concerns, 'Event Horizon' has gained a cult following over time, including among 'Star Trek' enthusiasts [3af3fba7].