Star Trek ended its 39 year television run in 2005 with Star Trek: Enterprise and although there has been a revival of sorts with new feature films, indie projects, and Star Trek web movies from members of the original cast (Star Trek: Renegades is now working on sequels to the first film), fans have been clamoring for a fully-licensed Star Trek series from CBS for 10 years. It seems CBS is finally listening, just in time for Star Trek‘s 50th anniversary.
CBS Does Have A Star Trek Series In The Works
It will soon be 2016 and that means it has been 50 years since Gene Roddenberry debuted Star Trek on CBS, nicknamed his “wagon train to the stars” in the hopes of attracting audiences so overwhelmingly dedicated to the American western. There will no doubt be much fanfare to celebrate the occasion from both fans and from Hollywood in the hopes of cashing in on the Star Trek anniversary, but CBS may trump it all with their news that they will be premiering a new Star Trek series.
David Stapf, president of CBS TV studios, admits that the Star Trek anniversary is the best time to present a new series to fans and reveals that Alex Kurtzman, who served as co-writer and producer of both Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), will serve as executive producer on the series.
CBS reports that Star Trek‘s popularity has never been better with episodes from the original series and the five spin-off series airing everyday, worldwide. It is hoped that the new Star Trek series, which is actually set to debut in January 2017, will attempt to build on the established fanbase with CBS releasing promotional teasers and news throughout the Star Trek 50th anniversary celebrations to build up anticipation of the new Star Trek installment.
Will Star Trek Take Place In The J.J. Abrams Alternate Reality?
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“The brand-new Star Trek will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.”
This description leaves much to the imagination and many unanswered questions, but the one most trekkers will be asking is in which reality will the episode take place? While it may be a presumptuous leap, the fact that Kurtzman, a producer on both of those Star Trek alternate reality films, is the top executive producer would seem to suggest that we may be looking at a J.J. Abrams version and not the vision of Gene Roddenberry.
Alternately, a statement issued by Stapf to BBC News seems to suggest just the opposite, with promises of respect and love for the Star Trek universe.
“Everyone here has great respect for this franchise and we’re excited to launch its next television chapter in the creative mind and skilled hands of Alex Kurtzman, someone who knows this world and its audience intimately.”
It has also been stated that the new CBS Star Trek series will not be related to the upcoming feature film, Star Trek: Beyond, to be released theatrically in the summer of 2016.
It also has not been mentioned in which generation the new Star Trek series will take place and, if this is a spin-off of the new films with the new crew exploring the galaxy of the original series, Star Trek audiences will again be faced with the technological limitations of that generation. Grappling hooks? Really?
Another issue comes with the promise of new civilizations. Does this mean fans will miss out on their favorite aliens? Will Andorians, Tellarites, Bajorans, Klingons be nowhere to be seen?
There is much to discover about this new Star Trek series, making exploring the forthcoming details as exciting for Star Trek fans as exploring the galaxy will hopefully be for our new Star Trek crew.
[Image via CBS/Star Trek]