The Star Trek Reboot That Would Have Come Earlier than J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Film

We might obtain a fee on purchases produced from hyperlinks.

This story should start with a prologue. Manner again in 1989, TV guru J. Michael Straczynski had introduced his concept for “Babylon 5” to Paramount, hoping the studio would produce it and switch it right into a full-blown sci-fi present. He introduced Paramount with a sequence bible, character bios, paintings, and even 22 temporary story concepts that he meant to jot down for the present. The sequence was set within the mid-Twenty third century aboard an area station that was positioned in a impartial a part of house. Many aliens would go by way of, and the present’s essential characters, a part of a peacekeeping military-like group, needed to sort out all of the pure intrigue of being in that place. Paramount turned down “Babylon 5,” however Straczynski ended up promoting his pitch to Warner Bros. just a few years later.

Commercial

In a suspicious piece of timing, although, Paramount introduced — solely two months after “Babylon 5” was introduced — that it might be producing “Star Trek: Deep House 9,” a sequence that was additionally set aboard a numbered house station and that additionally noticed many aliens visiting a beleaguered outpost overseen by a peacekeeping military-like group. Straczynski has remarked (in a publish on his web site) that “Deep House 9” creators Rick Berman and Michael Piller doubtless did not see his “Babylon 5” supplies, however he suspected that a few of his concepts had been, nonetheless, used to develop that “Star Trek” TV present. The tensions between Straczynski and Paramount remained palpable for years.

This context is essential to know when speaking about “Star Trek: Re-Boot the Universe,” a proposed 14-page “Star Trek” remedy that Straczynski as soon as cobbled along with Bryce Zabel, the creator of the sci-fi sequence “Darkish Skies.” In 2004, when “Star Trek: Enterprise” was on the air and the 2009 “Star Trek” reboot was only a glimmer in J.J.Abrams’ eye, Straczynski and Zabel idly hammered out their concepts.

Commercial

Weirdly, the eventual 2009 reboot additionally resembled Straczynski’s concept. Zabel talked about stated reboot in “The Fifty-Yr Mission: The Subsequent 25 Years: From The Subsequent Era to J.J. Abrams,” edited by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross.

“Star Trek: Re-Boot the Universe” was really the results of Straczynski and Zabel making an attempt to distract themselves from brainstorming for a joint TV sequence they had been making known as “Cult.” Evidently the pair had been idly discussing the “Star Trek” franchise and the place it was in 2004. The “Star Trek” property, it ought to be recalled, was in a reasonably sorry state at the moment. It had solely simply skilled an enormous bomb with “Star Trek: Nemesis” and was about to expire the clock on “Star Trek: Enterprise,” the one “Star Trek” sequence on the air. It appeared just like the franchise was achieved for, and Zabel and Straczynski knew it. Thus, they figured the one means ahead for the property was a reboot. Acquainted characters may very well be retained, however the story needed to be began afresh. As Zabel recalled: 

Commercial

“We began speaking in regards to the state of the ‘Trek’ universe. […] Earlier than we may cease ourselves, we banged out a 14-page remedy […] I appear to recall having lunch at Artwork’s Deli and our dialog veering off into the ‘Trek’ scenario. The take we got here up with included utilizing the unique characters, however not as younger officers at Starfleet Academy.”

(Artwork’s Deli remains to be standing in Studio Metropolis, California, if you wish to go.)

However Zabel and Straczynski had been on to one thing. They knew that the adventures of a younger Captain Kirk, a younger Spock, and a younger Dr. McCoy can be the one method to seize audiences once more. One more authentic sequence with all-new characters would solely entice the eye of an already-dwindling viewers of Trekkies. The mainstream wanted to be re-introduced to the acquainted.

Commercial

Which, in fact, is what Abrams did.

Zabel continued along with his concepts, noting that the brand new “Star Trek” movie would must be a reboot — that’s, a separate entity from the continuity that got here earlier than it. As he put it:

“We wished to do what they’d do on the planet of comics: create a separate universe for all of the previous TV and movie ‘Trek’ continuity in an effort to free ourselves creatively so we may embrace the good things, banish the dangerous, and take a look at some new issues. In our reboot we wished to begin over, use Kirk, Spock, and McCoy and others in a robust new origin story about what it was that bonded them in such sturdy friendship and present them off as you’d by no means seen them earlier than. It was, admittedly, fairly audacious.”

Commercial

It ought to be famous that Zabel and Straczynski by no means wrote a script, nor did they advance the venture past their 14-page remedy. They did, nevertheless, really feel it was adequate to pitch to Paramount. Sadly, they had been turned away on the door, as Abrams had overwhelmed them to the punch. Evidently Abrams was already growing his “Star Trek” reboot when Staczynski and Zabel had been engaged on theirs. The truth that they had been each in regards to the younger Kirk and the early days of his relationships with Spock and McCoy appeared to be a whole coincidence.

So, whereas it would sound like that is one other case of Paramount probably lifting a few of J. Michael Straczynski’s concepts for a brand new “Star Trek” venture, it appears unlikely. Due to the “Deep House 9” debacle, although, some “Babylon 5” followers should still be suspicious.

Commercial

Extra not too long ago, “Star Trek” has revisited the “younger Kirk” concept once more because of his inclusion on “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds,” a sequence set only some years earlier than the unique “Star Trek” TV present. Paul Wesley performs the brand new younger Kirk, whereas Ethan Peck performs the brand new younger Spock.