When Will 'Star Trek' Get a Cinematic Universe?

[HaplessCrewman]

The Hollywood Reporter is wondering why there are no plans for a Trek shared cinematic universe à la Marvel.

After all, in the mid-to-late 1990s, a Trek shared universe was a reality. In today's climate, this seems more impossible than ever - even though Into Darkness made $467 million and has a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This may be part of Paramount's plans to reinvigorate the franchise - though some say no course correction is warranted. I'll bet there's something brewing behind the scenes at Par - what with the firing of Orci, unsubstantiated rumors of TV Trek, etc.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/will-star-trek-get-a-786368

 

[BillJ]

I have no desire for a cinematic universe where Trek is concerned. After 700 hours, I'm still burned out.

 

[C.E. Evans]

With multiple TV spinoffs set before and after TOS, there's simply no need for a cinematic universe (it's just doing spinoff after spinoff again). If anything, that takes us back to milking the franchise dry again.

 

[HaplessCrewman]

If there is $ to be made, I am sure Par would jump at a Trek shared universe (they could even cite how it worked in the past to bolster the argument.) I'll bet they are trying to find a way to make it work.

Perhaps it is only a small number of vocal nerdy fans who don't want more Trek or are afraid of burn-out. I doubt a mainstream audience would complain about more Trek. In the last 6 years, there has only been about 4 hours of Trek created. We're nowhere near saturation.

 

[BillJ]

Perhaps it is only a small number of vocal nerdy fans who don't want more Trek or are afraid of burn-out. I doubt a mainstream audience would complain about more Trek. In the last 6 years, there has only been about 4 hours of Trek created. We're nowhere near saturation.

I'm neither vocal or nerdy. But the fact of the matter is that between the two films Paramount has grossed about a billion dollars. Which makes Abrams Star Trek a mid-range hit.

Is there enough of demand for a $150 million dollar visit to the Trek universe every year? I tend to doubt it. If Paramount thought there was, they'd already be doing it.

 

[Melakon]

When Will 'Star Trek' Get a Cinematic Universe? I hope never, it's not needed. It works best as a television series.

 

[Mudd]

Trek doesn't have the kind of simple mass appeal that the Marvel approach requires. So, never.

 

[C.E. Evans]

If there is $ to be made, I am sure Par would jump at a Trek shared universe (they could even cite how it worked in the past to bolster the argument.) I'll bet they are trying to find a way to make it work.

They're trying to make it work with Transformers as a shared universe instead.
http://www.thewrap.com/paramount-akiva-goldsman-expanding-transformers-movie-universe/
The four Transformers movies have made nearly twice as much as all twelve Star Trek movies combined worldwide, so they'd be right to show more love to the big robots.
http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Transformers
http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Star-Trek

Perhaps it is only a small number of vocal nerdy fans who don't want more Trek or are afraid of burn-out. I doubt a mainstream audience would complain about more Trek.

They wouldn't complain, they simply wouldn't bother with it like they did after TNG, so it isn't a small number of vocal nerdy fans. After Trek was pretty much run into the ground earlier, I think both CBS and Paramount are aware that there's a limit to how much Trek should be out there.

 

[eyeresist]

I'm sad at how reactionary the responses here are - "No more Trek! (though I'm still a fan)" or "My idealised TV series or NOTHING."

I think a shared universe could be a great way to keep the franchise going. Just make a few successful movies set in quite different parts of the TOS timeline, then mix and match the most popular bits while keeping it fresh with new settings and characters. An ongoing film series would also provide a possible opportunity for story telling a bit deeper than "solve the one-off crisis".

This is actually more viable than producing an expensive TV series that would be stuck with one character set and mission, and limited to one TV media outlet. And one movie every year or two would have more sense of being an event than a TV series with inevitably declining ratings - look at how much we are all anticipating ST3, even though many are saying it will be crap. A TV series wouldn't generate that level of interest.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The universe of Trek allows itself to be opened up to tell multiple different stories, faced by several ships/crews.

The question would be, who?

Was it fifteen years ago, we could've had the TNG, DS9 and VOY characters in a range of movies, coming together once or twice for really big adventures.

I wouldn't want to see these crews recast, and the less done with NuTrek the better.

 

[BillJ]

I'm sad at how reactionary the responses here are - "No more Trek! (though I'm still a fan)"...

I'm not going to lie about my feelings on the matter.

Just make a few successful movies set in quite different parts of the TOS timeline...

If some magical formula existed for making successful movies, then every movie would be a success.

 

[eyeresist]

I'm sad at how reactionary the responses here are - "No more Trek! (though I'm still a fan)"...

I'm not going to lie about my feelings on the matter.

But how would someone making more Trek movies lessen your enjoyment of the stuff you like? And you like the JJ films. Were you saying "no more Star Trek" in 2009?

Just make a few successful movies set in quite different parts of the TOS timeline...

If some magical formula existed for making successful movies, then every movie would be a success.

My use of the word "just" is obviously debatable. In fact, I am quite sceptical about the plans for "shared universe" movie series for DC comics and Universal monsters, but Marvel have shown it can be done IF the right people are attached.

 

[Starborn Dragon]

Imagine if Kirks' entire crew got superpowers like from DC Universe Online.

 

[Starborn Dragon]

If V'Ger went up against Galactus it wouldn't even be a full episode.

Galactus would just snuff V'Ger out in a heartbeat.

Now imagine V'Ger going up against Braniac, especially the Braniac of the DC UO MMO continuity.

Vulcans would make the ultimate Jedis because of how in control of themselves they are.

Imagine Batman in a Federation Uniform. There might be no batarangs and stuff like that, but with the Federation's advanced technology he could easily wipe out the Klingon, Cardassian, and Romulan Empires.

 

[BillJ]

But how would someone making more Trek movies lessen your enjoyment of the stuff you like?

It doesn't. But my opinion is still my opinion. I offered it.

And you like the JJ films.

It's neat to revisit old friends every few years. It doesn't mean that the burnout still doesn't exist. I don't need to feel obligated to a Star Trek cinematic universe. The entire idea brings bad memories of the 1990's flooding back. Sometimes, less is more.

Were you saying "no more Star Trek" in 2009?

Yup.

 

[Cyke101]

Perhaps it is only a small number of vocal nerdy fans who don't want more Trek or are afraid of burn-out.

Honestly, if more Trek was the solution, Paramount would have already done it by now. It's been 6 years since ST09 was a proven success, but they're treating the franchise piece-by-piece. After all, this is the same company that oversaturated Trek in the 90s and 00s, and those wounds are probably still fresh in their minds for one of their premiere brands. They're going to be very conscious and analytic about the risk of repeating past mistakes.

So no, it's not just a small number of vocal or nerdy fans, but also the parent company itself. We would have gotten an expansion of some sort by now if Paramount wanted, but they're more concerned about quality control.

 

[eyeresist]

^ Pure speculation.

 

[Skywalker]

It'll probably depend on the box office performance of the third movie.

 

[Cyke101]

^ Pure speculation.

Not seeing more live-action Trek outside of the movies up to this point in time, however, is pure fact. Paramount (and CBS/Viacom) has a healthy portfolio of current television shows and movie projects. They haven't made room for a live-action Trek show/spinoff of any kind. As it is, demand for the primary is higher than demand for a television show or spinoff movies, at least to the studio execs.

 

[Galileo7]

When Will 'Star Trek' Get a Cinematic Universe? I hope never, it's not needed. It works best as a television series.

Agree. Star Trek got the Television Universe back in the '90s with NG, DS9 and VOY .