BREAKING NEWS: J.J. Abrams to Produce/Direct “Trek XI”
J.J. Abrams, producer of hit shows Lost and Alias, as well as director of the upcoming Paramount film “Mission: Impossible III,” is slated to produce and direct the next Star Trek feature, according to today’s Daily Variety and sources at Paramount Pictures. There is no title as yet for the new movie, but it will be the eleventh in the franchise. (Until a title is selected, we will usually refer to the project as simply “Star Trek XI.”)Although there isn’t an official Paramount press release announcing the movie, it is a confirmed project under development with a 2008 release date targeted. Word about the Abrams project surfaced this morning in the daily trade paper. He will be writing the script with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who penned “M:i:III.” STARTREK.COM will keep you up to date on all official statements as they are released.
The proposed story will focus on the early days of James T. Kirk and Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first mission in space.
Abrams’ producing partners from Lost, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, are cited as being producers on “Trek XI.” This project is separate from the previously rumored script developed by Eric Jendresen and overseen by Rick Berman. The former Star Trek producer is not involved in this project.
slaaaaaaaaaashtastic!
I can see it now: Kirk and Spock’s crazy pranks and tomfoolery upset the crusty old dean of Starfleet Academy!
Abrams may be worth viewing with original material (Alias, Lost), but if you know what blasphemy he tried to commit with his Superman script, you wouldn’t find this foray of his into Trek all that exciting. His need to place his own mark upon existing an existing franchise, and a mark that goes against all previous canon, is a little disturbing.
I’m not of the mind that taking the “hot new thing” and attaching it to Star Trek is the way to go. If Paramount wants to regenerate Trek in a positive direction, they’d return to who had a strong hand in the most well-received Trek films of all time (II, IV and VI) — Nicholas Meyer.
The only positive about this announcement is that Berman and Braga are not involved.
I’m not saying Abrams would make foolishness out of the Trek franchise, but considering his inability to understand the Superman mythos, there is that strong possibility he’ll not understand the Trek mythos.
Or they could just get Joss Whedon to chant a few sutras over the script.
JOSS WHEDON IS LORD!
SO SAY WE ALL
Wacky teenage hijinx at the Starfleet Academy? Fantastic. I love it.
Young Kirk and Young Spock? Worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life.
Lost? Love that show.
I don’t think Abrams should go near Trek. Let it die. For a few years, at least. Please. It all went politically correct and money hungry after Gene died in my opinion anyway.