Star Trek: Reboot

The new upcoming Star Trek movie has fans in an uproar

The next Star Trek film has officially gone into production. The new movie will be the eleventh feature film for the franchise and is set to hit the theaters by Christmas 2008.

So far, the detail about the movies’ plot is still quite secret. However, the word on the web is that it will be based on James T. Kirk and Spock’s training years at Starfleet Academy.

The original Star Trek series (also called ST: TOS or TOS), starred William Shatner (the Shat), as Captain Kirk, and his first officer, Spock, played by Leonard Nemoy. The series, created by the late Gene Rodenberry, lasted for three years when it was first aired back in the 1960’s. Since then, there have been five television spin-offs, including the animated series, and eleven feature films. There have also been a number of related spin-offs in the book industry.

The first six films were based on TOS; the last four have been extensions of the second television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG). Star Trek has yet to make a movie based on the other main Star Trek television series, ST: Voyager (VOY), Deep Space Nine (DS9), and Enterprise (ENT). Of all the series though, TOS and TNG seem to be the most beloved by fans. Recent incarnations have been somewhat unsuccessful.

The decision to base another movie on TOS will take advantage of the largest Star Trek fan base, it is hoped. Furthermore, the franchise feels the need to expand the fan base by attracting new fans to the world of Star Trek. To do this, the franchise is apparently looking to “re-imagine” the Star Trek concept.

Some say this is a risky proposition. Many “re-imagined” or “re-tooled” films, such as the latest Hulk and Planet of the Apes, were disappointing to their respective fans. The thought of redoing Star Trek has many fans in an uproar. The worry is that it will undermine the forty-year histrionics of the popular television portrayals.

It is unclear how far the new director and writers of the film will go with this revamp. Ultimately, it may simply be too early to tell.

To learn more about what fans are saying about the next Star Trek film and for the latest news on all new Trek, logon to http://www.trekmovie.com/ or www.startrek.com .