A new Star Trek movie has been announced? Count me in. No franchise in recent years has shown me so much how it can still feel exciting, fresh and still authentic after almost 70 years. The new movie is supposed to be a prequel and take place a few decades before Kirk, Spock & Co. – but the great potential lies somewhere else entirely.
After the cinema exit, the Star Trek series saved lives
After the last movie Star Trek Beyond in 2016, there was silence about the Enterprise on the big screen. There has been no sign of life in recent years from the charismatic cast around Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as the young and sporty versions of Kirk and Spock (even if Paramount still wants to make a fourth, final film).
Instead, we’ve embarked on a rocky streaming era that recently delivered some of the best Star Trek episodes of all time. The third season of Star Trek: Picard really surprised everyone with the emotional reunion of the aged warriors from Star Trek: The Next Generation. And the musical episode of the already brilliant series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is now probably my favorite Star Trek episode ever. (Spock can sing!?)
Paramount
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
There is also a third live-action series whose decisions are sometimes not talked about so kindly in fan circles: Star Trek: Discovery. I found it very entertaining for the most part and have great respect for the controversial decision at the end of season 2: Discovery and its crew jump 930 years into the future. And that’s exactly where there’s a lot more to be gained from a new film than just hanging around a few years before Kirk.
I don’t want a dark Star Trek prestory, but rather an optimistic view of the future
Why I feel uneasy about the new Star Trek film is because of the names associated with it. The script is written by Seth Grahame-Smith, who most recently made a name for himself with the bitter horror blockbuster It. Toby Haynes will direct. Yes, he just directed the great Star Wars series Andor, but that was very dystopian, sober and devastating by Star Wars standards. He also filmed a Star Trek-inspired Black Mirror episode. But I don’t need this cynicism with Star Trek. Star Trek has always stood for curious exploration and the drive to make the world a better place.
With these key facts, the new Star Trek movie sounds on paper like a dark and edgy prequel. Luckily, this is just my own speculation for now, but while we’re at it, I have a counter-suggestion: Instead of staying in the same century again, telling a similar (or even darker) story of Starfleet again, take a bold step into the future.
Paramount
Star Trek: Discovery – far in the future
The real potential is hidden 1000 years in the future. Star Trek: Discovery has shown over the last two seasons that the door is open to exploring a completely different time in the franchise. There, Starfleet has to be rebuilt, optimism has to be stirred up again and the urge for action has to be conveyed to the people.
There is an exciting story there, the outcome of which is not yet sealed. The problem with prequels is always that we already know what happens next. As great as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is, it really annoys me that we already know the sad fate of the protagonist Captain Pike (Anson Mount).
The new film will probably want to tell an independent story. This is certainly advisable in order not to get too caught up in the excessive Star Trek lore. Nevertheless, in the spirit of the franchise, I think it is wiser and more exciting to go far into the future and continue there. Liberated and with an optimistic view of the stars, as befits Star Trek.
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