New Star Trek Movie: Directors Promise a Fresh Perspective on the Franchise

Exciting news about the new "Star Trek" movie: In an interview with Inverse magazine, "Dungeons and Dragons" directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein revealed that the upcoming film will differ significantly from previous installments in the science fiction franchise.

Apparently, we shouldn't expect a classic space adventure in the style of the Kirk and Spock films. Instead, this time the focus is on Starfleet itself and the conflicts within the organization. The portrayal of Starfleet so far has often been highly idealized. While the new film does not intend to fundamentally destroy this positive vision, it aims to supplement it with a more realistic perspective. In addition, the story is set to unfold almost in real time.

Thefilms "Crimson Tide" and "Training Day" (starring Denzel Washington) serve as models. Both films are characterized by intense conflicts within closed institutions and focus on moral decisions and power structures. This is also in line with the statements made by Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider, who described the film in June of this year as a sort of "'Training Day' in space".

We'll also have to get used to a completely new cast. The actors from the Abrams films – such as Chris Pine, Zoe Saldaña, and Zachary Quinto – won't be taking center stage this time around. Despite the unusual concept, however, Daley and Goldstein apparently don't want to stray from the franchise's core values. Rather, their goal is to tell a fresh story within the familiar universe and appeal to both hardcore fans and new viewers alike.

However, patience is still required. The new "Star Trek" movie is still in the early stages of development and does not yet have an official release date. Details about the cast are also pending. But we'll keep you updated, of course!

New Star Trek Series in the Works

There's also a lot going on in the world of TV series. Jane Wiseman, EVP & Head of Originals for Paramount+, spoke about the current state of "Star Trek" in an interview with Deadline. The U.S. industry portal asked her about the approaching end of the last two remaining live-action series, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy". She then hinted that new projects are already being considered behind the scenes – and that they've reached out to writers.

Overall, "Star Trek" is currently in a phase of transition. In 2017, the launch of "Star Trek: Discovery" heralded a renaissance of the franchise, which led to further live-action series such as "Star Trek: Picard", "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds", and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" over the following years. Of these, only the latter two remain – though their end dates have already been set. "Strange New Worlds" will conclude with its fifth season. "Starfleet Academy" will be canceled after its second season. A new live-action series to follow has not yet been in the works.

Idea for an Archer comeback

Last year, a proposal emerged that toyed with the idea of bringing back a former Enterprise captain. Producer Michael Sussman and actor Scott Bakula had the idea for a project called "Star Trek: United," which was to tell the story of an aging Jonathan Archer. He would now have four adult children and be the first president of the United Federation of Planets. However, the whole thing ultimately seems destined to remain nothing more than an intriguing thought experiment. Especially since, a few weeks ago, Bakula – who once played Archer – shared an update indicating that the project isn't moving forward. In an interview with TV Insider, he said:

"I'm not actively involved. A lot of fans would like to see more 'Star Trek' and perhaps see Archer be involved. But there are new people in charge of the franchise, new owners of the studio. The franchise benefitted from a rest after 'Enterprise'. There had been some fatigue with the number of shows and movies, and that may be what's happening. Nothing is on my radar right now."

Bakula played Captain Archer in "Star Trek: Enterprise". The series ran from 2001 to 2005 and spanned four seasons with a total of 98 episodes. The story was set before the original series featuring Kirk and Spock and chronicled the adventures of Captain Archer's starship crew. As appealing as a return of the space hero might be, it might actually be good for the franchise to develop entirely new characters – ones that rely less on nostalgia and more on the unknown. After all, "Star Trek" has always been about looking toward the future.