Archive-Name: faql.rec.arts.startrek.movies Last updated 26 July 1998 INFORMATION ON UPCOMING STAR TREK MOVIES This posting is intended to cut down on questions that seem to pop up daily asking what is known about the new Star Trek movies. It is one of a number of periodic postings posted to r.a.s.*. For a full list of informational postings, please read the "LIST OF PERIODIC POSTINGS" article in rec.arts.startrek.misc. For a list of acronyms used in this (and other) postings, please refer to the "ACRONYM LIST" which can be found in rec.arts.startrek.misc. NOTE: I have tons of additions to incorporate to this FAQL, and will get to them as soon as time permits. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This rest of this article contains ________________ ______ ___ _ ________ _______ _____________ / _______ ____ \ / ____ \_ _| | | _______| ____ \/ ____________| \______ \| |____) | | | | || | | __| | |____) \______ \ ___________) | _____/| |____| | || |______| |______| ____ <_______) | |____________/|_| \______/___|________|__________| \_________/ for upcoming movies. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read this! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE: Star Trek 9's working title is "Stardust", but will change CAST: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton DIRECTOR: Jonathan Frakes SCREENWRITER: Michael Piller PRODUCER: Rick Berman STORY DEVLPRS:Michael Piller, Rick Berman EXEC PRODUCER:Patrick Stewart SCORE: Jerry Goldsmith RELEASE DATE: 11 December 1998 SPECIAL FX: Sony Pictures ImageWorks (Contact,Starship Troopers,Godzilla) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is also a Star Trek IMAX movie in the works. Berman approved the script and it's now in the laps of IMAX. CAST: Colm Meaney SCRIPT: Hans Tobeson (ex-Supoervising Producer of seaQuest) BUDGET: $10,000,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12-13 March 1994 South Bend Creation con: Mike Dorn said he has signed on for three TNG films. mid-January 1995 Creation con: It was apparently stated that all of the next generation cast has signed up for at least five more motion pictures, to be produced over a period of ten years. All, that is, except for Brent Spiner (Data) and Patrick Stewart (Picard). Spiner has expressed concern over being typecast as Data and Stewart just doesn't know if he can get into a movie that will pay him more. Early February 1995 London convention: Murray Park mentioned that it was reported that all but Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner had signed on for a three-movie contract. Rick Berman is hoping to release a "Producer's Cut" of Generations on LaserDisc which will put the 30 minutes back that were cut from the movie [looking at the script, that would probably by the opening mix of Kirk's orbital skydiving, the footage of Soran operating on Geordi, and possibly the original ending of Kirk's death that was shot. --ed] Mid-March 1995 Edmonton convention: Denis F confirmed that most of the actors were signed for a three-movie deal and that Spiner and Stewart are the only ones not to have signed multi-film contracts. Also mentioned at the convention was that Paramount is allowing Spiner time off for other projects in return for him doing future movies, there is a *completed* script in which Q brings together the crew of TOS and TNG. 29 May 1997: Patrick Stewart is getting $12,000,000 for the film. June 1997: On the Sci-Fi Channel's SF Vortex show, Michael Piller let it slip that the story will feature Data in both a good and bad way; however, it appears he was merely playing off of the fears of a previous caller's question. Whether Berman was alluding to the return of Lore or yet another manifestation of his emotion chip, or another entirely new angle (or nothing at all) remains to be seen. Berman also mentioned that a villain seen before from the syndicated TV series will return (but not the Borg); that there will be "changes" to the crew relationships; and that Picard's character will also change. Also rumored is that the storyline follows along a Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" trail. 27 July 1997 UK Official Trek Fan Club interview with Michael Piller: Supposedly, Lore will be re-activated and seizes control of a super-warship with which he plans to use to take revenge on the Enterprise crew. "In general the film seems to have a Star Trek II style behind it, but with the main conflict between Data and Lore rather than Kirk and Khan. Also there will be a major argument between Picard and Data and both will have to make big sacrifices. Piller also explains that he wants to use a lot of action and tension in the film (sounds like he really wants to create a good atmosphere.)" [Thanks to Gazza] 5 August 1997: One of the clauses in Patrick Stewart's contract was the right to refuse scripts, and it looks like the actor has exercised that right. Stewart has rejected Piller and Berman's first draft for the movie. Now the writers have to come up with a whole new idea - which may mean that all previous plot rumors are now false. [Thanks to Gazza] 24 August 1997: Don Granger of Paramount apparently said that Stewart has no script veto power. August 1997: Eric Stillwell (Michael Piller's assistant) denied that Piller gave the UK interview mentioned above. August 1997: Patrick Stewart interview: Stewart hinted that the storyline for the upcoming film will be lighter in tone than the two heavy drama pieces seen previously. He mentioned Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as the same type of approach he'd like to see in the next Trek film. October 1997: Rumors of Spiner getting $5,000,000 for the film. November 1997: Sony may do some of the SFX instead of ILM. Sony did "Starship Troopers". Also, the release date *might* get pushed back to May 1999 if Mission: Impossible gets delayed until a Christmas release. 9 December 1997 Michael Piller interview with the Official Star Trek magazine of Australia: Piller gives some details about the new movie's storyline. He confirms that all the supporting cast members have signed. Picard's morals will lay with a group of 600 individuals, and his actions will isolate him from those of Starfleet's and the Federation, all for the sake of the well-being of the six hundred. Berman also goes so far as to call the storyline "a farce", but in the vein of Moliere. There will be many twists and turns, and the story will cover the spectrum of heavy drama to farcical comedy fare, but overall the key is a center on the unique "family" nature of the crewmates. Data is involved in some major mystery for the first 30 pages, which will then reveal itself into the larger plot mystery. There will also be attention paid to the supporting characters, including a possible "couple" pairing between Riker and as-yet unnamed character. The working subtitle that will not be used in the final title is "Stardust", a borrowing of Moliere. [Thanks to Trek Hunter 47] 14 December 1997 Michael Piller chat on trekweb.com: - Q is not in the film. - The villains are called the Son'a. Previously, Piller was hoping to use the under-utilized Romulans, but somewhere along the way that changed. - The aftermath of the Dominion War that's being fought on DS9 will be felt in the new film but not directly addressed. The passing mention of Worf's new bride, Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax on DS9 is in the first draft. - The supporting characters will receive more of a focusing than the last two films have shown. Of them, Piller revealed that Riker will captain his own starship in the new film, have a romance, and fight against overwhelming odds in a daring way. - The storyline has consistently been likened to the 'feelgood' Trek film, Star Trek IV. Piller called it more of a 'Hearts of Lightness' film, a remark made to the question about early reports the film would be similar in structure to Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" novel. - If you want more, go to trekweb.com to read the entire Michael Piller transcript. Piller also answers questions about his other involvements in TV Trek and his comments about the show in general. [thanks to Bucky] 16 December 1997: Premise: Captain Picard is forced to choose between his alliegance with Starfleet and the Federation or a group caught in the crossroads of galatic debate. Brannon Braga and Ronald Moore aren't involved with this project. 24 December 1997: Rumors are that they'll skimp on the special effects to make up for the higher salaries demanded by the regulars. Stewart will get $12,000,000 (up from $5,000,000 for the last film). Spiner will get $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 (up from $3,000,000 for the last film). The rest of the crew will get a combined $5,000,000 (up from $3,000,000 for the last film). Special effects, etc will only be around $7,000,000 to $17,000,000 (down from $30,000,000 for the last film). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article is Copyright 1990-1998 by Otto Heuer. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. Permission is expressly granted for this document to be made available for file transfer from installations offering unrestricted anonymous file transfer on the Internet free of charge. Corrections to this FAQL: trek-faq-correct@twc-online.com Additions for this FAQL: trek-faq-add@twc-online.com Comments on this FAQL: web-trek-comments@twc-online.com Comments on my Trek web page: web-trek-comments@twc-online.com General comments on my web page: web-general-comments@twc-online.com Misc: Hack-Man@twc-online.com Don't be disappointed if you don't get a personl reply. I currently get over 100 email messages a day and I'm lucky if I send a reply to more than ten of them. --Otto "HACK-MAN" Heuer _____ _________ _ _____ _____ _____ _____ | ___|| _______|| | Otto E. 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