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AICN Reveals the Secrets of Star Trek The Beginning Script, the Star Trek XI That Could Have Been - Major Spoilers

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By GustavoLeao / 11:59, 31 October 2007 / Star Trek: Nemesis

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AICN posted an article about Star Trek The Beginning,  the unmade Star Trek XI script written by Erik Jendresen. According to the article, the proposal came from (then) Star Trek overlord Rick Berman & a production team which included Jordan Kerner and Kerry McCluggage. There is a lot of information about this "Romulan Wars lost prequel movie" in the article, so here is just a few excerpts. Beware of spoilers.

The script begins on Earth during August-September 2159 (this would place it between ENTERPRISE and ORIGINAL SERIES continuity).


"The human race has a lot going on: the United Earth Stellar Navy (UESN) is a military attempting to find its place in the changing political landscape, and hone its interaction with a recently formed Coalition of Planets. Earth is changing...politics are changing. Extraterrestrials are becoming accepted and common members of our society, but this is also altering the way humans think, and the way things are done.


"There's talk of UESN merging with Starfleet, which would essentially militarize the exploration-based Starfleet. "Peace is too important to be left to politicians" intones one Commodore."


"The NX-Omega is ready to fly - the first Warp 8 capable ship ever built (Warp 8 was the maximum warp stated for THE ORIGINAL SERIES Enterprise)."


"And...oh, yeah! There's that mammoth Romulan attack fleet approaching Earth using a trajectory which conceals it behind Earth's moon."


"There's one character we've seen before in TREK - it's Andorian Commander Shran. He's the blue dude with antennae played by Jeffrey Combs in ENTERPRISE."

"The NX-02 (Columbia) - also seen in ENTERPRISE - appears twice in the script. It's in an orbital shipyard and gets blasted pretty thoroughly."


"References are made to Archer & Enterprise being at Risa (TREK's "pleasure planet"). Figures; they're as ineffectual as always."


"This is principally the story of Tiberius Chase. He's the UESN's best pilot but can't get into Starfleet because of his family's bad rep. He has the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet. He's extremely talented and highly ambitious, but he's being held back in life because of his family name. The Chase clan, it seems, is associated with a para-military militia here on Earth who fear for the purity of the human race...they feel our gene pool will be contaminated because too many alien species are coming to Earth."

"[...] Chase hatches a plan...a foolhardy, dangerous plan no one will listen to: he wants to fly to the heart of the Romulan Star Empire and wreck havoc there before the primary Romulan attack fleet arrives "offshore Earth". He wants to fragment the Romulans' war making capability from within."
 
Much more information about the script can be found here.



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This would never have worked... | Report this post to moderator
By: dgarber012771 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:19:27 on Nov 01, 2007

... as long as Berman was in charge. The script itself, to me, is/was VERY promising. But as AICN pointed out, a fresh take on the way the story is told would have been needed.

There is most definitely plenty of life in Trek. But it will require a new take and a new approach. Hopefully, the JJ Abrams movie will do this. The last thing Trek needs is more TNG-Style crap. That Trek had it's day and was some of the best Sci-Fi ever produced. But it's so bloody tired and 'old hat' nowadays that I hope TPTB never go back to it..


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uh... no | Report this post to moderator
By: Hober Mallow (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:48:03 on Nov 01, 2007

Sorry, but that sounds like a steaming pile of feces.

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"It's fiction. It's not supposed to make sense." --a Trekweb poster defending Brannon Braga's scripts


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  • RE: uh... no | Report this post to moderator
    By: OV-101 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:29:43 on Nov 01, 2007

    Quote:
    Sorry, but that sounds like a steaming pile of feces.

    If it had Berman involved, you bet it would have been a meadow wafer. But, having said that, shit can be used to grow crops?? I like the idea of some sort of mini-series that would have centered on the Romulan war. I am not particularly impressed with the script as written but I am in favor of its basic concept.

    --------

    "Life's tough. It's tougher if you're stupid."
    -- John Wayne

    "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence."
    --Dr. Leonard McCoy

    "I'm a politician, which means I am a cheat and a liar, and when I am not kissing babies I am stealing their lollipops."
    -- Jeffrey Pelt, The Hunt for Red October

    "Liberals, Intellectuals, Peacemongers, IDIOTS!!!!"
    - General Decker, Mars Attacks

    "It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires, both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."
    - Q from Q Who


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A Good Beginning | Report this post to moderator
By: Ichthus (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:07:25 on Nov 01, 2007

Keeping in mind that this a first draft, I liked many of the elements in it. I definitely would have liked to seen this fleshed out some more. Pity it never had the chance.


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This could have been a great pilot for a ST Anthology series! | Report this post to moderator
By: Counselor Knight (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:18:12 on Nov 01, 2007

I mentioned recently, and over the years, that a ST anthology series could be the next best step for ST on television.

This type of idea, with one main guest character, could be the ticket. No big budget names, just one ST guest character interacting in one, two or three episode arcs, then move on to the next story with a different ST guest character for the next story.

I love this idea, but would it have been a good movie for theaters? No, in my opinion. This story would ONLY be interesting to hard core fans. And for $8 a ticket, I don't even see fans thinking it would be worth it.

Great idea ... for an anthology series pilot episode.

(Just a side note, if an anthology series is the way to go, it would be best to start with a mixed cast episode to get people watching for a three episode arc, then move to one guest episode later. Gotta hook 'em first.)

--------

Respect the cannon


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Insted of Enterpirse... | Report this post to moderator
By: JagMan (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 07:39:02 on Nov 01, 2007

They should have gone with something like this. What a shame. It could have been glorious.


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Beware of Spoilers??? | Report this post to moderator
By: AdmiralLon (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:49:41 on Oct 31, 2007

How could anything in this article be called a spoiler???? Its not like this is ever going to see the light of day.



Sorry, it just made me giggle when I read that line and then thought about it for a second.


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If it can't be a movie, make it a graphic novel / comic | Report this post to moderator
By: Capricorn Two (Odo's file, contact) @ 17:53:41 on Oct 31, 2007

Sounds fun but it's not going to be a movie; I recommend strongly that it be made into a graphic novel / comic. Why not? Convert this script into strong images - tell the story in another medium besides movie or television. WTF - why not?


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  • RE: If it can't be a movie, make it a graphic novel / comic | Report this post to moderator
    By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 02:31:58 on Nov 01, 2007

    Yeah, they should make this into a mini series or direct to DVD or a novel or even a comic book mini series.

    Gustavo

    --------

    TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

    gl2000@uol.com.br


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    • RE: If it can't be a movie, make it a graphic novel / comic | Report this post to moderator
      By: Capricorn Two (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:10:16 on Nov 01, 2007

      Quote:
      Yeah, they should make this into a mini series or direct to DVD or a novel or even a comic book mini series.

      That would be great but Paramount's not very pro-active on pursuing alternative avenues to tell stories. First - t.hey have a bad cash flow problem in which they are hoping - come 2008 - will improve. Brad Gray is mainstream Hollywood - he can only see one outlet on producing products: movies in theaters. And Viacom is not creative either. They are stuck in the 20th Century


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Steven Seagal AS...Tiberius Chase! | Report this post to moderator
By: c.p. (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:58:36 on Oct 31, 2007

Well I guess this goes to prove that different folks can read entirely different things from the same set of words. This sounds like a typical action-sci-fi flick and for those who balk at the idea of a 90210 cast, this would have been your nightmare, I'd gamble. To me, this was a clear attempt to dump everything "Roddenberry" about Star Trek and get to the fluff and cat suits.


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Ah, what could have been... | Report this post to moderator
By: Colossus6.32 (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:01:21 on Oct 31, 2007

So, the would-be UFP is cast as the Allies, the Romulans as the Nazis and Vulcans as the Jews.

A film that would make TREK exciting, epic and relatable.

This could have been great. A fresh take on Trek, with new characters and unexplored situations is exactly what is needed.

This would be far more interesting than any reboot could be, in my opinion.


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Where is Archer, Mr Berman ? | Report this post to moderator
By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 14:34:40 on Oct 31, 2007

So, the movie is set shortly after Star Trek Enterprise, but without using the Enterprise cast ? Oh well.

And a main character named Tiberius Chase ? Geee.

Anyway, it would be cool to see Shran again, I am a big fan of Jeffrey Combs.

Gustavo

--------

TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

gl2000@uol.com.br


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  • RE: Where is Archer, Mr Berman ? | Report this post to moderator
    By: StillKirok (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:34:35 on Oct 31, 2007

    That movie would have been terrible. Making Kirk's ancestors racists? That's great Berman. Not to mention the Romulans wouldn't KNOW they are offshoots of Vulcans since they have never seen anyone anymore than the Vulcans would have known.

    Good thing Berman got canned.


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RE: huh? | Report this post to moderator
By: c.p. (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:22:43 on Oct 31, 2007

Yeah, and starships coming and going that might notice a strange fleet of ships sneaking in the back door. Lazy.


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The Trek that Almost Was | Report this post to moderator
By: John Calvin (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 13:03:45 on Oct 31, 2007

This could have been good, but I think JJ has an opportunity to make it even better with characters we already know.

--------

"It's not who I am inside, but what I do that defines me." -Batman

www.gracelockport.com


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THank Heaven and Sha-Ka-Ree that this was never made | Report this post to moderator
By: Dukat (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:55:07 on Oct 31, 2007

Oh My Goodness. This would have been the final nail in the coffin. Me wonders if Paramount was just letting Berman pursue this story just to take up his time until they could let him go.

Everyone was thrilled when they announced Jendreson, but when I saw Band Of Brothers, the one story he was most identified with was the only one I kept falling asleep to. I raced through all the shows before that, it took 3 attempts to finally getthrough his story, and then I watched the last ones straight through.

This feels so Bermanish- I don't know how else to put it.



--------

Image


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I've Been Wondering About The Details | Report this post to moderator
By: Jean-Luc (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:42:39 on Oct 31, 2007

of this movie and now I thank All That Is Holy that it never got made. Starfleet Academy, Titan, or a new cast in the TNG era all sound better than this!

--------

"Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."


Patrick Stewart--SNL, Stardate 9402.05


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Wow. | Report this post to moderator
By: TrippingOverGod (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:31:27 on Oct 31, 2007

”Penelope, I am going where so many have
gone before - to the place where all
paths lead, and all journeys end. Please
know, my love, that if I do nothing
else...that at least...I go there boldly.”

Oh FUCK yes. That would be have been amazing. The hairs on my neck are already standing.

It's a shame they didn't go this way but at the same time, Berman would never have allowed it to go as far as it needed to in terms of style. But damn, we need this in book form or something, it sounds epic!


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huh? | Report this post to moderator
By: timmer33 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:30:57 on Oct 31, 2007

"And...oh, yeah! There's that mammoth Romulan attack fleet approaching Earth using a trajectory which conceals it behind Earth's moon."

This I don't understand. The moon is always moving, revolving around Earth. A fleet en route from Romulus could never hide that way.

Perhaps they hid *behind* the moon ... but that's too much like V, and besides, surely Starfleet would have noticed.

Odd.


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  • RE: huh? | Report this post to moderator
    By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:39:06 on Oct 31, 2007 | Edit History (1)

    Quote from timmer33:
    The moon is always moving, revolving around Earth. A fleet en route from Romulus could never hide that way.


    They could, on a trajectory that follows a spiral path toward Earth. There'd be high speed requirements just to remain eclipsed by our Moon, plus the speed of approach toward Earth.

    For example, in its distant orbit, Pluto would need to travel faster than the speed of light to remain eclipsed from our view by the Moon (assuming that the Pluto-Earth orbital planes are aligned).

    A more efficient path would have the Rommies approach Earth in a spiral trajectory that keeps them eclipsed by one of the outer planets or the Sun.


    ----------------

    Doctor Who -- The Complete 3rd Series

    Image


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  • RE: huh? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Dukat (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 13:00:25 on Oct 31, 2007

    Well, they could, but it wouldn't make any sense. So in 2159, still the only place they are doing long range scans from is Earth?

    We know right now that we will be lucky to spot a killer asteroid in time, you would think in 160 years that they might have listening posts at least throughout the Sol system. It isn't like they don't know from Archer that bad people are out there.

    As far as hiding behind the moon, that is fairly simple, you just don't take a straight course to earth.

    --------

    Image


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  • RE: huh? | Report this post to moderator
    By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:52:00 on Oct 31, 2007

    The idea sounds good on paper, but so does communism. Berman would never had allowed this movie to be what it needed to be.

    But it would make a good direct-to-DVD movie. : )

    --------

    There once was a man named Scorned,
    whose posts were more offensive than porn.
    He posted one too many,
    got kicked out on his fanny,
    and all the while he had been warned.


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  • Why Hide At All? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Jean-Luc (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:46:40 on Oct 31, 2007

    ENT already messed with continuity by giving the Romulans of that era cloaking devices, whether they developed it themselves or stole it from the Suliban, who got it from Future Guy, who got it from the Romulans(?) Holy temporal paradox Batman!
    But I digress...

    --------

    "Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
    These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."


    Patrick Stewart--SNL, Stardate 9402.05


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    • RE: Why Hide At All? | Report this post to moderator
      By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:53:36 on Oct 31, 2007

      Hey maybe those Romulans in "Minefield" were from the future. That would explain the ships being more sleek as well as the cloaking technology.

      --------

      There once was a man named Scorned,
      whose posts were more offensive than porn.
      He posted one too many,
      got kicked out on his fanny,
      and all the while he had been warned.


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      • Could Be | Report this post to moderator
        By: Jean-Luc (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:06:30 on Oct 31, 2007

        Maybe we'll see them in ST:XI. Though if those Romulans in ENT were from the future, they blew a great opportunity by not destroying Archer and possibly the Federation!

        --------

        "Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
        These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."


        Patrick Stewart--SNL, Stardate 9402.05


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