New Star Trek Series in Works? Nope

An article from TrekWeb proposes the possibility of a new Star Trek television series that not only would take place in the original "Prime" universe but take place after Voyager. The story is from David Foster and his 1947 Entertainment. To start, let’s just put this idea to bed. Don't get me wrong, I would love the idea of a new TV series in the Prime Universe but it is not happening, at least right now.

There are several reasons not to believe it. One, the news would not come from someone who has produced nothing mainstream and is most likely telling this story hoping to gain interest in his company. Another is the focus by Paramount and the main players that would decide the franchises future is on the next movie. Their approach to Trek and its possible TV future is going to be tabled until after the sequel if not longer. In short, a TV series is probably five years or more. I am not entirely convinced that the long term plan is to abandon the Prime universe entirely outside of selling streaming video and home video discs. Hopefully I am wrong on that.

Don't lose hope though. While the movies have huge possibilities, the chances are after the third movie, keeping the cast together at a reasonable cost is going to be all but impossible. That opens the possibility of a new crew, even if not necessarily on a ship call Enterprise. What better way to introduce a new crew than a new TV series in either the Prime or 2.0 universes.

Considering his TV experience, I think that if a Star Trek series movies forward every effort will be made to have JJ Abrams in charge of it. That alone is a sign that this is a non-starter. On the bright side, Abrams said on the subject "It’s never really come up, frankly, but depending on what that would sort of be and how it would be done I’d be open to the idea of it. Right now we’re just sort of focusing on making a movie that’s worth people’s time."

So what is David Foster's idea? He was pretty vague on the details. The series is set in the post-Voyager era (how far wasn't said), honors the canon of the previous TV series and movies with a solid 5 to 7 year plan, and retains the Roddenberry "positive view of the future." The Klingons are tired of the Federation and Ferengi have become a huge power thanks to discovery of a new resource. From Foster, "here's the Teaser: If evil wore the face of a hero, would you recognize it? If freedom came in the likeness of your oppressors, would you accept it? If you were your own enemy, who would be victorious?"

All I can say is more power to him. I hope he succeeds as I can always use more Trek in my life. Until then though there is a difference between having an idea, pitching an idea to franchise controllers (CBS & Paramount) and them accepting the pitch and moving forward to series. Until that last step occurs, take any news of a new TV series with a grain of salt.