UPDATED: Paramount Spokesman: Star Trek In Same League as Star Wars & Transformers February 14, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Paramount, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackbackUPDATE: Yesterday first word came out that Paramount were moving the release for the new Star Trek to May 8th 2009. Today a Paramount spokesman explains that the film will still be completed by this year but they feel it can stack up against traditional summer blockbusters. In addition Paramount have updated the official movie websites, but for now are only saying “May 2009″ for the release.
From the AP Article (at CNN Money):
Studio spokesman Michael Vollman said the switch was a business move, not because of any problems with the film caused by the Writers Guild of America strike that just ended.
“Star Trek” will be finished by fall in time for its original release date, but studio executives decided to hold it until next summer, the film could pull in more money, he said.
“`Star Trek’ is in fantastic shape,” said Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman. “This is all about box-office potential. Summer is where you see the `Star Wars’ and the `Spider-Mans’ and the `Shreks’ and the `Transformers.’ `Star Trek’ is in that league.”
The movie had been in production without its screenwriters on hand for revisions during the strike, which began Nov. 5. The guild reached a deal with producers last week, and writers voted Tuesday to end the walkout.
The strike had left a few holes in 2009’s summer blockbuster schedule, leaving the May 8 date up for grabs, Vollman said.
So as frustrating as the move to Summer is, the word from Paramount is a big vote of confidence in the film that is being made right now. Vollman’s comments tie back to something that Star Trek co-writer and executive producer Roberto Orci said in his first big interview with TrekMovie.com back in October. Here is that excerpt
TrekMovie.com: So you really think that, in terms of mass appeal, Trek could be as big as Star Wars or your recent Transformers film?
Roberto Orci: Transformers is a great example because it was a franchise that was existing and had a strong fan base, but that was a niche market let’s say. Because of that our approach was to re-invigorate it. We don’t think that there is anything inherently flawed at all with the soul that Star Trek has laid down. And we feel that if we can tap back into that soul, then it can actually be those things. Not only do we want to please the fans, and we are confident that we will have a movie that fans see in a certain way where their knowledge of canon is not wasted and is part of their enjoyment of the movie, but simultaneously the story has been developed so that it is also an introduction for someone who is not a fan or even someone who knows nothing about Trek or thinks it is dead. We think that it can be that because we think that the bones of the house are right and all it needs is some redecorating.
Back in the 70s Paramount first thought that Trek could be their ‘Star Wars’ and they turned the Star Trek Phase II TV project into the big budget (for the day) Star Trek The Motion Picture. Although TMP is still the biggest Trek film (in terms of ticket sales), it fell short of ‘Star Wars big’ and since then Paramount have treated Trek films as ‘medium sized’ and usually put them out in the fall/winter. It remains to be seen if Trek really can move into Star Wars and Transformers territory, but it is nice to see Paramount feeling like Trek can be in the big leagues again.
Official sites updated
More fallout from Paramount’s change of the release date for Star Trek. All of the various official sites for each market have had the release dates updated and Paramount isn’t officially saying yet which day in May Trek will land.
The main official site (for US & Canada) now shows. “MAY 2009″ where just yesterday it said “CHRISTMAS 2008.” All the international sites (UK, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico/Latin America, and France) now just say “2009.” The only exception is and Germany which has no date at all). But don’t panic my German friends, I am sure they will get around to putting a “2009″ there soon enough. It should be noted that the trailers have not been updated with new dates yet and some of the sites also have the original HTML ‘title tags’ saying “Boxing Day 2008,” etc. It is assumed that will all be sorted out shortly.
How firm is May 8th?
Stories in both the Hollywood Reporter and Variety yesterday cited May 8th as the specific date for the new Star Trek, however right now Paramount are only officially confirming “May 2009.” This indicates that although the May 8th date is the most likely, there may be some wiggle room. Paramount was the first studio to announce a post-strike schedule shakeup. It is likely that Paramount are waiting to see what other studios do now that they have reshuffled. Maybe Fox will move their X-Men: Wolverine movie from the first weekend in May to later in the summer (giving themselves more time and to ensure Star Trek doesn’t trounce their second weekend). In that case Paramount would likely slip Trek into May 1.
One should also not worry too much about the international dates only saying 2009. The original plan for Trek was to open domestically on 12.25.08 and then in most English speaking markets the next day with the rest of the world some time in early 2009. So it is likely that the international markets will still be closely aligned with the domestic. In fact summer movies tend to bunch global releases even closer together so there may even be a shorter gap between between various releases than the original plan. But for now it is just ‘2009.’
So in other words…stay tuned.
UPDATE 2: Fox Takes Christmas
Fox to Paramount: “no backsies.” Variety is reporting that Fox has swooped in to take the vacancy left by Trek but moving their Jennifer Aniston-Owen Wilson comedy Marley and Me up a week. They also shuffled around a couple other comedies to move into newly opened slots. So far the Wolverine movie remains in the May 1 slot, a week before Star Trek.
TrekMovie.com Countdown Widget Updated
We have updated our countdown widget (bottom of the right column). For now it is using May 8th because you need a specific date and so that will have to do. It currently reads 449 days to go. You can ‘grab’ the widget and put it on your personal site or blog. When you click on the countdown it takes you right back here to TrekMovie.com.
Indiana Jones Trailer
This has nothing to do with Star Trek, but today Paramount released the trailer for their big May movie for this year…check it out.
Comments»
Can’t wait. December … May… it’s all good
Lame.
I wonder how pissed the toy company and licensees are right now.
They paid the price they did believing that they have product in the stores to support a heavily hyped movie at the busiest retail season of the year.
Now that it’s moved to May, they may have to significantly downgrade their estimates, which may affect the perception of the “value” of the premium they paid.
I wonder if Paramount took the discounting into account, prior to the announcement.
This will mean that some of the licensed tie-in material will be less rushed, which is doubly useful in the case of development-heavy things like computer games. So that’s the small ray of sunshine I see: some of the swag will have more development time.
(I still suspect that the film will wrap more-or-less on schedule and wait in the can until May, since so many of the people involved will be obligated to move on to their next jobs, regardless of how Paramount chooses to market this particular project …).
4 - Not knowing the toy manufacturer business, but I was wondering the same thing you just posted.
4: I am sure the licensees have contracts that allow Paramount to change release dates without a breach.
The licenses are long-term, probably over 3 films, and with the May release leading to Christmas consumption of toys, the licensees are probably better off.
They have better business in ‘09, and a bright future for Trek merchandise.
Yeah, but the page title says “May 2008″…
I know it’s off topic but how many of you have checked out the Indy trailer?
It’s good to see a hero loved by generations back in action one more time!
Someone must tell the Paramount webmaster to update the website header from May 2008 to May 2009.
Zminus10
See what I mean about the dates?
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1052/startrekdatemg7.jpg
I know which one they want it to be, but they could be more clear about it.
found out about it last night, went to bed, woke up, thought it was a dream, and now this makes it a reality…how terribly disappointing, it’s not so much that i’m aggravated over the push back as to how much hype has been going on lately, the release of the teaser, the playmates announcement, etc…they should’ve decided this beforehand
I wonder when we will hear from JJ, has he made a statement? I can’t imagine he’s happy about this decision or is he?
i may speak to trading standards about the false dates !!! its just nt on gettin our hopes up :-/
MY PROBLEM WITH MOVING “TREK XI” FROM X-MAS TO MAY…
…people seem to forget that a Christmas-released film DOESN’T do it’s biggest business on that day or week, but throughout January and even February (or in TITANIC’s case, all the way to April). I seem to recall the LORD OF THE RINGS films, TITANIC, CHICAGO–heck, even SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE way back in 1978-79, doing boffo business in the following winter months, usually because those months are such a vast wasteland of sub-par flicks.
STAR TREK XI would have been THE film to see during Dec. ‘08 and Jan. ‘09… as it stands now, it’ll probably have a big May opening weekend, but quickly fall by the wayside to make room for the other, bigger, more “popular” summer behemoths. Unless it’s the GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME, I don’t see TREK XI lasting too long through the summer.
Sorry, but Christmas would have been PERFECT. Now, it’s just going to get lost in the shuffle.
I’m still CRUSHED. over a year to wait puts this in the same timeframe as when we saw the first Movie poster at the San Diego Comic Con in 2006.
If we gt a better Movie and franchise … GREAT…. all of us waiting, what I will exageratingly call a “16 month prison sentence” - not so GREAT.
that makes me think…. If I broke into Paramount , lets say around Christmas this year, watched the movie… got caught… had the book thrown at me and sentenced… I’d still make it out in time to see the Premiere. Just food for thought.
any body know what films it will be competing with in may 2009 ??
Please dont let star Trek go up against something like a Star Wars movie. I mean I like Trek but it does NOT have that staying power like other movies. Superman Returns sequel is coming out in 2009!!
I don’t care. Just give me a good Trek movie. Every year. Yeah. EVERY year!
#16.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, MAY 1 2009
Paramount has done a tremendous injustice to the fans. You awaken a dead franchise and then put it back to bed again! I mean c’mon. What does JJ Abrams think of this???
May 8 would be perfect because it’s Federation Day!
Cursa you Paramounta CB-ESSA.
#15 Thats funny, a 16 months prison sentance, haha.
#16 Sorry, I dont know what they’re going up against, but I will find out and let everyone know (as if this can possibly get any worse).
Argh…. Feels like being kicked in the nether regions. I’ll live but I can’t say I enjoyed the experience.
Apologies in advance to the British Naval Dude…
2009. The 40th anniversary of Star Trek’s cancellation from TV. WhooHoo!!
It must’ve been too good to be true to get Indy 4, Batman, Bond, and Star Trek in the same year. At least with Paramount putting it on the official site, we sadly know the truth. Oh well. Anyone ordering the 12.25.08 posters? Bet they’ll be harder to come by now.
Yeah, it sux we have to wait another four months.
That being said, Cast & Crew should be thrilled to bits with an early-summer release date. This is a vote of confidence in the project from Paramount, as movies perceived as weak by the corporate overlords don’t get released in the summer blockbuster season. And who’s to say the Transformer and X-Men crowds won’t catch the latest Trek movie, even as a comparison for the FX?
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
24. arrrr… no worries…. I wear me cup at all times fur things like this…
23. Here’s yon possible May 2009 movie competition:
Orson Welles rises from tha dead for a sequel to Citizen Kane; “CK:The Quickening”
Lucas decides now ta go ahead with the “Star Wars 7: Luke Be Pissed”
Christopher Walken stars in “Ernest Goes to Hell”
and George Clooney with Eva Langoria star in a remake of “Gone With the Wind”
Poor, poor Trek… oh, no… arrrrr… I best switch to artsy fartsy fare…
better box office will bring more people to star trek, yet i can’t wait till may
JJ, Bob Orci and Crew….fight to get the December release back, it was by far the best date. May is just lackluster, and it’s really going to hurt the momentum that has been gained. It’s far too long to shove the release ahead.
The flash intro on the official site has gone through a sort of redesign since it was first launched. The Starfleet logo now gets darker, to where you can barely make out the emblem’s shape. Wonder why that change was made…
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNES?
Truly awesome to see Harrison Ford back as Indiana Jones.
yeah!!!! Indiana Jones!!!! Him and Captain Kirk were my childhood idols!!!
them and Hot Rod from Transformers
such a geek I am
Harrison Ford looks like he barely aged. I think he will easily be able to pull this role off.
I hope Roberto, Alex and/or JJ stop by soon and give their perspective on the change. Like just about everyone else, I’m deeply disappointed … but I suppose I’ll live.
Indy rocks.
I’m excited about Indy 4 but…that trailer was terrible.
WOW Indy 4 looks amazing. I like the alien implications of the skulls.
Summer be good fur tha studio? fur tha franchise? fur tha box office?
” tha needs o’ the many outweigh tha needs o’ tha few ”
B’sides, I can catch up on me BBC shows… let’s se what’s on now: EastEnders… London News… Dawn Gets Naked (hmmm…) … Snooty McBrides Banger-Mash-Up… 6th season Lovejoy episode….
aaawk noo… BBC sucks…
time fur beddy bye…
While I do think May is a better month (there are GIANT crowds going to the movie theater every freakin week, which you don’t exactly get in January), it’s still gonna suck to have to wait another 5 months.
At least we still get Indy and Batman this year though.
I am excited for Indy 4. Harrison Ford looks great for being 65.
Wait & see, even May itself will be subject to change. Don’t be shocked if it gets pushed to Thanksgiving 2009.
with as long As They’ve had Already, Star Trek could be Out THIS Summer!!
Ya know, Christmas ‘08 Was too Long To wait for. Now they want us to wait until MAY of 2009? it’s this Bullshit Corporate mentality that is Screwing us All,so forget it. I don’t care anymore!!
JJ, buddy, speak to us. Pleeeeeez. :(
Orci, JJ, Quinto, ANYONE!!! Talk to us!
Can. not. Wait. for Indy.
Indy trailer tidbit:
The music at the very opening was lifted from Sci-Fi channel’s “Children of Dune,” a really good score, I might add.
So we wait for Trek.Get over it.
Now they’ll have ample time to tweak it, based on our continual bitching.
Love to see Ford as Indiana Jones again! Yum! I’ll surely be going to the cinema for this one.
Weak !!!!!
I hope the new Star Trek movie will not have any stiff competition in May 2009.
I agree with #3 - we’ll have to live with the premiere rollback (as if Paramount gives a hoot in Hell whether we like it or not), but the swag licensees must be going out of their minds right about now, thinking about all that coin they’ll be missing out on this year. But you can be sure that Paramount will get it to DVD in time for Xmas ‘09, and fatten their wallet off of it.
JJ, Roberto, et al,
Take full advantage of the extra time, and make sure this thing is done RIGHT. Sure, the suits say it doesn’t need any tweaking, but they’re suits. When have they ever been right about anything creative, outside of how to hide earnings from investors and folks with contracts?
The last thing this franchise needs is another half-assed production thrown together to meet an arbitrary release date. The twenty year advance screening for TMP before Robert Wise was finally allowed to finish the damn thing was more than enough.
Was Indy fighting Germans? Its been almost 20 years. It’s gotta be the 1960’s now?
Not having a firm release date is NOT CANON!
Since Paramount is making me wait all those extra months for the gratification I was all worked up about and ready to enjoy, they can address any and all correspondence to me as Harry “Blue” Ballz……..(grumble)……c/o trekmovie.com
I think it’s totally unrealistic to expect the extra time to be used to tweak the film or make adjustments. JJ and the writers are busy people with other projects scheduled, so they probably have to finish it as originally scheduled.
I am wondering though, if Paramount places this film in the league of Star Wars, Transformers and Shrek, etc, I hope the Paramount brass don’t think of it as mindless popcorn fare. (Nothing wrong with that!) I got the sense this film, as Star Trek did originally, will have some substance and weight beyond the mindless action. Because then all you’d have is Star Wars for the kiddies.
Harry –
We’ll have a blue Christmas
without Trek
We’ll be so blue just thinkin
about Trek
You’ll be doin’ all right with Spiderwick, Iron Man, Indy 4, Madagascar 2, The Love Guru, and Benjamin Button that night…
But we’ll be just blue
blue blue blue Trekless
i have updated the story with some new quotes from a paramount spokesperson.
By the way Anthony-
I noticed that after the change in servers and updates to the site, I am experiencing freezes with the browser. I suspect it’s the ads above loading or conflicting. It freezes Firefox and I cannot switch to another tab. Only choice is to quit Firefox.
CmdrR
Funny! Yagottaluvit! :)
:(
Must understand. I can’t believe the movie we’ve all been waiting for will be siting on a shelf for half a year. Good Ziggy Marley!!!! I am not happy. No offense, but if someone screws it up with all this extra time (like Shatner did with ST V) ill be pissed.
As British Navel Dude would probobly say, “arr. Ye be screwing it up.”
money, money, money…how terrible
Well I’m pretty twitterpated. But I must reluctantly agree that it does seem they can milk it more with a Spring release. A lot of people would have went to the movie between Christmas and New Year’s. But after Jan 1, everybody is broke.
*Cough*
Well. At least the Indy teaser cheered me up.
Anybody got a microwave oven? By the time May 2009 hits, we’re gonna have to take STAR TREK out of the freezer, stick it in the microwave and press “re-heat” — since it will have been in the can for such a long time.
Sux.
With this extra time JJ could get started with the next Star Trek movie May 2010 release.
This will put it back in direct competition with “Angels & Demons,” which was pushed to May 2009 because of the strike.
Of course, it’s beginning to sound like “Angels” may get pushed back further as well.
God bless!
On the upside it means there’s an extra 4 months of life left in this site, after Christmas.
sounds to me like they expect it to be a must see film and have big hopes for the film and thats why they have pushed it back so thats a possitive guys
67 angels and deamons whats that sounds interesting
This really f..king sucks. I personnel think it’s a big mistake releasing in May.
If not December, January or February would be better.
If they wish to reach a wider or new audience December would be better as most people trend to go to the cinema more in the cold winter months then when it’s summer. Well that’s only my opinion and I could be talking complete crap here.
Oh well there’s nothing we can do really, the studio’s have made up their mind it would seem.
It’s OUR FAULT—-they saw the results of that damn MSNBC poll that we all voted for!!!!!!!!! LOL.
So the film wraps this year, and gets shelved until next summer’s sweet spot.
It’s definitely starting to sound like a time-travel concept.
Well, at least we still have a good chunk of remastered original series episodes to look forward to, including The Cage (4/26), The Enterprise Incident (4/5) and Assignment: Earth (5/3).
Hasn’t anyone managed to sneak out any images from the Playmates display at the German toy fair? I’m surprised.
449 days… I don’t think I can live that long. Thank God for TOS DVDs to help me get through until then.
You gotta love a guy that can, unashamed, just come out and say, “Hey! It’s all about the greed baby!”
How about some futuristic Pepsi product placements CGI’d i there too, since you got the time and all? A nice ‘Starbucks’ literally out in the stars on a space station somewhere?
At any rate, I’m sure a summer release will allow him to purchase more fetuses to power the Hummer that he has that runs on baby fat.
Between that and letting that 21 year old brokeback tool be a super delegate (and the whole concept of the super delegate), it’s getting time to head to Canada, or somewhere other than here.
See, here’s the thing…….the reason for the delay was revealed to us in the trailer….we all thought it was brilliant CGI…..no…..ends up they’re building the damn ship! That’s why it was on the ground and not in space! And the funny thing is……it takes a lot longer than you would think to build one of these suckers!
J.J. likes his movies to be as realistic as possible! Wait’ll you see how it looks on screen! Yowza!
p.s. what did you think they were spending the $140 million on? Cast salaries? Hahahahaha………….. :)
over 769 comments from the previous article damn!! I still think that the movie will benefit from the extra delay and that when it comes out all of of this anger will be quickly forgotten. as to Trek debuting in May of 09 rather then Christmas of this year, that will not be a box office issue. The Movie will do well in May Why? because all of the Core trekies and causal fans and non fnas will flock to see, on the strenght of the Star Trek Brand Name which is a very formidable one, along with the Fact that Abrams is the man doing the movie. Abrams Reputation in movie and Television production is equally formidable. It’s a win win situation. The once that are going to be doing the most worrying are the other competing studios, Their movies are going to have to go up against probably the greatest brand name in science fiction. If I were movie executive at one of these other studios I would be quaking in my boots right about about now. If anything Trek is going to cut into their box office.
Well movies are about making money. Trek is no different, and if it makes more money then that means more people see it which is a good thing.
Perhaps it is fair to say that this delay in the release date for the new movie will simply increase the expectations surrounding it, this can potentially be a double edged sword.It will also make it more difficult to maintain the veil of secrecy that is attatched to the production.I feel sorry for Mr.Abrams,Mr.Orci et al who have helped build up a certain momentum for this film which feeds into the heartfelt desire of the fans out here to be entertained by Star Trek again and its much loved characters who occupy a place in a future universe which already exists in our collective hearts,minds and imaginations.This is particularly true of Mr. Orci whose regular contributions to this forum display a genunine love of his work and a sincere respect for us fans.Hopefully this will be the last announcement of a change of release date.Roll On May 2009,Boo Hoo!!!
2009?!? Man by then Star Trek 12 will be out by then! Oh wait never mind….
Well, that explains why I couldn’t find it on Xmas. I thought my Tardis was off again. I even shot off a few months ahead to get the DVD and it wasn’t there. As soon as I deal with the Sontarans, save my companions and pick up more Jelly Babies, I’ll dash off to May ‘09 and take a peek.
this is dissapointing news. i cant understand how paramount have only just realised this! surely they would have guessed that they are spending an aweful amount of money on this project and maximum returns would be in the summer of 09. therefore why issue a date of xmas 25th 08? the decision of changing it to may 09 isnt the one that annoys me but the original date issue of xmas 08 in the first place. poorly thought through.
its a bizzare situation now where people now have to wait an extra 5 months and some confusion. is this film going to be kept under wraps and just lying in a film can somewhere for all of that time with production well finished by then. how hard willl it be to keep it all a secret for that length of time?
im sure that the momentum that was building for this will be diminished but im sure that will gather pace again closer to the time.
a very strange turn of events. im still hopeful that the shat may now get a second chance to be in this film even in a cameo role. also i guess if this film does very well we will be guarenteed a sequel
very frustrating indeed but lets hope the wait is worth it
cheers
greg
UK.
I think this “The switch was a business move, not because of any problems with the film” line is just a Hollywood spin/ lie. It like a big car crash and the cops saying “nonething to see here”.
I have a gut-feeling that the studio is really running around to fix the movie.
The oh woes es me chorus is stating to wear on me, People its only a movie!! dont worry May will be here before you kno. and if helps Try click you heal and chant
” Theres no place like May ”
” Theres no place like May ”
” Theres no place like May ”
Be sure to sprinkle plenty of magical dust on your head by the light of a full moon and you will find yourself Magically transported to May of 2009.
If that don’t work then then your other best option is to build a time machine.
“Try click you heal”?!
Indy. Raiders of the Lost Ark Warehouse. Marion. Roswell. Commies. Must. See. Indy. Want. To. See. NOW!
#53
He’s fighting Communists, not Nazis. If I understood correctly, this will be taking place in the mid-to-late 50’s.
I’m still nervous about Trek being moved but I’m tired of talking about it now. Thank god for that badass Indy trailer! I was nervous about that one too (because I’m convinced George Lucas has no idea how to make good movies anymore), but obviously reuiniting with Stephen has been a good thing! (Especially if that rumor he polished Episode III is true).
Man, this is Hollywood spin at it’s most superficial. Paramount didn’t just wake up & realize, oops, May is a better release month. They just released the STXI trailer only a few weeks ago with Dec 25th clearly stamped on it. It’s clear Paramount is retaking the reins & ordering major canon resuration & script retooling. Look for some major production shakeups & one notable addition to the cast!
In May of 2009 is better, there are more spectators
# 86 sorry that should have been cling your heals. ruins the joke.It scares me people are so bent out of shape over the fact that this film is being delay. I had one other suggestion for time tormented Trekies.
Putting your self in suspended animation until may of 09. I was rather hesitant to make this suggestion on the off chance that some damned fool would try doing it . In this day and age that sort thing is a possibliity.
Sounds like greed is getting in the way of good sense. Sorry Paramount, as much as I love Trek MORE, the fact is, when it comes to movies, Star Trek hasn’t been in the same league as Star Wars in quite some time…if ever.
Even if this movie turns out to be the best Trek ever, it still has to face the stigma that the TNG movies put on it and win over new audiences..the very same audience that couldn’t give two spits about Nemesis or Enterprise.
It has to prove itself to the public and Paramount throwing this movie out into the heat of battle for summer box office is pretty damn cocky. I hope it doesn’t backfire.
Moving the release for the movie doesn’t just effect the box office. What about all the tie-ins that were set Xmas?
I’m sure that Playmates who just took a whole wad of orders at those toy fairs for Xmas 2008 is not too happy about this. They probably don’t have any legal recourse but it’s got to be a huge blow. They will have spend their 2008/72008 R&D and marketing budgets on Star Trek and now they can’t ship anything until the middle of 2009. Sucks to be Playmates.
Moggie they probably would have stuck to the christmas release if the writer strike had continued. With strike over Abrams can now make changes to the script. He would not have been able to do this if the strike was still going on. before there was a level of urgency to release the movie. because with no new scripts the studio had to get these projects done to stay in business.
In any event we will get our movie only it will be a better one for the delay.
I know alot of You trekkies may not get what I’m about to say but…
Star Trek is in the right hands to be re-invigorated.As a matter of fact the reason why it never became “Star Wars big” is because the vision was restrained by the studio’s wishes to appease fanboys aka “Trekkies” so as to be hopelessly tied to the TV tube by themes of aging, retirement and death..
It was all good though.we got some fun movies with some of our favorite actors doing a nostalgia trip.
#96 Jon everyone hears you its just that many of them are not listening . some like me are.
#89-If you think Paramount gives a rat’s fingernail about canon or the presence of the Almighty Fat Shat in some Double Secret Probation Revised Screenplay, I have bin Laden’s private cell phone number to give you.
They want to move the movie to Prime Time because they think it will dominate the Summer. That’s why. Better return on investment that way.
#77 That must be it! Of course! ha ha ha! :-D
“Sci-fi is a movie best served cold!” *
* in an air-conditioned theatre during a hot Summer day!
#99
well, I’m glad ONE person thought it was funny!!!
And…
#96 & 97: I’m with you guys! Keep the faith!
Thanks
-89. I Love My Moogie
I think you are right!
This is Hollywood spin at it’s most superficial.
I am having more and more the feeling that the date change is because The Studio not liking “J.J.’s new Vision” and that they are work on re-writing and re-film the film.
I Hope if my feeling is true that the studio is changing it to be more true to canon and maybe adding Shatner.
I am also starting to feel they may push the date again.
I am so disappoointed, my birthday is 5 days before the original release date, was planning a late birthday party at the theater.
The studio must have realized they could do more sales for the Christmas season by releasing it in the Summer as to cultivate a market.
It’ll give the licensee’s more time to create product like toys and video games.
I heard more money is made on toys and video games than on ticket sales.
Star Trek could have the same potential as Star Wars if done right.
I read this thing and in the first moment i scream: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
But now i think its good! The new Movie will be bigger ? - this need a save way to earn money. No Money, no movie and in my Country is the ST XI Playmates Toys release in Oktober this year. I remember Star Wars Episode 1 Toys Release. Toys came 6 Month before the movie came out.
When I see the bullshit german movie factory, I can only say - Paramount do right with ST XI - a good directed Trailer + a later release + screaming fans + ealier Merchandising = A 100 percent save movie!
I enjoy and I wait for May 2009! Live long and prosper! :-)
“STAR TREK XI would have been THE film to see during Dec. ‘08 and Jan. ‘09… as it stands now, it’ll probably have a big May opening weekend, but quickly fall by the wayside to make room for the other, bigger, more “popular” summer behemoths. Unless it’s the GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME, I don’t see TREK XI lasting too long through the summer.
Sorry, but Christmas would have been PERFECT. Now, it’s just going to get lost in the shuffle.”
I think this is pretty spot-on, and even moreso after seeing that Indiana Jones trailer. Star Trek has two weeks to make most of its bank before everybody talks about nothing other than Harrison Ford.
Gutted about having to wait for Trek but when that Indy music hit……… oh yes
It’s amazing, when applying studio doubletalk, how movies in otherwise wildly and outrageously different “leagues” are suddenly in the same one :) That’s movie magic. Heartwarming :)
Unbelievable, just unbelievable!
Over 700+ comments, most of the negative, from the first story and most of you people are still p*ssing and moaning. Get over it!
I know this is an important movie, and I was so looking forward to it, but this is not the end of the world. In the words of the Shat, “Get a LIFE!”
#50, why do you hope the movie doesn’t have stiff competition next year? Are you afraid it won’t measure up? After reading the article above, I’m glad Paramount made this move. It’s about time Star Trek gets to fly with the big boys. I always felt like the Trek movies were always treated as less than blockbusters by Paramount. I will be very interested to see how this movie fares during the Summer Blockbuster season, and I am looking forward to it doing well. So should we all.
I know you’re not going to, because nothing seems to satisfy any of you, but stop complaining and be glad you have a new ST movie to look forward to.
Gee .now my Trek poster with the Christmas 2008 release date is going to be totally worthless.
…I’ll just have to throw it out like I did with my “Revenge of the Jedi” stuff.
As a Winter Blockbuster it could have dominated for at least a few months. Domination for the summer? Not necessarily a good thing. I’ve been to a few movies where the lasting power does not apply despite some being great pics.
this date move is bad for Merchandise.
The chirstmas date means Merchandise for chirstmas.
The new summer date means Merchandise maybe thrown a discount box or put on “get them out for newer things” sales by chirstmas time like alot of summer movies’ Merchandise is by chirstmas time (like superman returns Merchandise and also star wars Merchandise).
I feel that the date change is more because The Studio not liking “J.J.’s new Vision” and that they are work on re-writing and re-filming the film.
114. edDR. You might be forgetting summer vacation.My friends and I saw Star Wars that summer 10x partially for the lack of anything else to do.
115. I don’t think kids would be more inclined to ask for toys from a movie they haven’t seen.
If you open the movie ON CHRISTMAS you’ve totally missed the opportunity to sell the merchandise.
111: It’s funny how often fans use the phrase “get a life” to mean “agree with me” :)
#108 Steve626 I dont think your right on this one. Trek is to powerful a force to be thwarted by a May 09 release date. Treks box office is not going o be diminished by that starting time because of reason stated previously by me. Its formidable Brand Name combined with Abrams equally Formidable Brand name will make it a success at the box office. The movie will appeal not only to fans of Trek but fans of Abrams as well. This is winning strategy by the Studio. Competing with other movies at that time will not damage or cut into trek box office, quite the reverse actually. Trek is going to damage and cut into other movies box office. Try having a little faith, in this case it goes a long way. Why cant some of you see the big picture, why are carping and complaining . Some of you are behaving like your best toy was taken away, crying about it is not going to change a damned thing. This is a movie for god’s sakes. There are other more important things in life then this.
Transformers blowed.
Star Wars 3 sucked.
Spiderman 3 wasn’t good.
Paramount is putting Star Trek out in May because they know now that we fans wont like it. Only Abrams fans will like it. It’s going to be “Lost” in Space.
#115 - TOS - Sorry to say but what you say has no merit and is nothing but a pure and probably a poor guess. Do you realize how much money that would cost? We’re talking pushing the budget to $250 Million possibly for what you suggest, and more time spent “Rescripting” and “Refilming.” Which also means more time spent away from the other projects these guys have which means more money they would be losing because of it.
Gives Shatner time to get in shape for that cameo as Kirk.
117. Jon C
I don’t think kids would be more inclined to ask for toys from a movie they haven’t seen.
That not true. People buy Movie Merchandise (like Star Wars EP I) before seeing the films.
It is the movie’s hype that sell Merchandise.
Chirstmas of 2009 is seven months after the movie’s Release.
by Chirstmas 2009 the hype will be more likey dead.
I still feel that the date change is more because The Studio not liking “J.J.’s new Vision” and that they are work on re-writing and re-filming the film. I still have a gut-feeling that the studio is really running around to fix the movie and that what we are hearing some them is to cover-up the truth.
Okay, I am posting this without having read any of the other posts. I know most of you will be frustrated by this piece of news. I, however, am elated! As I have alluded to in past postings I am deploying to Afghanistan for one year; I leave next Friday. This move means I will get to see the movie with my friends after I have returned.
Yeah, I guess this might be considered selfish of me, but I also think it will be a good move for the movie too. I am sorry everyone will have to wait a little longer, but…
“Big” movies like TREK usually do better in late spring - early summer (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc.)… and movies often that open in winter as considered the dregs.
So… all I can say is woo hooo!!!!
Nemesis wasn’t great. I had to go see it 5 time to try and make up for some of you “fans” who didn’t go see it. Paramount is very afraid that this is what is going to happen. If fans wont go then it’s a bomb. They have seen what JJ is doing and don’t like it so they are going for May to at least get a few extra people in the theatre. I’ll have to sit through it ten times because of ya’ll.
#108
You realize Harrison’s movie is coming out THIS May, and Star Trek is coming out NEXT May…right?
Devon-
Re-writing and Re-shooting a film happen more times than you think.
you need to look up it.
I really hope Star Trek won’t wind up like all the other summer blockbusters, where it provides 2 hours of mindless over-budgeted entertainment. But perhaps if two hours of mindless over-budgeted entertainment can rake in a lot of dough and resurect the franchise I’d be ok with it.
[quote]Devon-
Re-writing and Re-shooting a film happen more times than you think.
you need to look up it.[/quote]
I’m well aware it does, but you’re talking about starting it from scratch. You sound like a conspiracy theorist. You need to back up your claims.
#108 - What year does the Indiana Jones film come out? What year will the new Star Trek film come out? ;)
Some of you guys really need to hit spellcheck .
Has there been any definitive statement that we WON’T be getting our Star Trek toys for Christmas 2008? I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we see movie tie-in stuff for sale this Christmas. After all… they did say 50 action figures. No company would roll those out all at the same time. They’ll come in shifts.
Jon C - February 14, 2008
Gee .now my Trek poster with the Christmas 2008 release date is going to be totally worthless.
A: Collector’s item. Like a “Revenge of the Jedi” poster
I would be happy with a grammar check so I could figure out what they said.
Lord of the Rings was a blockbuster, and that came out in December… it honestly shouldn’t make any difference.
Anybody think we’ll see Quark, Rom, and Nog in the Indiana Jones Movie?
#104 - Did you not just read the statement from Paramount. They DO like the new vision, and think that it can be a summer hit.
Gavorkin and Jon C - FINALLY, it’s great to find some adults in here who are have adequate emotional development for their age. Its just a release date for a movie. Paramount thinks very highly of this movie, and is putting it in a slot where more people think it would be seen.
People people… you have to understand PATIENCE. It’s a virtue. So also is delayed gratification. If this movie can be made better, there is now the time to do that. The extra time allows for some fine tuning.
It isn’t the studio who worries about canon, its you canon nazi’s that do.
I’m not frustrated at the pushback for the release date; I’m frustrated that the fans are throwing toddler-like temper-tantrums. They made the announcement yesterday, and look, today came… so the world didn’t end. I can’t beleive there are people saying “boycott the film” or that dont want to see it now, just because they have to wait a few extra months.
Once you guys cool down, you’ll be excited for the film and you will all go, so just breathe, relax…
-devon
look up the history of superman II and you will see what i’m talking about.
I do not think they are starting it from scratch. I think they are Re-writing and Re-shooting the film. I do not mean that they are re-starting.
I do think they are making minor changes and also major changes to the film. I feel that this is the true reason for the date change.
Well, damn. No pretenses here, I have no idea how this move will affect the movie’s box office take, but I *am* good and ticked off for my own selfish reasons. (And I’m not ashamed to say it.) Say it’s pathetic, but this news really ruined my day. (Well, for a while anyway; eventually it got better.) What a total bummer.
For one thing, I had very high hopes for the merchandising. What with the first toys getting an October release, coinciding perfectly with my birthday, and then a Christmas movie with the inevitable seasonal deluge of STUFF? Heck yeah! That would’ve been awesome. (*I* appreciated your merchandise article very much, Anthony.) But not anymore. Maybe we’ll get something around October, maybe not. Either way, Christmas would have been the perfect time for marketing (and buying, and receiving) toys, and I agree with everybody betting that the toymakers are ticked right now.
And of course, the big thing- having to wait just plain sucks! I mean, talk about a serious kill-joy. Get all hyped up for a merry Star Trek Christmas and then have to wait until frickin’ May, when there’s really no pressing need for a mid-winter, post-holiday pick-me-up to boost one’s flagging spirits. LAME.
I even have to change my desktop countdown that’s been ticking away for months and months. It’s a small thing, but still a downer considering the darn thing’s going from ten months, ten days, ten hours left to … fifteen months. >(
Oh, and good luck getting me into Indiana Jones 4 without a Trek trailer in front of it, Paramount. Just say goodbye now to MY four bucks. Hmph.
…
…
‘Kay, I’m done complaining. Go Paramount! You’d better have made the smart decision or we’ll hold it over you forever. =)
Look all of you, Abams has alot at stake on this movie he knows that if this film ends up being a box office turkey(which is unlikely) his reputation is going to take a major. Do any of you seriously think he wants this to happen?A failure her could sharply curtail his power and influence in Hollywood which could also diminish his ability to do other projects. Paramount cannot afford another Trek movie that disappoints because in addition to earning Trek fandoms everlasting ire, they will loose potential business from them and they will have sunk the franchise to the point where nothing can bring it back. By postponing the film and fine tuning it they are playing it safe which is smart. And yes I do buy the fine tuning the film argument !!
124 Doug - God Bless You for what you do.
I don;t knwo where you stand in terms of your theology, but I will hope and pray for your safe return home.
And no, it isn’t selfish of you: The whining and complaing and sense of paranoia that Paramount is out to get them and scrw them personally is what is selfish…
i will now only see this film when it is pirated on some website …
stupid studio execs…..
not only did i have the worst sex like 10 mins ago but then i have to come on here and see this
SHHHHAMMMMEEEE!
142 More information than I need Steve-0,Try a partner next time.
I might add that a failure on the part of abrams could also earn him the ire of trek fandom
Well, maybe now we’re gonna get the global release.
February 2009 or May 2009 doesn’t matter that much anyway. :)
Hey, I don’t have anything against Paramount personally. They’ve been around for, what, a century? They can’t possibly *that* inept. They probably (maybe, hopefully, certainly, whatever) have a good idea of how things work with slating movies and such. I’m just blowing off some steam here. (No offense intended, easily offended people. :))
I am disappointed that we will all have to wait longer… and the fact that the movie is going to be sitting at the studio completed for several months will bug me.
But I trust that the studio folk know what they are doing and if this is going to be better for Star Trek in the long run, so be it.
I hope we continue to get news concerning the film so we can keep our interest that much longer.
147 The grooming of from the fanbase’s anticipation will be some of their best advertising.
of from? Sorry “of the fanbases…”
#147 Adam if only some of the people on this could be more relaxed about this whole chain of events
Indy totally rocked. I got goosebumps seeing him in action again,and it looks awesome. It’s just a teaser , so keep your expectations in check (oops, wrong thing to say to *this* crowd).
Someone mentioned the Superman Returns sequel next year, but that isn’t happening in 2009. Bryan Singer is doing other movies and WB put the project on hold, last time I read.
#128 Bojac a mindless block buster(though unlikely from Abrams) would be the worst possible kind of success for the franchise. Star Trek movies and ftv series are supposed to be intelligent and thought provoking that was point of what Roddenberry set out to do. A dumbed down hit would reduce the Trek to the literary level of Star Wars.
Gutted!
OK, this may be slightly off subject, but as of this writing it’s still Valentine’s.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95655256@N00/2264798027
There, now I don’t feel quite so bad about my nerdarific jokes.
They should have released May 2008…..
#152: “a mindless block buster(though unlikely from Abrams) would be the worst possible kind of success for the franchise.”
Well, the worst possible kind of success for the Franchise would be more success than it’s had for a while. :)
92 - How dare you come to our church and worship a false god? I think Eps1-3 put the nail in the coffin of your argument. SW has 2.5 good movies out of 3. ST has at least 5 outstanding movies [1,2,3,4, 6 and First Contact]. Had Lucas released Ep1 around 1986, STAR WARS would be deader than that poor bastard who got zapped by the M5 in ULTIMATE COMPUTER. Lucas is a lazy, self-indulgent peddler of and saccharine humor.
Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg are truly responsible for resurrecting TREK. They ordered a top-down analysis of Paramount assets when Barry Diller hired them in the 70s. Conclusion #1 was that ST was their #1 asset. Thus the mass market publicity and merchandising push that made STTMP the highest grossing film to date. By the time the holy trilogy of Wrath-Search-Voyage were produced, Eisner and Katzenberg were resurrecting Walt Disney with THE LITTLE MERMAID. The 1980s regime at Paramount just didn’t have the vision.
What we should really take from all of this is that Lesher gets the business side, just like Kurtzman & Orci [hopefully Abrams] get the creative side.
NOW! No one noticed my totally bitchin suggestion #627 on the first ‘delay’ board:
PARAMOUNT: YOU OWE US A SHORT FILM ON 12-25-2008. Along the lines of the bank heist footage from THE DARK KNIGHT, but don’t give us footage from the film, give us something outside of the ST:ZERO narrative, let it go viral, and get young people excited about this movie. If you do this, we will collectively give you $500,000,000 and love you forever… or at least until you put a ‘Cousin Oliver’ on the bridge of the Enterprise.
you guys should stop whining over trivial things. The good news… I have it on good authority that the delay is in place for a grand finale where Shatner saves the movie by bringing TOS E back into the balanced universe.
#156 Dennis that not the point and you know it.
#158 your serious Shater is actually going to play some role in this?
#152 ” A dumbed down hit would reduce the Trek to the literary level of Star Wars.”
Sadly, this latest move by the studios demonstrates to me that IF Trek could pull in the kind of $$ that Star Wars makes, the studio really wouldn’t care how dumbed down it was.
I’m thirlled that Abrahms is making this movie, but the quality of the film has nothing to do with what the studio wants. They just want the $$, hence the move to the summer. And who can blame them, in the end its all business. We’re just REAL lucky that the person helming the film gives a shit..
CURSES! :-)
At least those of us in the north don’t have to worry about being snowed in now. Not that a 20″ snow storm would stop me.. ;-)
#152 Jonboc I don’t disagree with you, I am just saying that a dumbed down movie would not be in the best interest of the franchise. But you’re assessment of the studios motive and interests or spot on here. Dumbing down trek would in the long run would financially undermine the trek franchise but would drive away the audience especially the core trek audience.
Trust my word, the film is going to be reworked, will have Shatner & will be released Thanksgiving 2009. If I’m wrong may I never drool over Celia Lovsky ever again!
I would hate to see quality sacrificed for box office blockbusterdom. I know the movie has to maker money that how things work . But look at it this way why should not we as consumers be entitled to a good product namely , we are shelling out 10 dollars apiece we should by rights get our money’s worth.
Here is another point ,what happens to a company any company that keeps putting out inferior goods , in the long run they go out of business, because the consumer reaches a point where he stops buy the product and looks for alternative products
Everything but the original series was a dumbed down(watered down) version (Yes,that includes ST;TMP on) as the original characters are meant to be portrayed in their prime.
we’re getting back to those characters again ( not the original actors).
Star Trek will now be about the CHARACTERS again.
152, 161: Trek is like wine. We can appreciate nuance and say things like “oaky with a berry-cinnamon finish.” But the thing is, this movie is going to succeed no matter what. Like TMP. Hopefully they won’t have to retool as much as they did with TWOK, well, wait actually, that worked out.
#164 Moogie in a cameo role or bit part Shater being in it is fine and good but remember he died in Star Trek Generations and resurecting him might violate the cannon, unless Abrams can come up with a clever plot devise.
Also remember, only a few weeks ago Abrams was saying the film may even be released earlier in Dec, this was Paramount’s call which means they were NOT happy about what they were seeing.
#124: Doug:
God be with you. You are doing the important work to fight the religious fanatics who dare to hide under the guise of Islam.
As to the movie…I can wait. As a web developer I know very well how often projects get delayed for various reasons. Things happen. I have every confidence in JJ and Co. to release next year an astounding Trek adventure of epic proportions.
#91 “Click your heels,” perhaps? :) There’snoplacelikeTrek. There’snoplacelikeTrek. There’snoplacelikeTrek.
To all those who think there’s a vast conspiracy at Paramount to rewrite the script/reshoot the movie because the corporate overlords “don’t like JJ’s vision”: What color is the sky on your homeworld!? There is no WAY in the world that Paramount is going to fork over another couple hundred million to fix a movie that they still have every confidence in and, from all indications, DOESN’T NEED FIXING!
Your posting and reposting and reposting of pure, rank speculation based on absolutely nothing factual does not make it so.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
#168:
I think from this point on Paramount is calling the shots which makes a larger Shatner role looking more likely.
Remember, along with Spock dying we also lost:
McCoy
Scotty
Picard
Janeway (numerous times)
and Seven of Nine——only to be revived within a single episode. Look at it this way, which would have the greater emotional impact: Spock after a century finally reuniting with Shatner’s Kirk or Pine’s Kirk? Don’t ever doubt the pro-Shatner blitz wasn’t heard by Paramount.
But we like conspiracies…
nah… I can’t imagine a studio pulling away from a wunderkind even before a movie has run through its projected budget. I mean, unless the rushes are coming back out of focus with footage of his nephew’s bah-mitzvah mixed in by mistake. I think all is on track and simple theories are the best: Summer Blockbusters make more doe-rae-mi than Christmas movies.
Let’s just hope “in the same league as Star Wars” doesn’t mean it’s as bad as the Star Wars Prequels.
this doesnt surprise me,greed always takes over.And there have always been bad decisions made reguarding Star Trek,from cancelling the original in the beginning,to ending the next generation series when it was the most popular show on tv,even hillbillies watched that show.and hell,Captain Picard was the one that started the whole head shaving movement,and made baldness a fashion statement.and even the way Kirk was killed,just falling off a rock,instead of having him go down with the ship like the classic captain that he was.But if they are going to make us wait longer,why not do what George lucas did with the Star wars movies and show us pictures in a magazine or something.there were star wars photos out a good 2 years before the movies came out.and about giving away the plot by showing us anything,we already pretty much know the plot anyway.
#172: “I think from this point on Paramount is calling the shots which makes a larger Shatner role looking more likely.”
Congratulations - very few people have ever been more wrong in more ways than you are right now.
It’s a kind of an achievement.
Get over Shatner, guys. If this is really a cult of personality, then ST would die overnight with Shatner, like Jerry Garcia and The Dead. And that’s not going to happen.
Your pal The Shat insisted on killing off his character and now wants $10M, full freight for 12 weeks of production. Paramount and the Supreme Court only wanted him for a week’s work. Perhaps Shatner is willing to negotiate, now that BOSTON LEGAL’s renewal is uncertain. But we need to stop lionizing the actor that Shat upon Star Trek twice.
Grab your Vulcan lyres, everyone, and be logical: This movie is all about proving that we love James T. Kirk and his crew because of HOW THEY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, rather than how they were cast in 1966.
Only Leonard Nimoy as Spock can say, “I knew Jim Kirk. He was a friend of mine. And you, sir, are James T. Kirk.”
#176: “Congratulations - very few people have ever been more wrong in more ways than you are right now.”
Sir, expect a major casting announcment to be released shortly.
# 171 no there is no conspiracy, but yes speculation, Now Abrams had the script finished before the strike, things that I read indicated that Abrams while filming the script talked about the fact that because of the strike WGA rule prevented him from making any changes to the script. In other words he was not completely satisfied with with had. Paramount because of the strike could not initiate any new projects requiring new scripts since the company needs to produce movies to survive, they put the film in production and would have kept to the release if the strike had not ended. I will wager that Abrams probably voiced his concerns with regard to the script, so the strike ends they can now allow Abrams to make corrections that he deems important to the film. They decide at that point that a May of 09 release might net them more money because of the summer season. This in only speculation of course. But it is a reasonable course of action on the part of the studio, there is no conspiracy Abrams name is on this film so yes he wants to produce the best possible film
I’d like to think as a fanbase and franchise we are in the same league as Star Wars and Transformers. I am sure we as a fanbase have generated as much if not more revenue over the years but as much as I have issues with Lucas and the Prequels if he we in charge of Trek he never would have went on the cheap with any sort of remastering effort nor would he have handed the keys of the remastering effort to an enthusiastic yet woefully undermanned, underfunded staff who really didn’t have the chops to handle the project in the first place. I don’t mind waiting if it means a better film and that it means Paramount has confidence in JJ, Bob and crew to create something huge and wonderful but the remastering effort certainly didn’t get the upper echalon attention or money that it deserved.
179 - Exactly, the entire schedule across all studios, including ANGELS & DEMONS, is rearranged… but some here are now smugly certain that this means Shatner’s in the movie. Not logical.
#177: “Your pal The Shat insisted on killing off his character”
Rick Berman killed Kirk. Shatner has admitted it was a mistake & seeks to make things right for us. It takes a great man to admit err & an even greater one to undo it.
If they put Shatner in it it won’t be in the same league as Star Wars or Transformers.it’ll land squarely in the land of hoakey calculated stunts.
# 180 Lord Garth are you kidding?! I wouldn’t let Lucas anywhere near Trek,.
Lucas does not know how to write a good script. remember the how bad the prequels were, If he cant produce a good script would you really want him to be the one to okay the script for a Trek movie?
I am 55 years old and suffer from COPD. My wife is currently hospitalized fighting for her life with Ovarian cancer that blew in out of nowhere- nothing on a 2 week old catscan, a cataloupe-sized raiging malignant tumor just 2 weeks later.
Trek just isn’t as important to me now as it was a month ago. I truly wish for all of you to enjoy it, no matter when they release it.
Take care
#169
That makes no sense whatsoever. Releasing the film earlier would have been Paramount’s call as well, not Abrams’. If they weren’t happy with what they were seeing, *why on earth* would they have released it several weeks earlier?
Magical thinking, which is what you’re indulging in, is not logical. Not even by human standards.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Okay I’ve calmed down now, I have Indiana Jones to look forward to so I should be able to shut down the Star Trek centers of my brain for a year…still sucks that the wait will be for a while but the studios motivations in this instance make sense. A high profile property like Trek deserves a high profile release that the summer affords…
#182 Moogie kirk is dead,how do propose to resurrect him without violating what has already been established ? another trip through the Nexus perhaps? You cant keep bringing a character back because you attached to him, it cheapens the character and what he stood for. Resurrecting is disrespecting characters it reduced death to a dramatic pause and lots of scifi shows commit this sin a lot and it undermines good story telling.
#185
Well, folks, there’s your perspective.
7 of 5, you and your wife are definitely in my prayers tonight!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Ive made these points countless times and still no listens!!
#180.. If you read my post I was refering to the recources CBS Paramount put behind the remastering effort not the movie in comparison to what other big money franchises. I also said I had problems with his lame prequels. R e a d i n g i s a s k i l l
#185, God bless you both. You’re in my thoughts tonight.
#188:
Since Spock time-jumps to different periods of Kirk’s life to prevent Nero murdering him, why can’t he inlist the aide of Shatner’s Kirk before the launch of Enterprise B—–Shatner is in the film & at the end Kirk is not revived from his Generations death.
#185:
You & your wife will be in my thoughts.
#189 Vulcanista That is what i would call a reality check for all of us. There’s a man that has real issues in his life and here we are pissing and moaning about a movie being delayed, God ,what is wrong with this picture. If you want a an example how life can be both real and unfair #185 just gave us good example. All of you moan bags take a look at what poor man has to face
Our worst complaint about things is a delayed movie his is life and death and that is far more real!!
You know, ST started making Kirk & McCoy’s age an issue in TWOK–26 years ago. And it was a part of the story all the way to Kirk’s end. Putting the Priceline Negotiator in any kind of heroic position is ridiculous.
If they brought Shatner in, it would probably be to play Kirk in a time prior to his death. But the hard truth is that William Shatner has had too much plastic surgery to convincingly play himself pre-1995. He’s never looked cooler than he did in TUC, anyway.
#195: Garovorkin, you’re too darn wise!
#185 I haven’t prayed to anything in a long time, but tonight I think i will and you and your wife will be in my prayers. good luck and god bless!
#195
Agreed.
I’m now going to go decompress and get back to my regularly scheduled life, for at least a couple of hours, anyway. :)
Peace. Live long and prosper. Especially you and your spousal unit, 7 of 5.
The Vulcanista }:-|
182. I Love My Moogie - February 14, 2008
#177: “Your pal The Shat insisted on killing off his character”
Rick Berman killed Kirk. Shatner has admitted it was a mistake & seeks to make things right for us. It takes a great man to admit err & an even greater one to undo it.
But Shatner wouldn’t approve a script that didn’t kill his character. Contracts are confidential and the Berman-Moore story is fictional.
Interesting comment… so these business professionals making business decisions are actually claiming they didn’t realize the full commercial potential of this movie or Star Trek as such until well after they had started a marketing campaign with the Christmas release date in place?
That sounds very much unlikely to me, but then again, who am I?
Mr. Orci,
Since I see that you appear on these message boards from time to time, I thought that I would ask two Star Trek movie writing questions (with Mr. Anthony Pascale’s permission of course). Does the end of the writer’s strike mean that you, Mr. Kurtzman, or Mr. Abrams are now or are planning to make some script changes even as the movie enters its last 1/3 of filming? Or is everything pretty much locked in with no “new surprises” to be included beyond what is already in the script for us Trek fans? I totally understand if you cannot answer these questions. The way you answer them obviously would tell fans a lot. Although the release date has been moved, I am still highly looking forward to May 2009 and will have my butt in a theater seat opening day…whatever date exactly that is!!!
Everyone, just watch the awesome Indy trailer again and shut the hell up.
197 Moogie There are a lot more things that i would like to have said about the movie but not tonight , after reading 185′ dire situation, somehow none of this seems important to me just now. I can see by the continuing comments that everyone has now put it out of their minds. Life goes on and thats why it sucks.
goodnight all
After much debate, I have decided that I don’t have the time to become a regular member of this group of fans. I wish you all the best, and will comment from time to time, but I have so much else to do and this site is taking too much of my time.
You’re a great bunch of people.
I leave you with this view of many many Star Trek ships:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jibbyimages/527295231/
Just click on “All Sizes” at the top of the picture for a larger view. Goodbye and good life to you all!
Ok, this is enough of the whine parade as far as I am concerned. They moved it and believe it or not.. it won’t effect the story. And no one can convince me this story is so weak that it won’t compete well with whatever opens around it.
We are supposed to be fans of the “human adventure” and an optimistic future and all I see is complaints and whines. It’s been moved for good reasons… it’s seen as the strength of Paramounts upcoming films and has now earned a prestigious position. For anyone to assume that Paramount “hates” Trek is silly.
#177 “This movie is all about proving that we love James T. Kirk and his crew because of HOW THEY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, rather than how they were cast in 1966.”
Sorry dude, I’m open to a new Kirk, but 99.5% of the reason I LIKE Jim Kirk is because of the way Shatner played him.
Come back, Jabob! Come back…………!! :)
172. I Love My Moogie - February 14, 2008
“I think from this point on Paramount is calling the shots which makes a larger Shatner role looking more likely.”
What?! Did you walk onto the lot and ask JJ..or Paramount?
The release date gets changed and suddenly that means Paramount dislikes JJ’s work and Shatners in the movie. Didn’t you like the explainations given or just didn’t read? This is not a vast conspiracy… a movie just got it’s release date moved…
more silly assumptions.
RE: 112. Jon C - February 14, 2008
Gee .now my Trek poster with the Christmas 2008 release date is going to be totally worthless.
————-
Maybe not. Keep that poster!!! Someday, that may be a rare collectors item.
After the initial NOOOOOOOO! I’m actually and truly stoked about this move. This finally puts Trek in the class where it belongs.
I remember back when Nemesis was about to open, and I mentioned to a buddy of mine how excited I was about it. He just looked at me with a kinda perplexed look and said, “Dude…Two Towers.” And LOTR was the pop culture hit and Nemesis bled a nasty, green death.
Now the execs are saying that Trek is at the forefront of pop culture.
We’ve finally arrived.
That’s right…
We’re officially RETRO!
185. 7 of 5 - February 14, 2008
I am 55 years old and suffer from COPD. My wife is currently hospitalized fighting for her life with Ovarian cancer that blew in out of nowhere- nothing on a 2 week old catscan, a cataloupe-sized raiging malignant tumor just 2 weeks later.
Trek just isn’t as important to me now as it was a month ago. I truly wish for all of you to enjoy it, no matter when they release it.
Take care
————
Wow. Something, how things like that can have a way of correcting perspective. I agree, that Trek in comparison to your problems is indeed a minuscule subject. I will also pray for you and your family.
125. Michael Adams - February 14, 2008
“Nemesis wasn’t great. I had to go see it 5 time to try and make up for some of you “fans” who didn’t go see it. Paramount is very afraid that this is what is going to happen. If fans wont go then it’s a bomb. They have seen what JJ is doing and don’t like it so they are going for May to at least get a few extra people in the theatre.”
Back up that claim…. you sound like you are citing facts.
Think of it this way, Paramount gets to tease us, torment us and taunt us with photos, trailers and plot snippets (not to mention intreviews on Entertainment Tonight) for an additional five months… such sweet agony.
:-D
Let’s see, in 2008 we will see
Indiana Jones 4
X-Files 2
Batman
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Get Smart
Harry Potter VI (I think)
10,000 B.C.
new Stargate Atlantis
new Torchwood
new Dr. Who
I’m sure there is much much more…. and it seems to me we are rich “suffering” from an overflowing abundance of science fiction this year, it surely won’t hurt us to wait an additional five months for TREK!
Take a deep cleansing breath…calm calm calm … breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in…
;-)
Just give me the trailer this summer and I’ll be happy.
216: Breathing, calming, warming up to the idea.
Besides, if they end up moving the movie up to May 1st as the previous article suggested is a possibility, the movie’s premiere will fall right in line with our 11th wedding anniversary. 11 years of marriage, Star Trek 11. Dinner and a movie (Star Trek) is definitely what I’ll be asking my husband for the night of May 2nd of ‘09, if if the movie’s out in the theatres at that time.
I was so looking forward to this movie. Iw was bad enought that we had to wait until Xmas. JJ and co had started a great build up to this movie. Now it feels like the guts have been kicked out of it and that great momentum has come to a halt. It will be difficult now to have that same sense of excitement when the movie is released. We probably wont see a proper trailer until the end of the year or early next year. I don’t think that this has been a good move by Paramount. The excitement and anticipation to this movie was growing like no other Trek movie since TMP. I think they have taken the steam out of it now. Not a wise move in my opinion.
‘08 is probably one of the best genre years ever for movies and now Star trek wont be part of it. People may be all sci-fied out by next year.
I still can’t imagine this film pulling in giant box office, no matter when its released.
#220: “I still can’t imagine this film pulling in giant box office, no matter when its released.”
Most ST movies fizzle out at the box office pretty quickly, they rely greatly on opening weekend receipts. These are ‘fanbased only’ films & Paramount knows this all too well, which is why we will soon be hearing about major script retooling/reshooting & William Shatner coming onboard the project. I hope Paramount rolls out the red carpet for Bill, he’s their best chance in saving this film.
Well, with TOS-R pretty much fizzled out and now the new movie being pushed back, I’m feeling like I need to check out of the whole trek scene for awhile.
The anticipation anxiety I go through while on this and other sites is just too much - I’m going nuts - yikes!
I need break from all this I think I’ll check back later this year - maybe October…. hopefully Anthony will have a post-mortem article or two about the TOS-R project by then…..
LLAP
New ST XI poster - http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/175/wll1xs4.jpg :D
By Picard of Star Trek Center ( http://www.stcentar.com )
#111, BorgDrone you’re an Idiot. a summer release for Trek, means certain doom especially when you consider whatever Lame Disney/Pixar Animated Concoction that they’ll Pump Out of the freakin’ blue, so tons of Kiddos will go and check it out. not to mention What ever Major “Marvel” movie THEY might Decide to release as well. Trek is something that deserves not to be Written off as “Standard Popcorn Fare” , unless you want To see It beaten out by something like SHREK 4 or Ratatouille 2 and a half !! if the Movie is done by Sometime at the end of this year, And Why In name of Feklar would It not be, Wouldn’t you want to see it? Damn Right you Would. We shouldn’t have to Settle. STRIKE!!!!!!!
216. Doug - February 14, 2008
Let’s see, in 2008 we will see
Indiana Jones 4
X-Files 2
Batman
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Get Smart
Harry Potter VI (I think)
10,000 B.C.
new Stargate Atlantis
new Torchwood
new Dr. Who
—————-
Anyone else notice that all but one of these (not to mention Trek) are sequels, remakes, or spinoffs? Not that I’m judging, mind you….
185. 7 of 5 - February 14, 2008
Trek just isn’t as important to me now as it was a month ago. I truly wish for all of you to enjoy it, no matter when they release it.
———————
I can relate to some of your situation, and I know that it’s hard. I don’t know you personally, of course, but for what it’s worth, I’m thinking about you and your family.
224. The Last Maquis ….That Poster is Genius!! absolute Genius!!
Perfect timing too, After the “Eugenics Wars” but Before the “Bell Riots!!”
to:223. Benjamin Sisko
227. & 228.
Thanks. ;)
i would let this slide until may if i get some kind of answer from jj himself, but im thinking with the curious case of benjamin button as a possible oscar contender, they wanted to push this one back…..not many studios put all their eggs in one basket…i just hope now star trek will be blu by 2009….
I think just the oppsite of TOS, I belive that if they don’t like JJ Vision they would have not asked for him to Direct the movie….I think they moved the date back because JJ Wants more time and Shat probably Isn’t going to be in the movie because he is asking for too much money to make an apperance….also I think they are going to be covering the background of Spock ,Kirk and company rather then just Kirk. Parumount isn’t Going to take the project away from JJ because He is a good writer and I belive he CAN re-intorduce the world to trek and still make fans happy.
7 of 5 you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers….Trek is important but we have to remeber it is not the only thing in life!
will be a hard 4 months extra- but in the big picture if it makes more money the more chance of a sequel plus x-mas was going to kill me- i am usually in my small- no cinema- home town with my relatives and their familys- if it opened Dec 25th i would have had to fly out x-mas evening to go to my local fanclub screening then fly back for boxing day morning- at least in may all i have to do is go to the cinema.
How annoying…the DS9 reruns on Virgin 1 (UK) are onto Season 5…i’m steadily running out of trek to watch..
Trek in the league of WARS…
LOL
ROFL
That made my day…
On a light note - Maybe Barak Obama is a Star Trek fan, and wants this to be the first summer blockbuster he sees while in office.
On a serious note - You are in my thoughts and prayers 7 of 5,
“-devon
look up the history of superman II and you will see what i’m talking about.”
But this isn’t Superman 2,
“I do not think they are starting it from scratch. I think they are Re-writing and Re-shooting the film. I do not mean that they are re-starting.”
That’s damn well near “Starting from scratch!”
“I do think they are making minor changes and also major changes to the film. I feel that this is the true reason for the date change.”
I think you’re just being a conspiracy theorist honestly. WHile it’s not impossible, but the reasons you claimed were a little too specific and had nothing to back it up.
Who knows maybe now illegal copies will leak sooner
#236.
I really hope that John McCain would see ST XI as president of the United States.
As it seems, I’m one of the last few who neither has read the script yet, nor has had the pleasure of meeting JJ Abrams or any Paramount official face-to-face. So, I don’t know the true reason for moving the release for the film to May 2009 and, being no marketing strategist myself, I refrain from doubting the official explanatory statement or speculating about possible other reasons for the reschedule.
I just think it would be great if they used the additional time well.
#208
Same here.
Pointless move, what happens if it will underperform? (probably won’t, but no one knows at this point). Not to mention the objective quality has still to be determined.
Also, while Mr. Orci sounds like an honest person, saying that “transformers” reinvigorated the franchise is questionable to say the least. It was a successful movie, that’s all.
Transformers is a stupid movie, with stock characters and a flimsy plot. There are episodes of Voyeger — Voyager, I tell you — that are greater artistic achievements than that crappy show. If we are seeing the vulgarization of Star Trek, then this is one of the great artistic tragedies of our times. Look out for Ewoks.
With all the extra time they’ll have they should release it worldwide on the same day!
Hey, don’t mess with ewoks. They kicked stormtrooper arse with sticks and rocks!
I think the notion of Paramount being uncomfortable with JJ’s vision needs to be put to rest. He’s not Oliver Stone you know.
Also, I would like someone to explain the logic of movie being moved to May because TPTB think the movie is in trouble. Note that principle photography is 2/3 completed.
#169 - “Also remember, only a few weeks ago Abrams was saying the film may even be released earlier in Dec, this was Paramount’s call which means they were NOT happy about what they were seeing.”
Do you have any facts/sources to back up what you are saying?
#221 - Most ST movies fizzle out at the box office pretty quickly, they rely greatly on opening weekend receipts. These are ‘fanbased only’ films & Paramount knows this all too well, which is why we will soon be hearing about major script retooling/reshooting & William Shatner coming onboard the project. I hope Paramount rolls out the red carpet for Bill, he’s their best chance in saving this film.
Again, do you have any facts to back up what you’re saying?
Sulu’s pic’s
http://www.jfxonline.com/jfxonline/2008/02/14/star-trek-xi-set-pics/
Nice pics! Sulu finally got that “pot’ o’ hot coffee sent down to him on a rope!
Holy crap, 247 posts already!?
“This is all about box-office potential. Summer is where you see the `Star Wars’ and the