More Trek Sequel Talk From Orci & Kurtzman + Transformers 2 Breaks Box Office Record June 25, 2009
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Orci/Kurtzman, Sci-Fi, Star Trek (2009 film), Star Trek sequel (2012) , trackback
This week’s release of Transformers Revenge of the Fallen has kept Star Trek scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman very busy doing press. As we did with our Transformers interview with the pair, everyone seems to also want to talk Trek. Below we have more snippets from Bob and Alex about their next project, the Star Trek: Something Something sequel.
The great Trek sequel debate: something old or something new?
In an interview with SciFi Wire Bob and Alex again reiterated that they were reviewing the Trek catalog while also debating the balance between old and new in the next Star Trek:
Orci: That’s what we’re kind of debating right now. We’re kind of going through everything we know and love and making sure we don’t leave any unexplored gems. And then also simultaneously trying to think of new things completely. So we’ll see. The best idea wins, original or old.
Trek is next for Bob and Alex – breaking story – no title yet
As for timing, the pair also told SFW they would start on the Trek sequel when they are finished with the the script for Cowboys and Aliens, a comic book adaptation they are also co-producing (along with Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and others). But they SuperHero Hype they will get to Trek soon after Transformers 2 is released (which just happened) and are aiming for delivering Trek by Christmas of this year. They also told MovieLine that they are not joining joining JJ Abrams on the Mission Impossible 4 project, and want to focus on Trek, noting:
Orci: People have asked us about [MI4], but we’re not doing it yet. We’re not involved with it. We’re focused on the Trek sequel, and I think we have to make sure that gets done right.
And the pair told Mania that they have to ‘figure out’ what to call the sequel, and they are just starting to think about the story:
Kurtzman: We’re just beginning to break story [for Star Trek sequel]. I wish we had more, but we’re literally laying down the basics.
Trek humor: about characters not camp
The ‘boys of Summer’ talked to io9 about the differences in humor between Star Trek and Transformers:
Kurtzman: Well, our director has a very different sensibility as far as where he’s getting his humor from. The The Transformers are generating humor from the way they talk. And the humor in Star Trek is very much about the circumstances our characters find themselves in. It’s literally the difference between cracking jokes and being in a funny situation. They’re different franchises.
Bob and Alex also told Esquire that the were not tempted to play up the ‘campiness’ of Star Trek and Transformers:
Kurtzman: None. In fact, we came out of Hercules, one of our first jobs, and [director and producer] Sam Raimi taught us an enormous amount on that show. The first lesson we learned was even if the show is perceived as campy, you can never write it as camp.
Orci: Because you just don’t have fun. Unless camp is somehow inherently part of the original DNA of the project.
Transformers 2 is HUGE – Orci & Kurtzman all over top 10 movies
Transformers 2 opened yesterday and did over $60M, which is the biggest Wednesday box office debut in history and second biggest opening day behind The Dark Knight. This means right now Bob and Alex are connected with three movies in the top 10 domestic box office, as they are also executive producers on the Sandra Bullock romantic comedy The Proposal (currently in 2nd place) and of course writers for Star Trek, which was in 8th place on Wednesday (bringing in $701,273, which is actually a tiny big more than it made last Wednesday).
As for the critics, they have not been as kind to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Currently the film has a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 38% on Metacritic. Look for the TrekMovie review of the film this weekend.
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Comments»
I don’t care what the critics say….a movie can still be enjoyable regardless of informed opinion….
In fact, there are tons of movies out there, where my opinion and the critics opinions were very different.
Last year, There Will Be Blood, and No Country For Old Men were considered oscar worthy and super fantastic.
I thought they were horrible, didn’t make sense, and were just bad. So much for the critics…I’ll decide for myself what I like.
I dont really want a rehash or reimagining of old things. Its about exploration, not covering old ground.
I loved Revenge of the Fallen. Critics can eat it.
So JJ Abrams added all the campy elements himself? Interesting …
Who was the villain in the script as they wrote it, then?
I don’t care what the critics say or think about Revenge of the Fallen. I loved it. It was entertaining, exciting, funny, and action-packed.
It’s obvious that Trans2 has a huge worldwide base of viewers who simply love huge robots battling each other. According to BOM, Asia is in the multi-millions earnings-wise, and Russia/CIS did as much business in one day as Trek09 has done since launch. It’s a different level entirely.
Star Trek 2 ” the #2″
Star Trek 2: Something something
Star Trek 2011 “playing down the 2011 basically just calling it Star Trek again”
Funny how there’s a whole lotta talk about a whole lotta “nothing” regarding the trek sequel :P
Critics…….pfff. A Trailer is what sells me on a movie. Remember the The Matrix trailer?? (OMG it’s been 10 years already!)
I go to the movies for the experience! If I’ve been amazed, amused and thrilled, then that movie has earned my ten bucks.
The only thing I was overly critical about in a movie was how the new Trek wasn’t the 90’s Trek I knew, but am waayyyy passed that now :)
Critics look to films that provoke deep thought or somehow challenge….something. 90% of the moviegoing audience just wants a good time.
All that aside, while Transformers 2 has it’s problems, it’s still a more coherant picture than the Museum sequel…
I think they should keep the subtitle of “Something Something” for the next Trek. It has a nice ring to it.
Maybe just add to it a little bit:
“Star Trek: Something Strange, Something New.”
I love these guys…Star Trek 09 wouldn’t have worked without them, and I can’t wait to see Revenge of the Fallen. Keep up the good work, guys! I’m sure the Trek sequel will be awesome. It better be! :)
I wish Orci and Kurtzman would have more time do more franchises. I’d love to see their take on Masters of the Universe.
BTW: My 2 favorite jokes in the Transformers movie was when Wheelie kept on calling Megan Fox a “warrior goddess” and when Rainn Wilson said that he’s the “alpha and omega.” IDK, I found those hilarious.
My least favorite jokes were Skids and Mudflap. They are the Jar-Jar Binks of 2009.
With all due respect to Mr. Orci, who undoubtedly knocked it out of the park with Star Trek, I thought Revenge of the Fallen was abominable. It was a depressing experience for me…I found it to me everything people don’t like about modern summer movies and then some all rolled into one: no plot, no character development, juvenile humor, overly militaristic and completely Americacentric, and on top of that, RACIST… I had heard already about Mudflap and Skids but my jaw was on the floor when I saw them for real. Those two make Jar Jar Binks look like an NAACP Image Award winner.
I believe the difference between the Star Trek script and Transformers script is largely the effect of having a different director calling the shots. I think we can all agree that Michael Bay and JJ Abrams have completely different styles.
Didn’t Michael Bay contribute a lot of the script during the writer’s strike?
@ 14: You mean it was a typical Michael Bay film?
The next Trek, in my opinion, of course could introduce a new villain…BUT (huge but)…MUST (huge must)….include familiar elements, locales and secondary characters from trek history. Maybe a new Klingon villain?
Please, use the 40 years of established Trek history to its fullest.
A totally new everything would turn me off.
New and old combined…what a challenging and daunting task. Good luck, gentlemen….no pressure, though…(ha, ha)
Man, there is gold to be mined in any permutation of a TOS plot rewrite or revisiting characters whose fates have already been written. Yo, Bob – if you go fellas down that avenue to any degree, a subtle plotline mix-n-match ought to be in the cards. I, for one, wouldn’t mind seeing the planet killer pop in to throw a wrench into someone’s plans. Harry Mudd is definitely a fan fave, and is a buffoon who spans any generation. Since we’re in an alternate temporal reality, maybe Captain Garth isn’t bug-f**k looney after all. Richard Daystrom doesn’t cliff-dive off the edge of sanity. Khan is the same lovable warlord he always was, but does good this time. You get the idea.
Bob Orci…
Think “Mirror Universe”…
There’s a million stories there my brother!
…and I’m still open for the role of “female crewman number four’s underpants”
Better yet, make a live action Star Blazers!
Ugh, the fact that Transformers 2 made more money than Star Trek on opening night, and also set a record makes me want to vomit. This movie was pure garbage and I’m utterly shocked that Orci and Kurtzman were a part of it.
Of course, most of the blame falls on Michael Bay, doing his usual terrible job of making everything explode and not much else.
I’m all for a fun, entertaining movie that’s not very deep in terms of provoking the mind or being really intelligent (let’s be honest, Star Trek ‘09 falls fairly snugly into that category and it’s a blast). Constant explosions and really stupid jokes to supplant real entertaining content however, doesn’t fly.
To further prove my point….
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/8-Spoilerific-Reasons-To-Avoid-Transformers-2-13688.html
Warning: As you might figure from the link, there are big spoileres.
Hmm. They really ought to just go with “Star Trek 2″ for a title. It’s short and slick, and does further the “starting over” mindset of the franchise.
star trek would NOT exist if not for MICHAEL JACKSON.
sorry. don’t know what i was thinking when I said that.
(star trek: thriller)
sigh.
Roger Ebert: Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen “Dumber than a box of staples.”
Rolling Stone: “Probably the worst film of the decade.” (I’m paraphrasing here)
Not exactly comforting words to those of us wondering about the Trek Sequel…
But, of course, Star Trek 09 was a good movie, marred only by some sloppiness in plotting, and a lack of any coherent theme…but the sequel has so much potential to take what was good about its predecessor, and make it so much better. And it would really be a shame to see such potential wasted…
But I’m sure you guys know that… :)
#8- I quite like the idea of “Star Trek: To Boldly Go” or something that uses a uniquely ‘Trek phrase… “Star Trek: Where No One Has Gone Before” would also be a good title. Its a shame “The Final Frontier” has already been taken.
Nothing with ‘revenge’ or ‘wrath’ or ‘return’ in it though; “The Dark Knight” was perfect as it echoed the original Batman, while still keeping a damn good movie title. Something similar for ‘Trek 2 would be nice :) Oh, thinking about it:
“Star Trek 2 Boldly Go”
On second thoughts….
I don’t understand why Mr. Orci and Mr. Kurtzman are still thinking of doing a remake of an old episode. The fans are, based on the posts I read, overwhelmingly against it. Who is going to enjoy a remake then- the general public?
I just don’t want a rehash. It seems so lame, so unexciting. It feels to me like an admission that there is nowhere exciting left to go. Maybe a bit like the people in “All Our Yesterdays”- there is no future, so we must escape to our past. Or maybe even more like what Vina says in “The Cage” about how you give up living when you just stay behind, reliving old adventures in the “thought records.” How depressing.
GIve us something new.
A second point, and a lesser one, is with Spock Prime around to advise them on how to deactivate a Doomsday Machine, or any other threat from the past, it’s kind of thorny.
But my main complaint is that it’s boring and uninspiring.
You guys have shown you can do much better. Please do better. Thanks.
oh- just to be clear, by Spock prime being around to advise against past threats, I mean past in terms of TOS.
#15: “I believe the difference between the Star Trek script and Transformers script is largely the effect of having a different director calling the shots.”
For better or worse, the director really does make or break the movie.
Here are a list of names that I suggest not be used for a sequel to Star Trek:
A Star Trek
The Star Trek
Another Star Trek
Star Trek: Even Trekkier
Star Trek 2 Furious
Star Trek: Attack of Lense Flares
Star Trekked
I’m serious. These are terrible titles for a sequel.
@29 — Agreed. Nemesis could have been a better movie with a different director.
#30, your post reminds me of a curious phenomenon I’ve observed here from you, and from myself, and from several other posters.
Why is it that my fingers want to type “lense flares” instead of “lens flares?” What is it about that phrase that inspires that particular typo; it’s been pretty common around here (I’m pretty sure I’ve actually caught all of mine before posting, but I promise you, I’ve TYPED “lense” almost every time …)
I don’t get it. It’s like a strange little … keyboard equivalent of a tongue twister. Or something.
It’s the new “cannon!” (only, that’s not usually a typo)
It’s the new “definately!” (d’oh, same problem)
It’s so new it isn’t replacing anything!
I think they should do a full length version of Return of the Archons with Landru. Explore the world more fully. “You are not of the body. You must be absorbed.”
I don’t care what the critics say about Transformers 2…but on the other hand, I don’t disagree with them. TF2 is a real stinker.
The problem with Star Trek movies is that the fate of Earth or the Federation has to be on the line for the story to be worthy of a movie. Yet, from the Trek TV shows, some of my favorite episodes were NOT galaxy-spanning epics.
“The Trouble with Tribbles” is about a grain shipment (how mundane is that?), and they even redid it on DS9; I liked it both times. “The Menagerie” is a courtroom drama. From TNG, “The Inner Light” (perhaps my favorite Trek episode period) all takes place in Picard’s mind, with the help of an alien probe. My favorite Voyager episode, “Blink of an Eye,” is about a world where time speeds by at 1000+ times the normal rate, and the crew watches and becomes part of that world’s history.
So that’s my REAL challenge for the Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman team. Do a story where Kirk and Co. do not save the universe (yet again).
Señor Orci,
Transformers 2 no es muy bueno.
El queso esta podrido. Donde esta el sanitario?
Adios,
Señor Vulcano
To be honest I don’t see how Transformers can be anything other that Big and Goofy! C’mon, big robots that turn into little cars? huh? It ain’t Shakespeare is it? But then people don’t want Shakespeare any more. If kids and younger people enjoy Transformers then more power to them- but i’ll stick to Star Trek thanks very much.
At least Transformers 2 was better than The Watchmen….ugh….I went to a free preview and I still wanted my money back.
Fans some of them need to stop hating an start enjoying the movies they like thts all ratings dnt abt tht enjoy the movie transformers 2 rocks
Oh, about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen…
I think the writer’s did an excellent job of revising some of the back story to incorporate a modified version of the Transformers continuity. I loved the Transformers in ancient history stuff.
I liked the movie.
Has anyone tried watching the 1980’s Transformers: The Movie? I saw it for the first time a couple of years ago as an adult — I never watched it as a child. That movie is insane! I swear it gave me ADD.
I challenge Bob and Co to come up with something new. Give it some familiar points in terms of characters, but a new story. If people really want to see something old again, wouldn’t it be easier to just pull out the DVD and watch it?
@32
I’m crippled without spell check.
So Star Trek always has some mix of the following:
Philosophy
Science (and/or Pseudo-Science)
Adventure
Comedy
Action
Mystery
Mr. Orci: I like the ratios of these elements that were in Star Trek ‘09. Especially since we never learned too much about Nero. I love what you’ve done with Star Trek ‘09. I’m sure there will be plenty of Star Trek in the future as a result of this revival.
For example, it seems like The Voyage Home was leaned more towards adventure/comedy and The Undiscovered Country was more towards Mystery/Philosophy (it was kind of a “who-done-it” plot). I just wanted to say that, eventually, I’d love a good Star Trek story with a greater ratio of philosophy and mystery in it. I guess I’m eventually hoping for something with the mix that The Undiscovered Country had.
PS As long as there are no Giant Space Amoebas, I’m guaranteed to see the sequel.
40.
This is kind of embarassing, but I watch the old “Transformers: The Movie” (released in 1987 if memory serves me correctly) a few times a year. Mostly for nostalgia as I was Transformer OBSESSED as a young boy. They would actually show the movie on TV divided into three episodes.
Wow, so all those Money = Awesome, Box-office Watchers… what say you now?
Clearly Transformers is the best movie that’s ever opened on a Wednesday in the history of film! Yah! I knew it. The moment I saw that robot dog running on the ice in that trailer… I knew Transformers 2: Revenge of the Sith — er, Fallen would be the King of all Wednesday movies. It’s clearly the best. Money = Good Movie. Yay.
(note, sarcasm pls)
I wish fans would just trust these 2 guys to make the right choices on the next Trek movie. They have earned our trust! So I say stop complaining and let them write the movie.
To Mr. Bob Orci –
I really think that the infamous William Shatner cameo **can** happen in the sequel, and probably could have happened in ST09.
When Spock Prime caused his ‘incursion’ the new timeline was born. There’s nothing that causes us to believe that Kirk will be killed in a Nexus fight with Malcolm McDowell in the 24th Century. In fact, the odds are probably against it. The butterfly effect will have caused so many new things to have happened by the time the ‘new’ Kirk gets around to retiring that there may not even be a similar circumstance to cause Kirk to die. How interesting would it be to see older Spock prime meet new-older Kirk?
Also, since Trek fans have this holistic universe, I think an appearence by prime Picard, possibly to retrieve prime Spock would be great.
I’ve got a million of ‘em.
#47 maybe you do- but have you got any good one’s? ;-)
#48. Nope! I leave it to the pro’s.
I love Star Trek, but Transformers is, well, uh, not for me. Megan Fox is for me. In fact, she has no idea how much she wants me. But I can’t see Transformers just for her. Sorry Megan.
I think the Trek sequel (incidentally, how is it Trek09? oh… heh) should incorporate a lot of the TOS references as they were very successful elements. I love the suggestion of Trek: Thriller. Not as a title obviously but as a way of conceiving of Trek as a vehicle for many different types of storytelling. Trek09 was Trek: Adventure.
We’ve already had a Star Trek comedy (The Voyage Home) and a Star Trek political thriller (The Undiscovered Country). Incidently, these were among the most beloved movies in the franchise.
So, it is definitely OK to do something other than “straight” science fiction.
ok so heres what the next movie should have:
kirk and carole marcus meet and fall in love and have a baby girl called davina (ok maybe not davina)
klingons are big in the movie and the bad one tries to kill all the kirk family but marcus saves the day and sacrifices herself for her hubby and kid.
at the end of the movie kirk is left with his daughter onboard the ship and in twenty yeares time there can be a t.v spin-off series about the adventures of davina kirk, captain of the re-imagined USS excelsior.
the end.
Has any one remembered the faint rumor from JJ about The Shat in the next movie.
And for plot how about some universe the elder kirk becomes god like and takes the name as GOD Tiberius, being GOD like he has the power to rule all Dimensions. The New Kirk has no way of knowing this new demon is really himself but another dimensional form of himself.
As the New Kirk meets Kirk Prime he realizes he must kill himself (but other self) to save his Dimentional Time-Space universe. In the end to be PC about it Spock Prime and Kirk Prime vanish from all dimensions. Leaving the New ones to be their true selfs and in time becoming individuals that do not need to keep copying the Primes to become stars.
It’s dirrent, never been done, so it is not a remake of and old story, The closest TOS ever came was in the Greek GODs on that planet with Scotty having his girl taken by Apollo.
It will be more of a Where No Man has Gone Before than Shoot them and kill them before they do it to you War flick. And it will give The Shat a part. And a part for Hanks, make him the one that gives Kirk Prime GODhood. Or it was meant for Tom but Kirk Prime got converted trying to stop Hanks from being a GOD, thinking hr will not become Demonic, self centered and evil. But the powers erase Kirk Prime’s moralities. Remember Kirk Prime is an Alpha Male controlled only bu his moralities.
I love the vocal posters decreeing “all original ideas! who think that every incorporation of a familiar-to-the-public Trek device or character constitutes an episode remake.
Using the Mirror Universe concept does not constitute “remaking” “Mirror, Mirror”. An entirely original movie could be done around Harry Mudd wihout remaking “Mudd’s Women” or “I, Mudd”
I agree that it would be foolish to revisit the character of Khan, who has already been definitively written and performed in a movie already. There’s no where to go but down.
But there were so many good stories, settings, characters and ideas in the original show that never got the benefit of being fully fleshed out. Don’t rule out the commercial/nostalgic appeal of incroporating and improving something from the show. Done correctly, there is quite a bit of upside potential.
I’m more afraid that this push for “original ideas!” will just get us (pick one):
a) a faceless galactic threat,
b) a complete misfire that doesn’t capture Trek at all
c) a revenge-fueled madman
d) a TNG style Treknobabble deus ex machina
e) A Klingon shoot-em-up in the style of a PiratesOTC movie
f) boring intraStarfleet or Federation political intrigue and betrayal – naturally led by whichever character acts more British or more capitalist.
Please, self-appointed spokesmen, stop saying there is some “consensus” that we fans don’t want any old episodes/characters revisited. You’ve seen today’s movies. Writers ain’t what they used to be. There was plenty of groundwork laid in TOS to give them the conceptual “leg up” they need.
I vote for the rich vein of ideas inherent in the Mirror Universe, or else an epic con game plot driven by good old Harry Mudd. The challenge with Mudd, of course would be to find a great big charismatic ham of a performer to fill Roger C Carmel’s boots.
Hope ever one can see the invisable ‘T’ n but in the last sentence.
trans 2 = terrible
Star Trek needs to be different please
#55. There can be NO Mirror Universe. It does not conform to MWI QM theories applied by Orci.
So the CGI in Transformers: ROTF was AWESOME but all the so-called humorous sexual innuendos and profanity made the whole thing feel uncomfotable to watch and pretty much ruined the whole thing for me. I can’t believe both Star Trek and ROTF were written by the same writers. Star Trek is on a whole different level IMO.
Please no more Prime cast members in the next movie. Spock Prime served his purpose. Pine and Company can take it from here.
What does it mean by campy?
Just have seen Transformers 2. And I have to say: It is fun and I feeled very entertainent. But: 30 minutes later I start to think over and I found a million plot holes and as funny as the humor was, it was still very primitive and simple. I didn’t like half of the characters (especially the Twins and Wheelie), the climax was one of lamest I’ve ever seen (beside the climax in the new Trek; that was equally lame) and the desert battle was more confusing and chaotic as the battle in the first movie. It was barly recognizable who was fighting who.
I can’t say if Michael Bay is the one who made the movie worse or was it the writing of O&K thatÄs responsible?
Conclusion:
After I have some rest and time to think I must admit, that Transformers 2 is not a very good movie, but it’s still entertaining enough to watch it a second time (I have to, I promised my little brother). But the first Transformers was far better. Well, making everything louder, faster and brigthter is maybe not allways the right formula. But when it brings in money, who cares?
#53 & 54-Uhmmmm, no! But thanks for playing.
Dear Mr Orci and Kurtzman,
Whatever happens in this new sequal, can we PLEASE have something new and original? i.e. no Klingons, no Romulans, no starship battles. Let the universe be somewhere to roam, rather than just a backdrop for ships to have battles in etc etc. Lets up the ante and make sci-fi movies INTELLIGENT again as well as fun (remember The Andromeda Strain, Westword, Silent Running, 2001 etc etc? THEY were neat!). A real ride which makes you think about the story for weeks after you’ve left the movie. Star Trek at it’s best always managed that.
No offence, but lets not turn Star trek into transformers…..
Star Trek – now it’s up and running again thanks to your great movie – NEEDS to be fresh. It’s a hard job to do for sure, but the next movie needs to totally move forward and explore strange NEW worlds (NEWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!). I still feel strongly that one should come up with a strong story first (consult with some well respected sci-fi writers – proper sci-fi not Star Wars type fantasy) and THEN work on the characters and FX and all that.
Let Star Trek by the torch bearer for a (hopefully) new generation of fun, spectacular and INTELLIGENT summer blockbusters, the kind we used to get in the 70s and early 80s. Today it’s all spectacle, explosions, and toilet humour gags and not much else… (Transformers 2 anyone?…) it doesn’t have to be like this – it SHOULDN’T have to be like this – and it would be cool for Star Trek to raise the bar for everyone else to follow. Heck maybe be daring and not feel the need for tons of FX… Lets have a real story/character driven film which builds upon the first.
Here’s hoping ;)
– Mugz
P.S. Sorry to keep harping on, but I strongly feel that the failure of Star Trek (prior to the 2009 film) was that there was precious little originality. It was recycling the same old stories, and same old villains and it just felt STALE. In order to continue the success of new Star Trek you guys need to keep it original. Yes it would be fun to play with existing stories/characters from the original series. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It’s a lot harder to do something original, but I feel if anyone can do it you guys can. Here’s to the future… (with respect to the past ;) )
“And the humor in Star Trek is very much about the circumstances our characters find themselves in.”
Glad you think so, guys. Hopefully that means we can look forward to the characters being treated with the respect they deserve in the next film, and the stupid furball, who was clearly only there to be a “comic foil” for the idiot you tried to turn Scotty into, can be shoved out an airlock.
And again – NEW plots, please. How many times?
I’ve always wondered what TOS would have done with the Klingons if there had not been money/time/capabilities at the time/etc limitations that TOS was facing. So I am all for a good story involving Klingons.
Let me just through this out there: The Organians and the events of Errand of Mercy are as relevant today as they were in the 60s yet in the universe the movie takes place in they haven’t happened yet. You could spin a kick-ass action based story featuring Klingons, respecting TOS and be culturally relevant to our time at the same time, without making a remake.
It is a brand new universe, let’s see some brand new stories. I did not have too much faith going into ST09, but they earned it by the time I got out. So write on guys and we’ll see you in ‘11 or ‘12.
As long as Orci and Kurtzman keep the ideals of Trek alive in the sequel that they did in Trek09, then we will be okay. The new movie opened a new door for the Trek universe and I for one do not want to see rehashes of old episodes or villains … we can see some old characters in completely new situations though .. i kinda want to see Kyle and DeSalle on the bridge the next movie
I have the perfect ending for Trek II. It sets up a personal vendetta story for movie III.
————————————
The Enterprise has taken a battering, it is unable to go to warp, and a device will soon detonate that will consume the ship along with much of the local system.
Kirk is desparately giving orders to try anything, but the mains are offline.
Spock, hearing the reports, steathily leaves his station without the captains notice.
The view shifts to other scenes: Uhura trying to contact star fleet; Checkov trying to pronounce the letter V; McCoy being a doctor, not an bricklayer.
Suddenly, a hail tone sounds, followed by Scotty saying, “Capt’n, the mains are back, but… you better get down here.” Kirk turns and realizes that Spock is not there. “Sulu, best speed out of here. You have the conn”, Kirk commands.
He runs, jumps railings, slides down ladders and ultimately arrives in engineering to find Scotty and McCoy looking at a small antechamber filled with smoke.
“It’s Spock, Capt’n.”, Scotty explains. “I told ‘im not to go in, but he dinna pay me any mind.” Kirk starts toward to door, “You canna go in there, sir! Radiation’ll flood the whole compartment.”
“I”m sorry, Jim, there no way he could survive that.”, McCoy tells Kirk.
Reaching for the comm panel, Kirk shouts, “Spock!”
A raspy voice replies, “Yes, Captain. Until now I never took the Kobayashi Maru test. What do you thinkg of my solution?”
“Spock…”
“It is for the best. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. I am, and shall continue to be your friend.”
A person crawls toward the glass barrier. It is Spock Prime.
“Live long, and prosper.” Spock then sits down, closes his eyes….
A moment later, Young Spock comes from behind one of the engine components. “He disabled me, then joined his Katra… his soul, to mine. I must get it to Vulcan.”
———————————————-
I don’t see this as anything to do with Khan, rather just a symmetric ending to a movie. Kind of a “Final Destination” feel. It would make fans of ST:TWOK weep, and new fans .. .well … surprised.
Of course, I don’t know if Mr. Nimoy wants to repeat that scene, but it would be very interesting.
The next move could then be about Young Spock’s need for revenge against whoever caused Spock Prime’s death.
Mr. Orci … What do you think?
Another interesting symmetry is that this would be the second new star trek film JJ makes, and he the first time in the second star trek film
2.
In that case I think we should put a sign next to you saying “avoid this DNA at all costs”.
Just adapt CHAIN OF ATTACK. It’s got everything required: going where no man’s gone before for the fans, plenty of explosions for the mass audience, and good old didn’t-start-it-but-liable-to-finish-it Star Trek morals for both.
All this talk of there being a new “villain”… Why does it have to be a villain? Recall the great Romulan Commander in Balance of Terror or Kang, or even Kor… These were every bit Kirk’s equal, but from a different point of view.
A wacky 1-dimensional bad guy doesn’t make for a good story.. A complex, strong character who just happens to be opposed to our heroes does. Someone driven by duty, faithfulness and loyalty, but someone who also causes the audience to go, “Hmmm… he’s pretty cool”. How about the story of Garth of Izar? Kirk obviously hero worshipped the guy. Give us the story of how Kirk is the only one who can, and must bring down his hero, and all the inner-conflict it would cause. Let’s see Kirk question himself– we very very seldom see that.
Just some thoughts.
Transformers 2 was just terrible.
The two syncophant autobots (Jolt and Spark?)that bickered and fought one another were TERRIBLY rascist.
Childish humor at best.
I HOPE they weren’t written that way originally.
This movie almost gave me a seizure and, furthermore, was geographically impossible. From the Smithsonian (Udvar/Hazy) in Virginia out the back door to the USAF Desert Airplane Boneyard?
It’s like they just don’t give a &^% about the audiences’ intelligence.
I’m not drinking the cool aid. Orci and Kurtzman phoned this one in.
The GM cars really stood out, anyhow. Hopefully they’ll have enough money to make ‘em… (and customers to buy ‘em).
It would be a shame if all America became famous for was mindless shoot-em-up movies.
Guys I was really disappointed by Transformers.
Transformers II: Revenge of the Kleagles?
Is it that Bad?
Geez? Michael Bay, what have you done?
#45 – The original Transformers made $750 million at the box office in 2007, ranking it #5 worldwide & #3 domestically.
Trek is expected to top out at $380M worldwide. If Trek had been released in 2007 and performed as well, it would have ranked #14 worldwide and #7 domestically with those grosses.
Transformers 2 is clearly headed into The Dark Knight billion dollar territory. Whether it makes it or not is another matter. Assuming it does, Trek would fit into 2008’s box office grosses as #10 worldwide and #4 domestically.
Presently, Trek would be #2 worldwide. So it all depends on how much money is spent at the box office this year (typically more during a recession) and how many compelling films are released as to where Trek ends up in relation.
#24 ha!
#78—-Transformers 2 will have the big bang opening (as it already has), but it will not likely benefit from the same “word of mouth” effect that propelled TDK into that territory.
Saying that ROTF is “clearly headed into The Dark Knight billion dollar territory” is extremely premature at this point, IMO. 2 days at the box office is hardly enough information with which to identify any kind of long term pace.
But there is no doubt that its first weekend will be huge (particularly throwing in the extra day). If it does head in that direction, I think it will have to be the Asian markets that carry it that far.
As for the domestic market, I still think that people who were going to see it anyway because they liked the first one are still going to do so—-but those of us who were on the fence about it are less likely due to its awful reviews. I don’t think there will be much of the “You’ve got to see Transformers”, or “I heard Transformers was good. Let’s go see that” effect as benefitted TDK (and to a lesser degree, ST09).
The latter two are action films which also happen to be “critically acclaimed”. I know people who were never fans of Batman or comic books at all who saw TDK multiple times in theaters. That was all “word of mouth”—which includes the film critics on every channel, website, and newspaper, as well as everyday people on the street.
‘Transformers: ROTF’ is being crapped on by practically everyone with a keyboard, at least in the U.S.
Remarkable opening though.
I loved Star Trek 09 … But yuck! T2 definitely doesn’t deserve to be breaking any records. If this film is any indication, I hope to high heavens that Orci and Kurtzman steer clear of trying to write humor into the next Trek movie. Stick to the character drama. Up the ante on the intelligence.
#78
“Transformers 2 is clearly headed into The Dark Knight billion dollar territory. Whether it makes it or not is another matter.”
No way it’ll make it. Most fans and all the critics agree, this one is a disappointment. It will not rise to the level of Dark Knight. For that, it actually needs some positive word of mouth.
20. Green-Blooded-Bastard – June 25, 2009
“Better yet, make a live action Star Blazers!”
Best….Idea…EVER!
#80 – I think I qualified my remark well enough with “Whether it makes it or not is another matter. ” Transformers earned about 10% more of its income from foreign markets, so that will likely be the case again, if not more as you suspect. However, unless everyone who was going to see it no matter what has already done so, I would suspect it will earn additionally at least as much as Wolverine’s and Terminator’s final take (both having similar negative reviews to Transformers), or about $500 total, which still beat Trek’s expectations by over a $100M.
Also based on the original Transformer’s first week (before word of mouth), the core fan-base drove the box office to the tune of $20M/day, or an additional $280M worldwide. So add that to its opening day and you already have $400M or double its budget in the first week. This is all speculation anyway, so I’m not necessarily predicting as much as I’m “what-if-ing”. It will be interesting to see where the worst rated and most expensive movies of the year will end up.
#75—”Orci and Kurtzman phoned this one in.”
Lol.
I think that any writing done for a Michael Bay movie could be construed as “phoned-in”.
But writers who have come up with screenplays for Bay have also proven themselves capable of far better than Bay’s movies alone would indicate.
Randall Wallace, for instance, who wrote the screenplay for Bay’s horrendous “Pearl Harbor”—-also wrote a ‘best picture’ winner in “Braveheart”.
Abrams wrote the screenplay for Bay’s “Armageddon”—-but also wrote “Regarding Henry” (which I enjoyed alot).
Orci and Kurtzman have written for Bay several times, with “The Island”, “Transformers”, and “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen”—yet also wrote this Summer’s most critical success so far in “Star Trek”.
Michael Bay movies just are what they are. From a writer’s perspective, I am sure he represents a good paycheck. And everyone has to make a living!
Orci: “People have asked us about [MI4], but we’re not doing it yet. We’re not involved with it. We’re focused on the Trek sequel, and I think we have to make sure that gets done right.”
Good to hear. I’m glad you are going to slow down a bit and focus on the most important job you have. :)
No need to further prove your multi-tasking abilities!
Dear BobOrci & Alex,
I have a request for Star Trek Something Something. Since Star Trek history is being re-writen, (Riverside, Iowa the construction site of NCC-1701, Kirk’s backstory, etc) I suggest a nod to Ohio for it’s contributions to America’s space program. At last count, Ohio has constributed 24 astronauts to NASA:
Armstrong, Neil A., born in Wapakoneta
Bassett, Charles A., II →, born in Dayton
Cameron, Kenneth D. →, born in Cleveland
Currie, Nancy J. →, considers Troy her hometown
Eisele, Donn F. →, born in Columbus
Foreman, Michael J. →, born in Columbus
Gernhardt, Michael L. →, born in Mansfield
Glenn, John H., Jr., born in Cambridge
Good, Michael T. →, considers Broadview Heights his hometown
Harbaugh, Gregory J. →, born in Cleveland
Henize, Karl G. →, born in Cincinnati
Hennen, Thomas J. →, considers Columbus his hometown
Henricks, Terence T. →, considers Woodville his hometown
Lovell, James A., Jr. →, born in Cleveland
Low, G. David →, born in Cleveland
Overmyer, Robert F. → , considered Westlake his hometown
Parise, Ronald A., Ph.D. →, born in Warren
Resnik, Judith A. →, born in Akron
Sega, Ronald M. →, born in Cleveland
Springer, Robert C. →, considers Ashland his hometown
Thomas, Donald A. →, born in Cleveland
Walz, Carl E. →, born in Cleveland
Weber, Mary E. →, born in Cleveland
Williams, Sunita L. →, born in Euclid
Notice the list includes the ‘Big Daddies” Neil Armstrong and John Glenn. Also, former NASA Flight Director, Gene Kranz was born in Toledo, Ohio. Also, Orville Wright was born in Dayton Ohio and the brothers grew up in Ohio.
So you see, I think a nod in the next movie is long overdue.
#80, Transformers 2 just brought in another $48M dollars today, bringing its total to $170M in 2 days and it’s not even the weekend yet. Variety is projecting it to have one of the largest opening weeks in history – probably between $340 – $380M worldwide. This film will do over half a billion easily.
Also, I would point out “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” which had similar reviews as Transformers 2 and it still went on to earn over a billion dollars at the box office. I don’t think you can preclude a film from making money simply because it is not getting good word of mouth. I think that observation is more of a factor in why a film like Batman earned over a billion dollars when it otherwise probably shouldn’t have.
#87—”I think that observation is more of a factor in why a film like Batman earned over a billion dollars when it otherwise probably shouldn’t have.”
Good point. I was also probably underestimating the buying power of the adolescent male in America. I know that I (through my sons) will no doubt be contributing at some point to its box-office take.
I just won’t be accompanying them, as I otherwise might have.
#86 As a native of Ohio also, I heartily agree.
We don’t know where Christine Chapel’s from. She can be from Ohio.
#86—Interesting. However, I have to point out that there are even more astronauts either born in or claiming a hometown in Texas than Ohio.
Just in former/deceased astronauts alone, there are 22 from Texas. That doesn’t even include the current ones.
But Ohio does boast quite a few—and some of the more famous ones at that. Coming in 3rd behind Ohio is Pennsylvania, followed by Indiana, New York, and California.
Funny how these same states (Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and California) also boast the most members of the U.S. military as well in practically the same order.
Egads! Saw Tranformers 2. Not good IMHO. The first one was a pleasant surprise. (My 11 year old son forced me to go.) I really enjoyed it. I found myself laughing out loud and thrilling to the climactic battles.
T2 was wall-to-wall action and very little character involvement. It was loud, uninvolving and dull. A long movie shouldn’t mean a boring movie. Watchmen, Dark Knight were long…but I never once looked at my watch. Quite the opposite…I couldn’t believe 2+ hours had passed so quickly. Can’t say the same for T2. Probably starting checking my watch at 90 minutes. Even my now 13 year old noticed. His first post-movie comment was…”Can yo believe how long that was?”
Not good. And you can smell a Michael Bay movie a mile away. (I swear he used stock footage from Pearl Harbor and Armaggdeon.)
Screw what the critics have to say, Transformers is EPIC. Going back tomorrow.
Just wanted to add…. Star Trek is meant to be science-fiction….. which means expanding one’s ideas. Can we leave ALL notions of a villain back with all the other 10 zillion villains stories in Star Trek (film and tv) over the decades? Lets get Star Trek BACK into the realms of science-fiction, not soem villain of the week science-fantasy thang…
Star Trek doesn’t need a new villain/threat, it needs more mind expanding ideas……..
“Lets’ see what’s out there” Enough said ;)
Ahhhh!! I’m so stoked for the sequel dang it!! Can’t wait to see what these two studs come up with!
#75: “Can we leave ALL notions of a villain back with all the other 10 zillion villains stories in Star Trek (film and tv) over the decades?”
In fact, TOS had (almost … ) no villains. One of the show’s trademarks, really, was introducing a character that at first appeared to be maybe-kinda a villain, but ultimately was not … TOS problems tended to be _problems,_ the kind that get solved, not opponents, the kind you lay a smackdown on. Star Trek was never about black hats and white hats (or even about blackwhite hats and whiteblack hats).
The success of Wrath of Khan established the formula whereby Star Trek _movies_ have (usually, though not exclusively) been about the villain formula. This is one of the reasons, IMO, that Star Trek (the TV series) really never quite made it to the big screen. Not whole, anyway.
Even in the Trek spinoffs (on TV) villains have been vanishingly (and mercifully) rare.
Er, that was to #94, not #75. Dunno what my fingers were thinking. Probably distracted by Doctor Zarkor of Planet Evulax, the next film’s subtle commentary on relationships between cousins.
“Star Trek doesn’t need a new villain/threat, it needs more mind expanding ideas……..”
Yes! No more villains, just like the old show! Complex, nuanced, mind-expanding problems to solve, just like the old show!
Like maybe if they found this planet, where everyone worshipped this god, but this god was really a computer, which was kind of nice, but was oppressing these people’s creativity by making them all wear suits and corsets and talk like they’re from the 18th century. And then the Enterprise crew could blow up God with its phasers…again!
Or maybe if they went to this planet, where these simple villagers were worshiping this god, except the god was really…wait for it…a machine! And then the Enterprise could blow up God! Again!
I can feel my mind expanding already… ;-)
#53 nice!!!
Wow! Only 3 days at the box office and Transformers 2 has made over
$206 million!!!
That’s over 6 million more than its estimated budget in 3 DAYS!!
That’s over half as much as Trek has made before its first weekend is over.
By Monday, Transformers could actually top Trek at the box office in less than a week’s time, have paid for itself, and be in the black for the rest of its run. This guarantees a sequel!
Includes my money wasted on a terrible movie, from start to finish. Michael Bay is the worst director I’ve ever witnessed, worse than Uwe Boll.
I sure hope that horrible horrible Transformers movie gets all the crap out of the writers’ systems and they don’t include it in the next movie. I loved Star Trek, but I could sure do without Scotty’s Jawa and swollen hand slapstick humor.
At least it’s better than the unnecessary crude humor in Transformers. Not that it’s gonna affect sales, but I don’t think it would have sold fewer tickets just because it wasn’t as stupid. Or maybe I underestimate the public. They are, after all, going to make this a more profitable film than Star Trek.
Damned idiots.
MESSAGE TO THE BOYS:
WE NEED KEVIN SORBO IN STAR TREK II !!!
VARIETY IS REPORTING TRANSFORMER’S 2 HAS ALREADY BEATEN TREK TO BECOME THE #2 WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE HIT WITH:
$387 MILLION IN 5 DAYS!!!
Holy BLOCKBUSTERS Batman! That’s second only to The Dark Knight!
Transformers 2 has already done in 5 days what it may take Trek’s entire box office run to do, if possible. If it keeps this up, it could become the number one movie worldwide in a week.
In the plus column Trek moved down only one spot to 8th place and still grossed over $3M this weekend.
387 Million in 5 days?
Well that’s just great. A fourth swimming pool for Orci and Kurtzman.
Skids and Mudflap. Huh.
Nice stereotyping, gentlemen!
When this movie earns them their swimming pool(s) I wonder if they will let black people swim in one? Or will they have to do the gold-toothed minstrel dance of Mudflap and Skids to be allowed to swim?
There is right and there is wrong.
The Times is reporting that the writers are now trying to distance themselves from the minstrel portions of the movie: (blaming it, instead on Mr. Bay and Ehren Kruger)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/movies/29box.html?hp
Ok. here’s the deal.
Don’t want to be associated? Be honorable like Alan Moore and just don’t take the paycheck and call the WGA and take your name from the thing.
This comment is at the bottom of an old thread, and I’m sure won’t be seen by Mssr Orci- but I make the point just the same.
Transformers 2 was a very offensive movie.
There is simply no spinning that.
I gave Orci/Kurtzman the benefit of the doubt after the first movie, which seemed to be thoroughly soiled by Michael Bay’s idioms. However, while this one was even more Bay-ified (that’s a really bad thing), the plot/script was far worse. It was the same background as Fifth Element, and didn’t even have Bruce Willis (boo!).