Key Takeaways:
– Star Trek: The Next Generation revitalized the Star Trek franchise.
– The hit series was a response to the success of George Lucas’ Star Wars.
– Paramount studios initially focused on creating four Star Trek movies.
– The explosion of Star Trek reruns and Star Wars’ success led to the birth of The Next Generation.
Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation have a rather unexpected cause to toast: the success of Star Wars. This iconic series relaunched and redefined the Star Trek franchise after a century from the events of the original Star Trek. Yet, the journey to this remarkable revival wasn’t smooth, and fans can thank George Lucas’ phenomenal Star Wars for lighting the spark.
Star Trek and Star Wars: An Unexpected Crossover
In the midst of the Star Wars frenzy, Paramount Studios decided to revive its own space-centered IP, Star Trek. Dorothy Fontana, one of the writers of the original series, noted in an interview that Star Wars’ success made Paramount consider launching a new Star Trek series. But before delving into a fresh series, Paramount decided to reengage audiences with four new movies starring the original cast.
Known as Star Trek Phase II, these films hit the big screens from 1979 to 1986 and proved to be box office hits. While the movies were enjoying their success, reruns of the original Star Trek series started to attract a new generation of viewers. Additionally, Star Wars continued to shine in the galaxy of cinema, further piquing interest in space exploration, aliens, and intergalactic battles.
The Birth of The Next Generation
This combination of renewed interest in Star Trek and the continual success of Star Wars finally brought about Star Trek: The Next Generation. The concept for this series was actually masterminded by Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the original series. Despite substantial resistance from Paramount, which preferred focusing on the movies, Roddenberry’s vision eventually came to life, years later.
According to Robert H. Justman, producer of the original Star Trek series, the sudden rise in popularity of Star Trek reruns played a significant role. Coupled with Star Wars’ vast success and the movies’ achievements, the stage was ultimately set for a new chapter in the Star Trek saga. Despite financial negotiations putting a damper on the idea initially, Paramount finally saw potential in launching a new series.
The Pioneer Behind The Successful Revival
In the mid-1980s, Paramount saw the value of a new Star Trek series after reaping profits from the reruns and the movies. Roddenberry stepped up his efforts, realizing a new series could drill another gushing well of success. He cleverly engaged Paramount stakeholders, eventually persuading them to invest in his new vision.
With the support of Paramount, and in a sense, fuelled by the success of Star Wars, The Next Generation was finally greenlit. It was a landmark moment that saw the resurrection and reinvention of the Star Trek franchise. The Next Generation became the torchbearer for further development of the Star Trek universe, giving way to prolific spin-offs like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and multiple feature films.
Conclusion
Gratitude is surprising in sci-fi fandom. Remarkably, every Star Trek: The Next Generation fan owes a nod to Star Wars’ astronomical success since it influenced Paramount’s decision to resurrect Star Trek. Thanks to the stars aligning, fans can now watch Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix, reliving the journey of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his team, and appreciating the surprising relationships between the galaxies of Star Wars and Star Trek.
