Hi all,

I'm passing this along from someone who got it off an AOL board, I believe.

>>>'Star Trek' Franchise Set for Revival
2008 Film to Be Directed by Man Behind 'Lost'
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (April 21) - More than three years after the last "Star
Trek" movie crashed at the box office, the venerable sci-fi franchise
is being revived by the director of the upcoming "Mission: Impossible"
sequel, Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition.

The as-yet-untitled "Star Trek" feature, the 11th since 1979, is
aiming for a fall 2008 release through Paramount Pictures, the Viacom
Inc. unit looking to restore its box-office luster under new
management, the trade paper said.

The project will be directed by J.J. Abrams, whose Tom Cruise vehicle
"Mission: Impossible III" will be released by Paramount on May 5.
Abrams, famed for producing the TV shows "Alias" and "Lost," will also
help write and produce.

Daily Variety said the action would center on the early days of "Star
Trek" characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first
meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer-space mission.

The paper described "Star Trek" as Hollywood's most durable performer
after James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1
billion and 726 TV episodes from six series.

The 10th film, "Star Trek: Nemesis," bombed at the box office on its
December 2002 release, earning just $43 million in North America. Last
year, Viacom-owned broadcast network UPN pulled the plug on the
low-rated series "Star Trek: Enterprise" following a four-season run.>>>>

And AOL ran a simple poll.

Not scientific, but still relevant, I think.

Where do you stand on 'Star Trek' movies?
Make more, now 82%
They are yesterday's news 18%
Total Votes: 41,334

To me, the demand for more Trek is a sign that it's an enduring saga with a lot of emotional resonance to people.

It's a pity in my eyes that the studio is being conservative by revisiting the past of stock characters rather than beginning a new chapter in the Trek universe.

This movie might turn out great, but I'd much rather see what the Federation is like in say the 26th century rather than see how Kirk and Spock met for the first time.

JJ Abrams being hired to direct might or might not be a good move. Abrams is definitely talented, but he has a Jekyll and Hyde tendency to alternate brilliant work with not so good stuff. Compare Alias seasons 1 & 2 with seasons 3-5.

Also, because the release date is set 4 years from now, there's a greater chance for things to change, like Abrams quitting or being canned, and even for production to completely stop. Hollywood is like that for better or worse.

Boris