You must have faith.
Spock
Star Trekhas been with us for over 50 years in one form or another.
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How likely was it?It had reached the fully produced pilot stage.
Unusually,Star Trekhad two pilot episodes.
That said, there are more similarities to what we eventually got than differences.
First, the staging.
The most glaring difference is: no Captain Kirk!
Instead, Jeffery Hunter plays Captain Christopher Pike.
Spock is present, but here, Leonard Nimoy plays the role differently.
This version ofStar Trekfeatures a female first officer called Number One.
There are conflicting reports as to why this idea was dropped.
Would it have been good?
So, how does this potentialStar Trekstack up against theStar Trekwe eventually got?
Its this recasting, along with a rethought Spock, that creates the magic.
For better or worse,The Cageis low-key and lacking in humor and action compared to the eventual series.
PerhapsThe Cageis howStar Trekwould be made today?
How likely was it?It was always on the back burner.
It would have also suited the lead actors as it wouldnt require the huge commitment necessitated by a series.
One difference betweenStar Trekmovies and the series is that the films cant take the same risks as individual episodes.
There are many times throughout the franchise history where a TV movie or two would have presented interesting opportunities.
Maybe it could still happen?
How likely was it?The script was written.
So far, this sounds like familiar territory forStar Trekfans.
The idea is revisited here, just as it was ultimately used for 1979sStar Trek: The Motion Picture.
The idea did diverge from what wed seen before because Gene Roddenberry explored the religious aspects in more depth.
How likely was it?It was seriously considered more than once.
From then on, the idea has been raised from time to time.
However, this would have been an entire film charting the academy experiences of the main characters.
Bennett had his eye on John Cusack as the young Spock and Ethan Hawke in the Kirk role.
There are a number of ideas here.
Harve Bennett thought that the early 1990s script was wonderful, and was sorry that it never got made.
How likely was it:Developed all the way to scripting, but was rejected.
Its a plot that could hardly be criticised for being too simple, so hang on your dilithium crystals.
Kirk is affected by some sort of space phenomena and disappears while piloting a shuttle craft.
Legendary James Bond production designer Ken Adam was brought on board and began designing a new Enterprise.
His initial sketch involved a triangular engineering hull and these sketches were fleshed out by conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie.
One design featured an open space within the main saucer section that was joined by tubes.
How likely was it?Only reached the outline stage.
Studio interest in science fiction had waned.
AfterPlanet Of The Titanswas rejected, director Philip Kaufman tried his hand at a film outline.
Apparently, a shared psychedelic experience would have featured.
Adding to the woes of the production, word was starting to circulate about rival impending project calledStar Wars.
Executives worried that people wouldnt be willing to pay to see two science fiction films that year.
Whatever the next incarnation ended up being, it would have helped to define the legacy ofStar Trek.
With hindsight, it seems like a shame thatStar Trekwas cancelled when it was.
There would have been some followup to earlier episodes and of course, some new adventures for the crew.
In addition, it relied on recurring characters and story arcs, and some of these were left unresolved.
Jonathan Archer from the future?).
There were also plenty of ideas involving revisiting elements from the other eras ofStar Treklore.
Alice Kridge coming back, before her character was Borg queen?
Now, thats something we would have liked to have seen.
It looks like the original series ofStar Trekwould have been more of the same.
Its a shame that we havent had originalStar Trekon television since 2005.
How likely was it?Probably would have happened if not for studio politics.
Theres another connection to aNext Generationcharacter.
Ilia also helped to satisfy Roddenberrys desire to get more female characters into significant roles inStar Trek.
Beyond that, most of the regular characters from the original series were set to return.
OriginalStar Trekproduction designer Matt Jefferies redesigned the starship Enterprise.
Screentest photos exist of Xon and Ilia in a uniform that strongly resembled the classic one.
So, its difficult to wish for, for that reason.
How likely was it?There was organized fan support at every stage.
This wish was finally granted, to great effect, in 1991sStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Interest in a Captain Sulu drivenStar Trekpeaked off and on over the years.
At different times, it could have been a series or a series of one-off TV movies.
Coming off the back ofStar Trek VIin 1991, it would have run alongsideStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Federation
Time period:2006
The scenario:A dark, modern take on aStar Trekseries.
Its a problem that was constantly cropping up during the production ofStar Trek: Enterprise.
To some, it might seem a shame to have madeStar Trektoo dark though.
The lead character, however, would have been an ancestor of Captain James T. Kirk.
Eventually, Paramount decided not to proceed with the film and went, instead, with JJ AbramsStar Trekidea.
Should it have happened?
A lot will depend on how much you likeEnterpriseand how much you like theStar Trekreboot.
Remember what they say about all good things…
