Rejected Gene Roddenberry's Rejected idea for Star Trek 2

Summary

• Roddenberry's original Star Trek 2 playground included a conspiracy on time traveling around the assassination of JFK.

• Paramount rejected his controversial and intricate idea in favor of more action and estimation.

• The rejection of the concept of Roddenberry led to the creation of Khan's anger and introduced the importance of new perspectives.

As regards Star Trek Behind the scenes drama, few stories are as wild as Gene Roddenberry during the first film years. The man who created one of the most popular sci-fi universes of all time also had some … ambitious thoughts. And no one has been more increasing the eyebrows than its original concept Star Trek 2 – A film that, if it was made, could kill franchise before he could bold anywhere.

After commercial success, but surrounds the critical indifference Star Trek: The Motion PictureParamount found himself in an unpleasant place. The film earned some money, but that didn't happen. Many fans have described it as slow, sterile and too brain. Critics repeated sentiment. There were long, outstretched shots of the company that felt more like a spacecraft than a narration. Philosophical thinking, while in accordance with Roddenberry's ideals, the audience left cool. Paramount executives wanted something else to continue: more drama controlled by character, more action and most importantly, less Gene Roddenberry.

Roddenberry is abandoned Star Trek 2 Conspiracy

JFK assassination … in space?

When Roddenberry marched with his playground for the second film, the studio was already cautious and a good reason. Its concept for Star Trek 2 It wasn't just bold – they were Bonkers and controversial among the heads of studies. Story, in detail Star Trek 2: The Wrath of KhanIt included a political conspiracy with a high share that would put the star fleets in the center of one of the most important events in American history.

If Roddenberry got the way, fans would see Captain James T. Kirk, played by the William Shatner icon and the USS Enterprise crew Travel back in time to actually secure the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to maintain history unchanged. Needless to say, this script did not get green light. Here is the schedule of the plot:

• The company detects time distortion and finds that someone manipulates the history of the 20th century.

• The crew travels back to 1963 and finds that someone in the future is trying to prevent the assassination of JFK.

• Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (Deforest Kelley) discuss whether to let JFK die is morally acceptable if it protects the timeline.

• In a shocking reversal, Kirk can be the one who fires a fatal shot. Basically, Lee Harvey Oswald and Phaser become.

Why Roddenberry's playground was refused

Paramount did not only refuse Roddenberry's playground – they practically released it into a deep space. The idea was too controversial, too braided and finally too disconnected from what the viewers wanted Star Trek. Remember that it was at the beginning of the 80. The idea of ​​fictional in such a cavalier way did not sit properly with study.

The idea was a mess. After Film He has already been accused of being too slow and too intellectual, the last thing Paramount wanted was another moral philosophical debate in space. They needed energy. They needed bets. They needed a rascal.

Behind the closed door there was also a growing frustration with Roddenberry's tight grip on the creative process. His vision received a franchise from the country, but at the beginning of the 80s. The years began to feel outdated. The executives felt it was time to bring a fresh creative mind that could revitalize and produce the brand Star Trek Again exciting.

Internet reacts with horror and humor

When Details of the Discarded Script of Roddenberry, decades later, fans reappeared on the forums like Reddit, but responded – often with a combination of misunderstanding and comedy. Some users expressed direct horror in this idea and called it a complete tonal mismatch for franchise. One popular comment simply to read, “That would be terrible,” Echo of the general sentiment of Fanbase.

One fan pointed to the link between the script with the iconic episode of TOS “City on the edge of Forever”, which also examines the idea of ​​allowing tragic death to preserve history. They admitted that while the concept was interesting and grounded in the tradition of trek, it would probably resonate on the big screen Anger khan made. “Slightly interesting” what if “,” They wrote. “Maybe in the parallel universe are people meme-in-in” kennedyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !! “”

Another user offered a blunt but widely shared opinion:

“I honestly think that if Gene remained in full control.” Star Trek He would never give up in several series and would die with movies. ”

Quoted a bloated budget and lukewarm intake Film compared to a slimmer, more successful Wrath of Khan as evidence.

Perhaps the most thoughtful view came from a user who remarked: “I always felt the trek was best when Roddenberry's vision was filtered through someone else.” Attributed to co -workers as Gene Coon TosHarve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer in the film era and Ira Steven Behr Pro DS9 As a real driving force that translated Roddenberry's ideals into a convincing drama.

Nevertheless, several fans have acknowledged that the idea, even if it is wrong, was born of the desire to make a statement. Roddenberry wanted Star Trek It matters – to say something about history, morality and progress costs. In the end, however, it was a swing and a lady.

What we got instead: anger

Roddenberry did not reject quietly. The felt pushed out of the franchise he created was reportedly growing with a new direction. Resources close to production Anger khan He described his involvement as useless at best and, in the worst case, charged.

Although Roddenberry was degraded to the title of “Executive Consultant”, he used his limited effect on leakage of the first scripts concepts into groups of fans in an effort to induce resistance. He also protested against the militarian tone of the film and especially to Spock's death, which felt he betrayed the spirit of the series.

Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer led to the proceedings, often had to bypass Roddenberry's interference. Ironically, the attempt to sabotage the new direction, Roddenberry emphasized exactly why Paramount felt the need to move on. He and Roddenberry moved to a predominantly festive role, Harve Bennett has gone great to watch all 79 episodes Tos And he reached out what the films were missing: a convincing antagonist. Then Meyer rewrote the script in just 12 days without accepting the screen on the screen.

This led to the return of Khan Noonin Singho, playing with the brilliance that behaved on the scene of Ricardo Montalbán. Under the leadership of Nicholas Meyer, Anger khan became everything Film He was not: tense, emotional, charged with action and focused on characters. This dealt with the topics of aging, victims and revenge, all in receiving iconic moments that still resonate.

From the introduction of the Kobayashi Maru to Spock's unforgettable victim, Anger khan became a measure of what Star Trek It can be handled with respect and fresh perspective. In this case, the shift from Roddenberry proved to be a blessing.

Roddenberry Paradox: Star Trek Visionary; Sometimes wildly out of base

Roddenberry never had a short vision for his credit. He believed Star Trek It could be a vehicle for a social comment, a platform to explore the best and worst humanity. And it was. Many of the best episodes Tos to carry your philosophical fingerprints.

However, the strength of Roddenberry as a world builder has sometimes come to the expense of narrative clarity or connection of the audience. He liked to question the audience, but these challenges have sometimes turned into theft of experiments. The rejected JFK script was not his only strange playground. Fans will remember episodes representing space hippies, duplicate kirks and even Abraham Lincoln floating in empty.

Roddenberry Génius was real, but he was also undetected. Without editors, collaborators and yes, executive studio to push back, his ideas could be carried away from what was made Star Trek Special in the first place. In retrospect, the possibility of Paramount's decision to support the assassination for Roddenberry's travel could save the franchise. Anger khan re – Star Trek And he proved that letting new voices play in quarantine can lead to size. Roddenberry could have been a father Star TrekBut sometimes even a legend needs someone to say, “Maybe not this time, Gene.”