Here’s a factoid about me that doesn’t get published much: I’m a huge Star Trek fan (the original series only), and if I were to compile a list of my top ten favorite films of this year, J.J. Abrams resurrection of the franchise would likely land somewhere in the top half. It may have had its differences from the source material, but it was faithful to the vision that Gene Roddenberry established in the 1960s, and he would have been very proud of it.
Now, in another pseudo-time travel story, science fiction author Harlan Ellison wants to return to Roddenberry’s franchise after his script for one of the show’s most famous episodes, The City on the Edge of Forever, was reworked by Roddenberry himself. Apparently his feud with Gene continued beyond his death, as Ellison claims in his blog that he’d like to work with the talented Abrams. A few brief snippets reveal that the man might be insane:
“Yes, I would likely try to steer [J.J.] toward the original film idea I was asked to pitch, by the late Gene Roddenberry and a production exec whose name I have blissfully flensed from memory (but he had been, if I recall, a hairdresser or clothing designer or ex-boyfriend of someone or other, and he kept trying to press me to include the Mayan Calendar) … “If the very smart Abrams didn’t want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go.”
“What the hell are you guys…nuts? Where’s the ‘downside’ to getting topside the radar of J.J. Abrams? This guy ain’t Roddenberry! He also ain’t the ex-hairdresser with the jones for Mayan calendars! He’s a writer I respect, whose work has frequently blown the lid off my box of surpriseability. But, then, he already KNOWS that. It isn’t as if I’d kept my admiration chained in the darkest cell of the basement of Bedlam.”
This man sounds desperate to put his fingers in the pie of what could be the most successful sci-fi franchise reinvention we see in a long, long time. What do you think? Does he stand a chance at involving himself with the production? Let us know in the comments!
Source: /Film
Just make certain Harlan leaves the 45 at home.