In a world overcome by cynicism, greed and pessimism; the timing seems better than ever to restore the luster of a franchise which celebrated optimism and heroism above all else. …Not unlike Ron Moore and Galactica, J.J. Abrams has the opportunity to jettison the shackles of the sci-fi stigma and musty cobwebs around the aged franchise and make Star Trek relevant again.

Altman argues that a key element of this success are the iconic characters and their chemistry, especially classic ‘troika’ of Kirk, Spock and McCoy. He says that the only way to recapture that now is to recast, paraphrasing Kirk “galloping the cosmos is a game for the young”

Burnett takes the ‘KHAN‘ view, arguing that since it started Star Trek has always been best about the new frontiers…

At its best, Star Trek takes us places we’ve never been, introduces us to concepts we’ve never grappled with and shows us how to head straight into the unknown, all the while retaining the importance of our humanity….As a franchise, Star Trek always worked best while looking forward. In order to survive and succeed again, the Trek franchise must once again do what it’s always done best, boldly go where it’s never gone before.

Burnett also seems convinced that it will be impossible to recast the roles of Kirk and Spock, questioning if any actor would even try. He also argues that recasting Kirk is not the same as the (successful) recasting of Obi Wan Kenobi since Kirk was seen through an entire arc from ‘the youngest captain in the fleet’ to his death in Star Trek Generations.

 

Shatner in ‘Free Enteprise’

One thing both film makers seem to agree on is that the franchise is in good hands with JJ Abrams. Burnett says ‘it makes good sense’ to bring in Abrams, comparing the infusion of new blood to the arrival of Nick Meyer (director of the 1982 fan favorite Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) . Altman agrees, calling Abrams work on Lost and Alias ‘brilliant’. He goes so far as to say that he can’t imagine anyone better than Abrams to do justice to the original series.