Summary
Despite legitimate fan concerns, the newStar Trekprequel movie shouldn’t be a threat to the existing canon. Billed as “an origin story for the main timeline of the Star Trek franchise”,the upcoming prequel, written by Seth Grahame-Smith and directed byAndor’s Toby Haynes, is expected to be the nextStar Trekmovie to hit theaters. Fans are right to be concerned about how this origin story will impact the establishedStar Trektimeline, given thatbothStar Trek: First ContactandStar Trek: Enterprisepreviously told the stories of humanity’s early interactions with alien life, and the eventual founding of the Federation.
While these concerns are legitimate, new information in an article byThe Hollywood Reportersuggests there could be nothing to worry about.The report states thatStar Trek’s origin movie is set on Earthfor the majority of its runtime. This tidbit of information suggests that, rather than completely scrapping the canon established byStar Trek: First ContactandStar Trek: Enterprise,the new origin movie could bridge the gap between the movie and the TV show in fascinating ways.
When Is The Next Star Trek Movie Coming Out?
It’s been nearly a decade since the last Star Trek movie hit theaters, but new Star Trek movies are on the way for theatrical and streaming releases.
Paramount’s New Star Trek Movie Isn’t A Threat To First Contact Or Enterprise Canon
There’s an 88 year gap between First Contact and Enterprise.
The news thatStar Trek’s origin movie will be set mostly on Earth could imply that it will retcon the events ofStar Trek: First Contact, by giving an alternative take on how humanity first encountered alien life.THR’s report stated that thisStar Trekprequel will be a jumping-on point for fans, which also adds weight to concerns that the first meeting betweenZefram Cochrane (James Cromwell)and the Vulcans could be rewritten. Alternatively,Cochrane’s first contact could easily provide the origin movie’s prologue, keeping canon intact and providing a brand-newStar Trekstory.
There are 88 years between Zefram Cochrane inventing warp speed and Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) leading humanity’s first deep space exploration mission. That’s a big gap in theStar Trektimeline that provides a great deal of storytelling potential.Star Trek’s origin movie being set on Earth would, therefore, allow it to tell the story of how Cochrane’s discovery led to humanity’s further development of warp travel with the Vulcans, and why it took nearly a century for humanity to venture into the stars.
Star Trek: First Contactis available to stream on Paramount+.
Star Trek’s Origin Movie Can Fill In A 88 Year Gap In Canon
Star Trek’s origin movie needn’t retcon the established timeline to tell a new story that covers humanity’s early interactions with alien life and the formation of the Federation.Star Trek: Enterpriseestablished that, in the 88 years after landing in Bozeman, Montana, the Vulcans were criticized for holding back humanity’s development. That central conflict could make for a strongStar Trekstory, especially when you take into account the fact that humanity is rebuilding after a nuclear war. With this 88 year blank slate, Seth Grahame-Smith’s script is free to tell a story aboutwhat happened afterStar Trek: First Contact.
There are many things theStar Trekorigin movie can shed light on, such as when and how United Earth was founded. Also, what did the Vulcans see on Earth that convinced them humanity wasn’t ready to go out into the stars? An alien invasion movie, set in the period betweenStar Trek: First ContactandStar Trek: Enterprisecould be the perfect way to demonstrate early warp travel, humanity’s post-war aggression and why the Vulcans deemed them not ready for deep space exploration and diplomacy. Rather than breakStar Trekcanon, the new origin movie could greatly enrich it.
