The Star Trek universe is as expansive as other big science fiction I.P. like Star Wars and has one of the oldest fan bases in the genre. Everyone talks about the friendly rivalry between "trekkies" and "warsies," but there's no denying that Star Trek fans go back further than 1977. Since 1966, there has been a passionate fan base that considers Kirk, Spock and the rest of the Enterprise the greatest heroes and explorers in fiction. While the die-hards have their opinions about where the franchise has gone since the original 1960s TV series, many have loved how much the sci-fi universe has grown. With tons of sequel series, films and contemporary continuations, the Star Trek universe remains prolific.
One of the most entertaining additions to the universe was a complete reboot trilogy meant for the big screen. While the trilogy has its criticisms, it was a lot of fun watching Star Trek get its big box office treatment. J.J. Abrams has a way with sci-fi and while he doesn't always stick the landing, some of his films are fantastic. Having a perfect balance of nostalgia and originality, he gave audiences a quality iteration of James Kirk and the Enterprise. After the success of his first film, he made a fun sequel which later became the middle chapter of a trilogy that Justin Lin would cap off in 2016. However, many rumors have swirled that additional sequels might be coming with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and the rest of the cast. While the idea of more sequels with the original cast is tantalizing, it's also unnecessary.
The Abrams/Lin Star Trek Trilogy Is Perfect the Way It Is
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2009 is a long time away from when William Shatner's James T. Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise went on voyages on thousands of Americans' televisions. Throughout the decades that Star Trek continued its storylines, only Shatner played Kirk, Leonard Nimoy played Spock, and there had never been an attempt at trying a new iteration of the characters. When it finally happened and a big movie adaptation was set to occur, all the right people were cast all over again. Not only does Chris Pine play a perfect Jim Kirk, Zachary Quinto plays a perfect Spock and the rest of the cast embody their characters to a tee, but the depth of each character is superb. 2009's Star Trek is not just a re-imagining, it is also a strangely beautiful continuation that also details nuanced origin stories for key characters. Star Trek portrayed a reality ("The Kelvin Timeline") where Jim Kirk didn't have a Starfleet father to inspire him and, in fact, didn't seem cut out to lead anyone anywhere. This is what makes Kirk's arc in the first film and throughout the trilogy so engaging. Kirk's evolution into a leader is part of the brilliance of the Star Trek trilogy.
Star Trek Feature Films
Release Year
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991
Star Trek Generations
1994
Star Trek: First Contact
1996
Star Trek Insurrection
1998
Star Trek: Nemesis
2002
Star Trek
2009
Star Trek Into Darkness
2013
Star Trek Beyond
2016
This also applies to other key characters, such as Spock, Uhura, McCoy, Scotty and the rest of the Enterprise family. Not only does each character grow around each new set of circumstances, but the relationships evolve into a familial dynamic that takes time to completely formulate. The fact that Kirk and Spock don't get along when they meet and many don't believe Jim is worthy of the chair is a great place to start off with fresh iterations of the characters. The fact that this evolves to Spock risking his life for Jim and the crew rallying behind their Captain in times of possible annihilation just shows the depth of the narrative arc in the trilogy. Each new enemy they face ups the stakes, tests their limits and challenges their beliefs. This makes each victory all the more special as the audience connects to their journey and roots for them to overcome each obstacle. Star Trek Into Darkness has become the most controversial of the films in the trilogy but is no less impactful from a narrative standpoint. The villains never feel one-dimensional or generic and having Benedict Cumberbatch's Khan relate to the audience before betraying them made his role much more effective in bringing the iconic Star Trek villain to life once more.
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The first two films are essential pieces of sci-fi cinema for multiple reasons. They are embedded with important themes that still resonate with audiences to this day. They parallel each other in terms of character development and plot progression. Furthermore, they set up a third film perfectly to not only allow the Enterprise to exist during more of a time frame (with a five-year expedition) but also establish the idea of change and resolution for the journey and character arcs. Star Trek Beyond is often considered either the best sequel or the worst by audiences, who are divided about Star Trek Into Darkness. Star Trek Beyond positions the characters at key moments in their lives, with purpose and legacy portrayed as main themes. The third film in the trilogy presents the idea that Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew might be looking to bring this part of their lives to a close. Throughout the film, closure and resolution are displayed as a running throughline only to have their world shaken by a new conflict. Idris Elba's Krall is meant to exist as a villain that exemplifies the worst-case scenario for a Captain without a purpose. Ultimately, Star Trek Beyond feels like a concluding chapter in an already exceptional sci-fi trilogy. The open-door effect of the ending feels more like a nod to the Enterprise's work never really being done, rather than an open door to another sequel.
Future Star Trek Sequels Should Move Away From Captain Kirk
There are many things to love about the Abrams/Lin Star Trek trilogy, from the distinct character portrayals to the action and nostalgia. Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise managed to exist all over again in one of the best sci-fi movie trilogies of the 21st century. One of the most creative things it does is not dismissing what came before. The trilogy actually effectively exists as an alternate reality to the original series when Leonard Nimoy's Spock accidentally alters the events of time in 2009's Star Trek. Nimoy's iconic iteration of Spock therefore sparsely but impactfully exists alongside Zachary Quinto's Spock in the films. What this idea also establishes is something that has been a part of the Star Trek identity for more than fifty years: generational success. Star Trek is one of the most generationally consistent franchises ever and has been able to be so because of a formula that involves growth and change. There is no denying how Star Trek narratives thrive and how they can begin to feel redundant as well.
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While fans never truly tire of seeing the next adventure of a Starfleet ship and its crew, there is a repetitiveness that makes the storylines feel "episodic." Appropriately, Star Trek should feel episodic in nature, as each new crisis is meant to feel like another day in the life of the crew. However, this eventually needs to grow beyond the characters. The original series understood a purpose in expanding the story to include other ships and other crews. Eventually, after hit films and direct sequels, the time of Kirk and the Enterprise came to an end. What followed was more adventures involving Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his new Enterprise crew in Star Trek: The Next Generation. This allowed for fresh stories to be told with new characters while also expanding the lore a bit further. Fans love the series, and it has even developed its own following that rivals the original series. This is the crossroads the popular film reboot series finds itself at. While Star Trek has continued to thrive on television in various different ways, the films are at a bit of a standstill. Since Star Trek Beyond in 2016, there have been plenty of talks and rumors regarding what comes next.
Star Trek TV Series
Ran From
Star Trek
1966-1969
Star Trek: The Animated Series
1973-1974
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987-1994
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993-1999
Star Trek: Voyager
1995-2001
Star Trek: Enterprise
2001-2005
Star Trek: Discovery
2017-2024
Star Trek: Short Treks
2018-2020
Star Trek: Picard
2020-2023
Star Trek: Lower Decks
2020-2024
Star Trek: Prodigy
2021-2024
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
2022-Ongoing
Although a proposed continuation of Kirk and the Enterprise's story would be fun, it would also run the risk of losing some of its flare or intrigue. As great as the films are, by the time the third film rolls around, a bit of repetitiveness is beginning to take root. The villains mirrored each other and the obstacles felt familiar. There's actually no reason to continue with their story as a perfect three-film trilogy exists incredibly well on its own. It would actually be a mistake to try and stretch the new story of Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise any further. Once again, the adventures of Starfleet have an opening to move beyond the original. The latest ideas seem to circle around going backward, while many fans also wouldn't mind going far into the future once more. There seems to be a possibility of a new set of stories where Chris Hemsworth's George Kirk is the protagonist (father of James Kirk). Another possibility could include seeing new iterations of Picard and the Next Generation while effectively finding a way to include Patrick Stewart in a similar way to Leonard Nimoy's inclusion. Regardless of how the Star Trek movie universe looks to proceed, it would be best to let the time of Kirk and Spock pass once more.
The Next Star Trek Movie Is Much Closer Than Many Think
While it feels like the studio is having a hard time making up its mind, the fourth Star Trek movie in the Abrams universe is likely much closer than fans think. As it stands, the Star Trek trilogy looks like it won't be ruined by that one mistake it shouldn't make. Star Trek Origins is currently the working title of a fourth film and could be set to follow the events of George Kirk during his time as First Officer of the Enterprise. This should be very exciting for fans of the original trilogy as it means more time with Starfleet and would effectively show a different iteration of the iconic vessel run by James T. Kirk. Not only would Star Trek Origins explore the Kirk family more deeply than ever before, but it would also explore the origins of characters such as Christopher Pike, Alexander Marcus and even Khan Noonien Singh.
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Starfleet is much more than its most famous crew, and other characters deserve the movie treatment if they have a chance at it. Many fans don't remember that Chris Hemsworth had one of his earliest roles as George Kirk in Star Trek. This was before the days of Thor and Marvel and definitely before being one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. It is actually one of the best times to let Chris Hemsworth spearhead a Starfleet adventure in his very own Star Trek movie. While there is speculation about the film, including a different storyline entirely that involves Starfleet's origins and the earliest Romulan Wars, the film fans would most want to see is the one about George Kirk. An origin film is one of the best places the movie franchise should go next, regardless of what form that origin movie takes. Anything would be better than trying to re-capture an essence that has come and gone. The best Star Trek trilogy and one of the best sci-fi trilogies in recent memory truly came to an end in 2016.
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Star Trek
The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.
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Star Trek
A young, rebellious James T. Kirk and the logical, disciplined Spock are thrust together aboard the USS Enterprise. Facing a formidable Romulan enemy from the future, they must overcome their differences and work as a team to save the galaxy.
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Star Trek Into Darkness
After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction
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Star Trek Beyond
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