The first STAR TREK movie was originally developed as a TV series titled STAR TREK: PHASE II

When the original Star Trek the series was canceled after just three seasons, fans were devastated. But little did they know that this was just the beginning of a long and storied journey for the franchise.

Thanks to the show’s success in syndication, creator Gene Roddenberry got a second chance at his space creation with a follow-up series titled Star Trek: Phase II. The show featured the return of most of the original cast and was intended to take the series in a new, larger direction with better special effects, set design, and creature designs. It would also have had a more diverse cast.

However, the production cost was too high and the show was scrapped before it even got off the ground. Paramount was unwilling to spend a lot of money on another Star Trek show, even though 13 scripts had already been written and most of the pre-production was completed. You can watch some rare footage from the series in the video below.

But all that work was for nothing, as Paramount decided to rework the script and turn it into Star Trek: The Movie. The gamble paid off and the film was a box office success, paving the way for the franchise to become a global phenomenon.

I have reviewed the original Star Trek movie recently. It had been a long time since I’d seen him. I was probably a teenager when I last saw the movie. I always tend to jump right into Wrath of Khan but that first movie was incredible! I loved the story it told and it was like watching the movie for the first time as I remembered very little.

In the film, “The Federation calls Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the starship Enterprise to contain an immense nimbus object that is on a fast track with Earth. Upon investigating, the crew discovers that the alien cloud harbors an artificial intelligence with an ominous prime directive. Crisis strikes when a probe sent by the energy cloud attacks the crew, kidnapping navigator Lieutenant Ilia. Shortly thereafter, a doppelganger android appears containing memories of him.

This success of the franchise led to the creation of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and this led to many other shows and movies that we still see being produced today!

All thanks to the enduring legacy of the original Star Trek series and the devoted fans who have kept it alive. The show was truly ahead of its time, with character archetypes and morality plays not often seen on TV at the time.

Roddenberry’s imaginative vision established a universe where humanity had moved beyond scarcity and war and showed us what we could do next. It’s that message of hope that has kept fans hooked on the franchise all these years.

Via: CBR, RedShirtsAlwaysDie