Ronald D. Moore talks about Star Trek franchise fatigue
Former Star Trek writer and producer Ronald D. Moore addresses fan fears of franchise fatigue.
When CBS All Access premiered Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 no one could have predicted that the streaming-only series would lead to a major revival of the Star Trek franchise. Not only does CBS intend to produce several related series releasing year round, but Patrick Stewart is returning to the role of Jean-Luc Picard in his own show and Paramount continues to plan new movies. It seems like Star Trek is about to be everywhere, which is both exciting and frightening.
While no doubt fans are ecstatic about CBS’s major expansion of the Star Trek franchise, some fear that so much exposure will quickly lead to franchise fatigue. Ronald D. Moore, who had written for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, addressed how franchise fatigue works and what causes it.
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It turns out its not so much over-exposure as it is repetition without variation. When you stick too close to a formula without experimentation or bringing in new talent to try new things, the franchise can get into a rut. If the series doesn’t evolve, there’s never anything new to surprise or engage audiences.
“So, it’s not so much about volume, it’s not really about how many shows there are, it’s really about are you able to still engage the audience and make it seem fresh and exciting,” said Moore. “Once you’re in the same place and doing the same show time after time after time, which is what the Star Trek franchise started to feel like by the time that Enterprise ended, it just felt all the same and it didn’t feel new. Then it’s time for a big change, then it’s time to go fallow for a while and plant the ground all over again.”
Next. CBS All Access on possibility of Shatner returning to Star Trek. dark
Enough time has definitely passed between Enterprise in 2006 and Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 to give the franchise a rest. With so many new ideas and new talents involved, various episode formats, as well as increased freedom to tell relevant and engaging stories, it doesn’t seem likely that Star Trek will suffer from franchise fatigue anytime soon. Which is good news, because right now the world could benefit from a show that has difficult social and moral issues at its heart.
Source: ComicBook