Andy Weir, the author who launched himself into the stratosphere with Project Hail Mary, isn’t beaming about the current state of Star Trek. And he’s not keeping it to himself. This isn’t just fandom griping; it’s a bestselling author, a guy who understands the appeal of optimistic, problem-solving sci-fi, publicly questioning whether the flagship franchise even *gets* what made it great in the first place.
- Weir criticized modern Star Trek shows, stating they lack the spirit of the original series and The Next Generation.
- He revealed a Star Trek pitch he made to Paramount was rejected, adding a pointed “fuck ’em” for good measure.
- Paramount+ currently has no Star Trek projects in active production, coinciding with speculation about Alex Kurtzman’s future with the franchise.
Weir’s comments, made on the Critical Drinker podcast, are particularly stinging because they come packaged with a bit of industry insider knowledge. He didn’t just dislike the shows; he tried to *fix* them, taking his ideas directly to the showrunners and Alex Kurtzman himself. The rejection, and the subsequent blunt assessment that those shows are “shit,” feels less like a disgruntled fan and more like a calculated burn. It’s a risky move, potentially alienating a powerful studio, but it also positions Weir as a champion of “real” sci-fi for a fanbase increasingly vocal about its dissatisfaction.
The timing is…interesting. The cancellation of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, barely after a second season was filmed, is a clear signal that something is amiss in Spacedock. Kurtzman and his team released a lengthy statement about upholding Roddenberry’s vision, a move that reads as defensive – a preemptive attempt to control the narrative around the franchise’s direction. The fact that Paramount+ is now without any active Trek projects in production, while simultaneously negotiating Kurtzman’s contract extension, suggests a period of serious internal reassessment.
This isn’t just about quality; it’s about brand management. Star Trek is a legacy property, and Paramount needs to figure out how to leverage that legacy without alienating the core audience. Weir’s comments, while harsh, are a symptom of a larger problem: a perceived disconnect between what Paramount *thinks* fans want and what fans actually want. Expect a lot more carefully worded statements and strategic course corrections in the coming months. The future of Star Trek, it seems, is less about boldly going and more about damage control.
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