Renowned science fiction author Andy Weir has disclosed that his proposal for a new Star Trek television series was turned down by Paramount, the franchise's production company. The writer, best known for his novels The Martian and Project Hail Mary, did not hold back in expressing his disdain for the current slate of Star Trek spin-off programmes during a recent podcast appearance.
Weir's Blunt Critique of Modern Star Trek
During an episode of the Critical Drinker podcast, Weir offered a scathing assessment of contemporary Star Trek offerings, stating bluntly: "Those shows are s***." The 53-year-old novelist, whose work The Martian was adapted into a major film starring Matt Damon in 2015, elaborated on his perspective regarding the evolution of science fiction television.
"I subscribe to the theory that all modern science fiction TV shows and movies have been heavily influenced by the original Star Trek—except for the current batch of Star Trek shows," Weir explained to host Will Jordan. The author, who identifies as Generation X, reflected on his formative sci-fi viewing experiences, noting: "My sci-fi was like original series Star Trek reruns and Lost in Space reruns. There wasn't really much in the way of new sci-fi that was airing—where people are off in space doing cool things—until we got to Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Specific Opinions on Recent Franchise Entries
When Jordan suggested that everything since the prequel series Star Trek: Enterprise (which aired from 2001 to 2005) should be removed from canon, Weir responded with more nuanced criticism. "Okay, you're a little more severe than I am," he remarked before detailing his views on individual series.
"I'll give you my opinion and I'm just a consumer," Weir continued. "I like Strange New Worlds. I think it's pretty good. I didn't hate Enterprise. I thought it was kind of weird. Lower Decks I thought was entertaining and fun. All the others, they can go."
The Rejected Pitch and Paramount Interaction
Weir then revealed his own involvement with the franchise, disclosing: "I pitched a Star Trek show to Paramount and I was in Zoom with the showrunners with all the shows and spent a lot of time talking to executive producer Alex Kurtzman." Despite his professional engagement with Kurtzman, Weir maintained his critical stance.
"I don't like a lot of the new Trek," he stated. "He, as a person, is a really nice guy. But at the same time, those shows are s***. He is a nice guy. But they didn't accept my pitch so, you know, f*** 'em." Paramount has not responded to requests for comment regarding Weir's remarks about the rejection and his harsh evaluation of their current programming.
Weir's Rising Profile and Recent Success
The author's comments come amid significant professional achievements. Project Hail Mary, Weir's novel about a middle school science teacher tasked with saving humanity through a space mission, was recently adapted into a major film starring Ryan Gosling. The movie has achieved notable commercial success, overtaking Avatar: Fire and Ash to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year at the box office.
Weir's literary career continues to flourish, with ongoing discussions about potential sequels to Project Hail Mary keeping his work in the public eye. His combination of scientific accuracy and compelling storytelling has earned him a dedicated readership and significant influence within the science fiction community.
