What occurred with Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek film that never materialized?

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Not too distant in the past, the notion of Quentin Tarantino directing a Star Trek film seemed as unlikely as a tribble becoming captain of the starship Enterprise. Maybe that’s why QT put aside his idea for an “R-rated”, extremely violent interpretation of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future during the Apollo era – or maybe he simply decided to focus on other endeavors.

In 2017, Tarantino proposed making a movie based on the episode “A Piece of the Action” from the original 1968 Star Trek series. The episode is set on a planet similar to Earth, where a gangster culture from the 1930s is dominant. This was during a time when the Star Trek franchise was focused on blockbuster films produced by JJ Abrams, and was also starting to regain popularity on TV with the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. Tarantino’s signature intense and eclectic style did not seem to fit with the franchise during this period.

Looking ahead a couple of years, it appears that Star Trek has entered a more imaginative realm. The nostalgically-themed Strange New Worlds (I can vividly recall the unexpected genius of the fantastic musical episode in season two resonating in my mind) showcases a Tarantino-esque vibe of grandiose cosmic elements, showing great assurance in offering new perspectives to a franchise that has been around for over fifty years. Even Black Mirror recognized the potential for humorous commentary on the original series’ campy optimism. Maybe Tarantino was right after all?

Writer Mark L Smith, who was hired by Paramount to write a long-since-abandoned Star Trek script for the Pulp Fiction film-maker to direct, seems to think so. Speaking to Collider, he confirms the film would have been bloodthirsty and not a little sweary.

Smith shared that the director intended for the film to be very intense. It was going to have a high rating and include violent scenes similar to those in Pulp Fiction. While there wouldn’t be much profanity, there were some specific characters who would use it to add a unique touch to the Star Trek world. Overall, the director’s edgy and Tarantino-inspired style would have made for a cool movie.

How close was this project to being produced? According to Smith, the project, along with other scrapped movies planned after 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, was ultimately abandoned due to QT’s hesitation about it being his 10th and last film.

Smith stated, “This story was unique and unlike any other that Quentin wanted to share. It aligned with my personal sensibilities, so I wrote it. Quentin and I collaborated on it, but he became concerned about his self-imposed limit of films.”

“I recall our conversation where he expressed, ‘If I can fully comprehend the notion that Star Trek may be my final film, the ultimate thing I ever accomplish. Is this how I want it to conclude?’ And I believe that was the obstacle he struggled to overcome. Thus, the script remains untouched on his desk.”

He spoke positively about it, but the likelihood of it coming to fruition is low. If it did happen, it would be an amazing Star Trek movie, not because of my writing, but because of Tarantino’s vision for it. It was a bold and daring idea.

The existence of a real script adds fuel to the daydreams of enthusiasts who enjoy imagining the “lost” films that never made it to production. However, it appears that Smith’s screenplay was specifically crafted for Tarantino, making it highly improbable for it to be brought to fruition now that the director has announced his 10th and final film, titled The Movie Critic.

Maybe this is the ideal situation. No matter your opinion of Tarantino, he is the only filmmaker who can successfully execute such high-quality interpretations of unique and unconventional film techniques. He is the cultural enthusiast with a strangely magical talent for transforming low-budget film into highly-praised, award-winning cinema. To have anyone else direct the Star Trek script would be like discovering a collection of unreleased Beatles songs and proposing that someone other than John, Paul, George, and Ringo create a new album.

However, Tarantino has shown that he is not concerned about overstaying his welcome, as long as he can continue to create in different forms of media. If Smith’s script is not suitable for a feature film, it could potentially be adapted for a future television episode. In the constantly evolving Star Trek era, it seems that unexpected and delightful things are constantly occurring.

Source: theguardian.com