Image from nerdist.com
The new Star Trek movies, released in 2009 and 2013, are a reboot of the original series, an alternate universe and an alternate reality that presents well-known and well-loved characters in a new light. While the new movies have their place in the Star Trek fandom, the original Star Trek series is what made their fame possible.
The original Star Trek series written by Gene Rodenberry first aired in 1966, the first episode being “The Man Trap”. The series ran for three years, covering three out of five years of the U.S.S. Enterprise’s five-year mission. In 1987, The Next Generation was introduced, and the franchise took off from there.
The original Star Trek series by no means fell off the map. From cameo appearances by Captain Kirk to a crossover episode involving the furry lumps called tribbles, the original series was still prominent in the minds of fans, even if they heard no more of the Enterprise crew’s five year mission.
A year ago, I went to a panel where popular and talented voice actors Vic Mignogna and Todd Haberkorn detailed their plans for a fan series in-the-making. The idea was to continue the five year mission of U.S.S. Enterprise where they had last left off. Pooling their resources with others interested in the project, they were able to create a detailed reproduction of the original Star Trek set. The goal was not to create a carbon copy of the original series, but to put their own spin on the characters while still telling the stories of the Enterprise crew in a way familiar to fans both old and new. They even used special effects similar to those employed in the original episodes. This news created quite a stir in the packed panel room, but it would be almost another year until we actually saw the results of their ambition and passion. It was well worth the wait.
On the weekend of May 24, 2013 at the Phoenix ComicCon, Vic Mignogna, in association with Farragut Films released “Pilgrim of Eternity,” episode one of the new fan series Star Trek Continues. Several weeks later, I had the pleasure of seeing the episode myself at the Sandusky Ohio ColossalCon. In the episode, the Enterprise crew encounter an aged Apollo, a godlike being whom they have encountered before. Captain Kirk, played by Vic Mignogna, has to determine whether Apollo is still a threat to his crew, or if he can help Apollo, who has lost everything, rebuild his life.
“Pilgrim of Eternity” was posted on the Star Trek Continues website, free for anyone to view, along with several mini episodes. Mignogna and the others hope to release one to three episodes a year. They fund filming and production of the episodes out of their own pockets. After the showing of “Pilgrim of Eternity” at ColossalCon, Mignogna spoke about how Star Trek was an inspiration to him and how it influenced not only the the creation of Star Trek Continues, but his own career. While I may not be a Trekkie, or anything close to an expert on the vastness and devotion of the fandom, I understand the excitement of this undertaking and I look forward to seeing the continued journeys of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
