Let’s face it. Well managed franchises can do really well. James Bond. Argue the flaws all you want Star Wars is just huge. Has been since the first movie was released. In part you have to look at who the responsible parties are. In part the public whim.

Star Trek has had some great TV moments some good films and scenes. it has been an uneven earner though. Some franchise moments were truly cringe worthy. Frankly putting people in charge that disdain the original series was a terribly damaging decision. Fans know who I mean.

One point seven million views of the indy production below. Axanar has attracted serious talent. but it has done so when CBS / Paramount are stumbling badly. By that I mean the franchise has no good plan. Flagpole blockbuster aspirations for the next film that are frankly overblown for this franchise. Myopic as in little long term plan for stories that maybe, just maybe don’t involve losing the Enterprise. Little plan for a long wanted television series that need not be attached to the core crew or ship. 2 hour spinoff anyone?

Sadly ego is overcoming good sense and any sense of what’s good for the franchise rather than the execs.

‘Axanar’ aims to be a professional-quality prequel and has raised more than $1 million.
For decades, Paramount and CBS have tolerated and even encouraged fans of the Star Trek franchise to use their imagination at will, but on Tuesday the entertainment companies went to their battle stations and launched a legal missile at a production company touting the first independent Star Trek film.

Axanar, the subject of a lawsuit filed on Friday in California federal court, is no ordinary Star Trek film. The forthcoming feature film (preceded by a short film) is the source of more than $1 million in crowdfunding on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The producers, led by Alec Peters, aim to make a studio-quality film. As the pitch to investors put it, “While some may call it a ‘fan film’ as we are not licensed by CBS, Axanar has professionals working in front and behind the camera, with a fully-professional crew — many of whom have worked on Star Trek itself — who ensure Axanar will be the quality of Star Trek that all fans want to see.”

Paramount and CBS see a violation of their intellectual property.

Crowdfunded ‘Star Trek’ Movie Draws Lawsuit from Paramount, CBS

Axanar, the subject of a lawsuit filed on Friday in California federal court, is no ordinary Star Trek film. The forthcoming feature film (preceded by a short film) is the source of more than $1 million in crowdfunding on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The producers, led by Alec Peters, aim to make a studio-quality film. As the pitch to investors put it, “While some may call it a ‘fan film’ as we are not licensed by CBS, Axanar has professionals working in front and behind the camera, with a fully-professional crew — many of whom have worked on Star Trek itself — who ensure Axanar will be the quality of Star Trek that all fans want to see.”

Paramount and CBS see a violation of their intellectual property.

Video

Prelude to Axanar (Official)
1,737,359 views 1 year ago
UPDATE — Our second feature-length film fundraiser is live on Indiegogo!. Visit axanarproduction… to help make independent Star Trek film history. Also be sure to visit us at axanarproduction…, or on Facebook at facebook.com… for regular updates on the production!

Axanar is the independent production that proves a feature-quality Star Trek film can be made on a very modest budget — approximately $80,000 in the case of the short film that you just watched — and outside of the studio system. Filmed in Hollywood, this effort, our short proof-of-concept film to show what our professional and highly talented cast and crew can deliver, was made possible by generous donations…