It’s sounding more and more like the original starship USS Enterprise - NCC-1701 has indeed been redesigned for Star Trek (11).
First came a report from IESB a month ago stating that the ship will have a new design in the movie. Now TrekWeb points us to a post over at the Star Trek New Voyages forum where James Cawley claims that he has seen the new starship Enterprise NCC-1701. Cawley is producer of the New Voyages fan-made Star Trek series and plays Captain Kirk as well.
He was not pleased with the new look of the iconic NCC-1701.
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On the forum, Cawley makes clear that he wants the film to succeed:
“I understand the reboot thing, it is simply business and a way to hopefully sell many more new action figures and toys based on new designs, it always comes down to the money to be made. I just don’t agree with changing such iconic designs that are so ingrained in pop culture, it is really needless.”
“I would be a hypocrite if I did not believe in recasting these iconic roles, I do in fact support it. I just don’t want the production design radically changed. I see Matt Jeffries’ designs as ‘TIMELESS’ and as ‘Pure Science Fiction’, I feel the Big E as designed by Matt deserves it’s day on the big screen.”
There’s no doubt that Cawley is a huge Star Trek fan as evidenced by the fact that he has put together enough money, people and resources to have created multiple “webisodes” of a series with very impressive sets and production values (they even had George Takei guest star in one episode). There’s no doubt that’s pretty hard core, but I think from his statements that he’s at least open to the concept of rebooting the series, even if he’s not totally in favor of it.
As to his specific thoughts on the redesigned Enterprise:
“Yes, I have seen the New REBOOTED Enterprise… at any rate, I don’t like it. It is supposed to be NCC-1701, no bloody A,B,C,D or E! and it sure does not look like the 1701 I grew up with!”
“I have seen what was purported to be the final design of the New Enterprise, and I don’t like the changes. Period.”
And what does it look like, exactly?
“…all I will say is that the ship design seems to borrow heavily from ‘Contemporary Trek.’”
From his comments it sounds like the ship will retain it’s overall saucer, main hull and twin nacelle configuration but within the confines of those elements you can still have a design that is very different from the original.
For reference purposes, here is a history of the design of the USS Enterprise on TV and in the movies:
This was the first Enterprise designed for the screen. The image above is from the newly remastered version of The Original Series and is a new CGI model. Notice how they avoided the temptation to “upgrade” it in any way. It’s completely faithful to the original.
This was the upgraded version used in the six films starring the original cast.
This ship was highlighted briefly in the awful Star Trek: Generations. It was on it’s inaugural journey and was the ship on which Captain Kirk was supposedly killed.
This ship was highlighted in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Yesterday’s Enterprise where it traveled through time to the future to meet Captain Picard and crew. You can see that it has more in common with the original ship and the 1701-A than it does with the 1701-B. That’s because it was designed in 1990 while the 1701-B was designed in 1994.
This is the ship that came about 100 years after Kirk’s era. It is monstrously huge and I was always torn regarding the look of it - from some angles it looks great but from others I always thought it look very ungainly.
This is the version that followed the destruction of the 1701-D. In my opinion it’s ugly as sin and I believe that it is supposed to be even larger than the already huge “D.”
Finally, here is the prime example of a new take on what is supposed to be a ship built 100 years before the NCC-1701:
Long time Trek fans went nuts when they first saw this design for the TV show Star Trek: Enterprise. It was obviously based on a flipped over version of an Akira-class ship from the Next Generation era of Star Trek, therefore looking much more advanced than the original Enterprise. This, despite the fact that it was supposed to have been built and designed 100 years before the NCC-1701.
Now granted, there is a brand new production team working on the new film. As far as I know no one associated with the old production is on this including any of the art/design team that defined the look of Star Trek for so long. Still, I think they may go a little bit overboard on the Enterprise redesign in order to make it more suitable for the big screen. I would have been ok with them using the same ship as the frame but adding a bit more detail to the exterior, but I get the feeling that they’re going to fiddle with the core look of the ship.
It will be interesting to finally see what they come up with, but personally I’m nervous about it. Star Trek is almost as much about the Enterprise as it is about it’s crew.
[UPDATE: Here it is, the brand new USS Enterprise]
Oh, and finally… here is one fan’s interpretation of what a redesigned NCC-1701 should look like (I think I would have preferred this over what they came up with):
Source: Star Trek New Voyages forum (registration required) and images from Memory Alpha
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159 Comments
Thank you very much, sir. Nice to know I’m not alone here. Also, I apologize for my typing error which resulted in Star Trek being referred to as “Start Trek”. I just get so excited sometimes, my fingers fly faster than I realize.
I note that Abrams has been quoted as saying he’s open to reintroducing Khan in (I’m going to call it) the “New Mirror Universe”. This would negate one of my own ideas, that just before he leaves, Spock Prime (aka Future Spock) would tell Kirk- “By the way, if you encounter a sleeper ship named Botany Bay, save yourself a lot of trouble and fill it with torpedoes first chance you get. And steer clear of planets in the Ceti Alpha system!”
I am a huge Trek fan and I liked the new movie a lot. Just because things won’t play out the same way in the “quantum reality” doesn’t mean you still can’t have great stories. Take, for instance, the Khan scenario mentioned by Paul; let’s say that the Botany Bay is found by another starship and Khan takes over. The Federation contacts the Enterprise and informs Kirk that communication with starship “whatever” has been lost and Kirk goes to the last known position of the ship. The only thing he finds is wreckage from a late 20th century vessel. They eventually locate the ship by it’s transponder single and after finding out the damage that Khan has done. They engage and finally destroys Khan. This is one of many possible stories that could be written, like Khan allying with Romulus, or the Klingons (since they would know about augments already). Nomad is still out there as well as the whale probe, Zepphram Cochran, Vger, etc… These could lead to some great movies with the right writers.
Ok…two points….
1) ST Generations was awesome. I don’t know what movie you were watching…
2) The Enterprise E is the best of them all! Seriously…. You must not be a true Trekkie.
OK, so… your opinion is valid, but mine is not.
Gotcha, just wanted to be clear.
Vic
Glancing up the page at some earlier comments, ie way before I posted any remarks, it seems that several people need to clarify their desires. Joe seemingly griped first that the ship doesn’t look enough like the original Enterprise- but a few sentences later, complained that the saucer looks just like the Enterprise-A — and concluded with “I wish they would do it from scratch” and “Get an imagination”?
Clearly you can’t please everybody, but I wish fans would give the film a chance. I certainly don’t feel like Mr. Abrams “thumbed his nose at the fans.” And how much more respectful can you get than dedicating the film to the Roddenberrys?
There is apparently a group who have anointed themselves as “true” fans, based on disliking the movie, who then define anyone who likes it as “not a true fan.” How many true fans thought ST V was a great motion picture? Judge the film by its merits and the fans likewise.
For the record, I am starting to believe this is the MOST beautiful Enterprise yet created! I find that I am now subtly bothered by how far forward the saucer is on the original designs- it looks so vulnerable, compared to the new design with its nice, thick dorsal. Not that ANY Enterprise design has been less than beautiful in my book- but I think the 2009 design tops them all. Also, LOVE THE MACHINE-GUN PHASERS!
Plus, the Kelvin was pretty nice as well. Hope they come out with a model or toy of her soon. (Beyond the Burger King toy, that is {he said with a grin})
Well, most of these comments appear to think that the “new” Enterprise is horridly disgusting. I agree with Paul, above. This ship is gorgeous.
There are likely two reasons that I feel this way:
1. I grew up on Next Gen, not on TOS, so my perspective is different (I grew up on new Camaros too…).
2. I don’t NEED to see the copy of something that was made on a shoestring budget 40 years ago. The Enterprise from TOS was a model of 60’s “bedazled” futurism. This is 2009. Our view, and the view of the vast majoprity of the moviegoing public is far different with regards to what the future should look like.
Paramount wanted to make $$ off of the franchise (and maybe reinvigorate it). This update does that for them. The “alternate universe” idea of the film also lets them mess with more in future, so be prepared to lose more than plain hulls and Vulcan.
@Paul…
I agree with your take on the quantum universes and that all that happened before will still happen in the original universe. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, loved the new Enterprise (I thought it was great that they actually had the shuttle craft on different levels, using the room instead of having all that empty space), and I look forward to seeing a reinvigorated Trek universe. To all the haters…would you rather not have ANY new Trek? Because that’s what would have happened if this movie wasn’t successful. To me, Trek is best on the big screen and this movie looked AWESOME on the big screen.
Thanks guys. For some more views of the Enterprise check out The Enterprise Project,
http://www.startrekmovie.com/modelgallery/
Andy, I agree that Trek is gorgeous on the big screen, and, good news, the cast is already signed for 2 more (so I have read)- but hey, let’s not rule out a new series too! (Are you listening, Paramount?)
I think ST Fan may have been indulging in sarcasm… so many of the posts (especially prior to May 8 when we first actually saw the newest movie) seemed to judge who was and was not a “true” fan, as I said, based mostly on whether you like or do not like the Abrams film. Vic, your opinion is as valid as mine or anyone’s, provided you actually saw the film and are basing your opinion on FACT/experience and not speculation.
@Vic
Of course your opinion isn’t valid, mine is the only valid opinion. And unless you know how to calculate the ratio of matter to anti-matter trying to get to Qonos travelling at warp 5.5, you’re not a Trek fan.
@Paul
Wait, are you actually thinking I might NOT have seen the movie? Are you kidding?
Vic
@Vic
No no, I’m thinking that all those pre- May 8 writers, who based their opinions on a few pre-release photos of the Enterprise and the fact that J.J. Abrams said he was “not a Trekkie”, especially the gentleman who said he was planning to just wait and rent the DVD (Joe, I think it was), might actually have gone so far as to not see the movie. I may be speculating wildly here, and they will let me know if I am, but those who are actually proud of being a member of a small and fairly elite audience (which you and I also are), might actually feel offended that such a mass audience has embraced the latest incarnation of Trek (”the box office says it all” and “this movie wasn’t made for us, it was made for them” are a couple quotes I remember)- and THEY might not go see the movie just out of spite (”I hope it tanks” someone also wrote). This seems illogical, like being a Democrat who is resentful at all the other people who finally voted Democrat last year (because they are newbies, “they aren’t lifelong supporters like me”).
I’m off in an hour to see the film again. I think Sulu said it all (in “The Wrath of Khan”)– “I’m delighted at any chance to go aboard the Enterprise.”
Before I start on my views on the movie, I would like to pose a question (or two) regarding the newly redesigned Enterprise. When the BBC restarted the Doctor Who series, what would science fiction fans had thought if they had opted to eliminate the iconic police box TARDIS in favor of a more modern style British phone booth? The subtle changes in plot, technique and budget was made more palatable because the shows iconic centerpiece remained unchanged. Battlestar Galactica is almost a moot point in discussions of this nature due largely in part to the fact that other than the overall plot line and characters, there are virtually no similiarities between the two series runs. it would be akin to having Shawn Ryan creating a live action reboot of The Simpson.
In my opinion, the public, and the Star Trek fandom were not awarded their just due, in finally being able to see the classic Enterprise broght alive on the big screen, in a manner that finally made it appear “real.”
Both fans and non fans alike would readily agree with the “cheeziness” of the original sets, wardrobe, and in many cases, overacting, however the actual vessel itself was never in question and, in many aspects transcended the series itself and became a cultural icon of exploration and discovery.
Using the original design of the Enterprise, even with the addition of more depth and detail; including exterior bridge windows, external phaser banks and photon torpedo launchers, leaving the vessel generally in tact would have been a no-lose senerio for the Abrams team. Such a redesign was un-necessary due to it’s historical & cultural status and could be construed as a selfish and egocentric act on their behalf.
In the aspect of the story, Abrams did us all a favor (not to ruin it for those who have yet to partake) with the overly Star Trek plot twist that temporal dynamics provide. In some aspects, it makes the debatable undebatable.
On the technological sides, Star Fleet appeared to be more organized, however, more of a militaristic organize and less oriented towards science as it’s prior incarnations. It seems to make for a more organized structure within Starfleet, but also manages to deminish some of the exploratory feel of Roddenberry’s image of the organization.
Again, without the spoiler, you cannot really discuss the career relationships of the central characters under cannon, as here, it does not apply. However, many of the roles are note worthy for their rendition of the classic characters. By the end of the movie, I was easily able to see both Kirk and Spock, not from the mannerisms, but from the central points of those characters. Scotty as comic relief is well played. Intresting though, is the choices to portray the bumbling Ensign Chekov and a child genius and Uhura as a sex symbol. By far, the most noteworthy performace of the film, was Urban’s modern, yet accurate performance as Dr. McCoy.
Overall, the film was successful enough, even to me, to leave me wondering about an upcoming television series, or at least a sequal.
I loved watching the old startrek episodes. they were campy and fun. I loved TNG, it was big beautiful and stories were grand. I enjoyed Voyager, it was adventurous and the effects were brilliant. The ones after, not so much.
But I liked this latest movie most of all. It is fun and campy, the universe was big and sets were beautiful. It was full of adventure and the effects were great!!!
I love startrek, but i watch other sci fi series too. Startrek was the first but the ones that followed helped expand and enrich the genre. Diverse numbers of ships, designs, stories, technologies cropped up because of them. I loved it!!! The other series have great ideas too and I don’t think it is irreverent or disrespectful if Startrek incorporated those great ideas into itself. I mean startrek IS space drama, it is the genre.
the ship was like a rough and tumble ready mix of all the ships I’ve come to love, in the recognizable enterprise profile. I was startled at first but I loved it by the end of the film.
@Dan
Nice analysis. As a Trekker, I did overly analyze much of the film using what I know about the Trek universe but I still came out loving the film. And your comment about Urban is exactly the same as mine; I thought he nailed McCoy’s character. I would rather they do a sequel instead of another series; at least hold off for a few years for a series.
Wow, fun discussion! But I think we’ve strayed a bit (partly my fault, I’ve done this too) from the original topic, “How Radical Is The Enterprise Re-Design?” into just movie reviews, worthy though these are.
And in answer to the central question, I agree with Lt Marky- it’s a ready-mix of all the ships and with the classic Enterprise profile. The primary hull is still a saucer mounted on a big pylon (both having more in common with the “Motion Picture” Enterprise refit than the original Matt Jeffries design); the engineering hull is still basically a tube, with a shuttle bay in the rear and a big deflector dish in the front (this one glows and seems a lot bigger, but that ought to make it better at deflecting, right?); and the warp nacelles are still basically two more tubes mounted on long pylons (slightly bent/curved this time), with glowing bits in front and two long attachments at the rear (I think those are the intercoolers, I could be wrong). The whole design is a lot more “blended” than the original designs, in keeping with what we now know to be cutting-edge technology (e.g. the stealth fighter and F-22), but not nearly as blended as the “E”-model Sovereign-class ship- which is as it should be, this is a much earlier design. But as I said in my earlier post, it doesn’t make sense to think that, if history changed 25 years ago, the design would magically turn out to be the same in this new timeline as in the original series! (Wierdly, the Klingon cruiser doesn’t seem to have changed that I could see from our brief look- but then again, it wasn’t their history that changed so much, was it? I mean, war with the Federation- what else is there to say?)
This Enterprise is no more radical than any other we’ve seen- and remember, the original design (all hail Matt Jeffries) was considered pretty darn radical in 1966, when TV and movie spaceships were either Flash Gordon rockets or huge saucers ala “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. I think this redesign, like the whole movie, is a fitting tribute to the original as well as a stunningly cool (is that a phaser joke?) update for the 21st Century!
I’m hoping they’re on “warp speed” for the next script as we speak!
I now know why the Enterprise was changed, it’s because of the alternate timeline created when Nero and “Prime” Spock went back in time. So the changes makes perfect sense to me!
I know we just got the new version of Kirks old version of the Enterprise but I’m starting to scratch my head on the refurbishment of the ship already. I’ve only come up with ideas of the pylons scince the sleek look is it, I would like to improvise from Enterprise-E’s pylons in a reversed kind of way to preserve the jet wing look. Any one know of any sites that have this idea going on?
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