Star Trek’s upcoming prequel movie is pulling the same trick for the 4th time

Star TrekThe first theatrical film in 8 years will be another prequel that tries to pull the same franchise trick for the 4th time. 2016s Star Trek Next Release was the last Star Trek film to be seen on the big screen, and its lack of mega-hit status is one factor that mired Star Trek 4 In development hell. Since 2017, Star Trek TV shows – and soon his first streaming movie – have been released on streaming platforms like Paramount + and Netflix. Star TrekHis untitled debut movie is expected in 2026 and will sign The franchise’s 4th attempt to do the same thing.

JJ Abrams rebooted the Star Trek Movie franchise in 2009, which was the second time Star Trek Tried a prequel. The first was the Scott Bakula-led Star Trek: Enterprisewhich depicted the first of several versions of the Starship Enterprise a century earlier Star Trek: The Original Series. yet Star Trek NextAnother prequel TV series, Star Trek: Discoverywas set a decade earlier Star Trek: The Original Series. While Star Trek: Discovery Eventually sent the show into the 32nd century, its spin-off series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Became yet another prequel to the Star Trek: The Original Series Era.

Star Trek’s new prequel is his fourth attempt at telling an origin story

The new film will be set primarily on Earth and could depict humanity’s early contact with aliens

The appeal of an origin story is a strong one, especially considering how vast and diverse these are Star Trek Timeline is. With so many beloved characters and iconic stories, the desire to see the origins of some of sci-fi’s greatest stories is no surprise. However, after 4 versions of the prequel premise, it might be time for Star Trek To look at the future Instead focusing on his canon timeline past. But with star treks unnamed origin movie supposedly in production with an expected – but not confirmed – 2026 release date, the franchise still seems to be going backwards.

The problem is not with the concept of prequels, which have mostly been successful in the past, but rather with the repeated attempts to get them right. Although what’s next for Star Trek may not be a reach in the future, There are a few upcoming projects that could end up counterbalancing the overuse of prequels. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century after Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) reopens the academy. Star Treks first streaming movie, Star Trek: Episode 31Will have flashbacks of Empress Philippa Georgiou’s (Michelle Yeoh) younger years in the Mirror Universe, but it’s not necessarily a prequel.

Star Trek should focus on the future, not the past

Looking to the future is the best way to move the franchise forward

If Star Trek Continue to look for stories in the established canon’s past, then the timeline can not move forward, and the universe can not expand. This dilemma can even slow down the creation of new ones Star Trek Projects that relied heavily on the current canon. The exciting part about Star Trek Has boldly gone where no one has gone before, so revising the same places will not end well if it continues to be the only plan for new content. New, exciting, fresh stories set in the future—or somewhere the franchise hasn’t been—would be just that Star Trek Desperately needed.

Star Trek‘s optimistic next show is a step in the right direction for a franchise that has long been too focused on its own past. Even still, there are more prequel projects than anything else, and the balance needs to be brought back. star trek‘s untitled prequel is expected to depict humanity’s early contact with aliens, but since the story has been covered before, the 4th attempt at an origin story will have to find a new way to tell the story. With so much focus on explaining the past, Star Trek Runs the risk of getting stuck there.