Aussie Author’s Rejected Star Trek Pitch

Andy Weir, the celebrated author behind the blockbuster novel Project Hail Mary, has revealed that his vision for a new Star Trek series was met with rejection from Paramount. The acclaimed novelist, who gained significant international recognition when his book The Martian was masterfully adapted into a film by Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon in 2015, didn’t hold back his critique of the current slate of Star Trek spin-off shows.

“Those shows are s,” Weir candidly stated, further elaborating on his disappointment. “But they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f ‘em.”

Speaking on The Critical Drinker podcast, Weir articulated his belief that while most contemporary science fiction productions owe a significant debt to the original Star Trek series, the current Star Trek offerings appear to be an exception to this rule.

A Sci-Fi Childhood and Evolving Tastes

Weir, identifying with Generation X, shared that his formative years of science fiction consumption were largely shaped by reruns of the original Star Trek and Lost in Space. He noted a scarcity of new, space-faring adventures on television during his youth, with a significant shift occurring with the advent of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

When the podcast host suggested a radical pruning of the Star Trek canon, proposing the removal of all content post-Star Trek: Enterprise (which aired from 2001 to 2005), Weir offered a more measured perspective. “Okay, you’re a little more severe than I am,” he responded.

A Consumer’s Verdict on Modern Trek

Weir then proceeded to offer his personal opinions, framing them as those of a regular viewer. He expressed a fondness for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, deeming it “pretty good.” His feelings towards Star Trek: Enterprise were mixed, describing it as “kind of weird.” Star Trek: Lower Decks received a positive endorsement for being “entertaining and fun.” However, for the remaining series, Weir’s sentiment was clear: “All the others, they can go.”

The Rejected Pitch

It was during this discussion that Weir brought up his own attempt to contribute to the franchise. “And here’s another thing: I pitched a Star Trek show to Paramount,” he revealed. He detailed his engagement with the showrunners of the current series, including extensive discussions with executive producer Alex Kurtzman.

Despite the positive personal interaction, Weir reiterated his strong reservations about the direction of the newer shows, stating, “I don’t like a lot of the new Trek. He, as a person, is a really nice guy. But at the same time, those shows are s. He is a nice guy. But they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f ‘em.”

Paramount has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Weir’s remarks.

Project Hail Mary‘s Success

This critique comes at a time of significant professional triumph for Weir. His novel, Project Hail Mary, has recently surpassed Avatar: Fire and Ash to claim the title of the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year. The film, based on Weir’s best-selling book, stars Ryan Gosling as a science teacher tasked with a critical mission to space to save humanity.