DST / EMCE Star Trek are Back!?! Not so fast:-(

[SpaceAgent]

Does the general public even know it's an anniversary year? With no new Star Trek on TV, no old Star Trek on the air, no new video releases planned (just reissues), and only a third big-budget movie mid-summer, there's not a lot to let people know it's Star Trek's 50th anniversary. It seems the anniversary isn't going to merit more than a few mentions in the press for the new movie. Back in 1991, it was impossible to miss the fact that it was Star Trek's 25th anniversary. There was a TV special, a new movie, new episodes of The Next Generation, loads of new products, magazine covers; it was everywhere.

Paramount and CBS don't seem terribly invested in Star Trek, even though they call it their "family jewel." So, DST's frustration that more people aren't picking up on the anniversary this year may stem from the inaction at the top of the Star Trek food chain.

[EMCE Hammer]

Does the general public even know it's an anniversary year? With no new Star Trek on TV, no old Star Trek on the air, no new video releases planned (just reissues), and only a third big-budget movie mid-summer, there's not a lot to let people know it's Star Trek's 50th anniversary. It seems the anniversary isn't going to merit more than a few mentions in the press for the new movie. Back in 1991, it was impossible to miss the fact that it was Star Trek's 25th anniversary. There was a TV special, a new movie, new episodes of The Next Generation, loads of new products, magazine covers; it was everywhere.

Paramount and CBS don't seem terribly invested in Star Trek, even though they call it their "family jewel." So, DST's frustration that more people aren't picking up on the anniversary this year may stem from the inaction at the top of the Star Trek food chain.

I agree. If it weren't for this board and the fact that ST was a Mego license, I don't know that I'd be thinking about Trek at all right now. Expanding the customer base seems hard in the current environment, but I am hoping things will ramp up. There is starting to be some buzz about the next TV series which can't hurt.

[SKotK]

There was a similar thing that happened in 2013 with Doctor Who's 50th anniversary. Early in the year, people were beginning to wonder if there was really much going on at all, because nothing seemed to be happening. But gradually over the course of the year, it built up into more and more hype and excitement, until by the end of the year it was boiling over with merchandise, documentaries, online activity and TV specials going on...and to top that all off, two nearly-complete lost episodes from the 60s were returned that hadn't been seen since their original airing. It wound up being a really exciting year by the end.

I'm hoping the same thing happens with Trek, but right now it seems even quieter than it was for Doctor Who around this time. The new movie will of course stir things up a bit, but so far it's been getting really bad press...and that doesn't bode well.* I think a lot of that stems from continued backlash against Star Trek Into Darkness. Honestly, the new movie could be good, despite the trailer's poor reception...it's too early to call it at this point. It needs to be better than Into Darkness, at the very least. Ideally, it needs to get back to what makes it Star Trek.

--SKot


* On top of that, there's the really ill-advised CBS lawsuit against the Axanar fan-film, which--even if they are in the right somehow--is not going to produce anything other than massive resentment on the part of the fans against CBS during the anniversary year. If they were smart, they would drop it or try and work it out in an amicable way before the damage is done.

[Mego-Amigo]

We went to the Star Trek 50th Con in Atlanta a couple of months ago and it was very small and quiet. Shatner was great to see again but the dealer's room was very small.

[Barnabas Collins]

We went to the Star Trek 50th Con in Atlanta a couple of months ago and it was very small and quiet. Shatner was great to see again but the dealer's room was very small.

That Atlanta convention was very poorly advertised. To keep this on-topic, I'm looking forward to whatever Trek figures DST/EMCE releases this year.

Barnabas Collins

[SpaceAgent]

It seems I am not the only one wondering where Paramount is with marketing Star Trek:

Why the Hell Aren't We Hearing More About Star Trek Beyond?

http://io9.gizmodo.com/why-the-hell-arent-we-hearing-more-about-star-trek-beyo-1771204378?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=io9_facebook

[TrekStar]

It seems I am not the only one wondering where Paramount is with marketing Star Trek:

Why the Hell Aren't We Hearing More About Star Trek Beyond?

http://io9.gizmodo.com/why-the-hell-...e=io9_facebook

Maybe they don't want to over advertise it since that's what they did with B vs S and it was something of a
disappointment, maybe they will keep it low profile until it's released in theaters, it may get better reviews?

[SpaceAgent]

Maybe they don't want to over advertise it since that's what they did with B vs S and it was something of a
disappointment, maybe they will keep it low profile until it's released in theaters, it may get better reviews?

No, BvS didn't do as well as hoped because it's not a very good movie, and the film's relentlessly grim tone alienates a big chunk of audience, not to mention children.

Paramount's relative silence on Star Trek says that they don't have a lot of faith in the movie (and don't want to waste money marketing it). It also reinforces that Paramount doesn't know what to do with Star Trek.

[melkorjunior]

No, BvS didn't do as well as hoped because it's not a very good movie, and the film's relentlessly grim tone alienates a big chunk of audience, not to mention children.

Paramount's relative silence on Star Trek says that they don't have a lot of faith in the movie (and don't want to waste money marketing it). It also reinforces that Paramount doesn't know what to do with Star Trek.

Giving Trek to JJ Abrams and his team was just as much of a mistake as WB giving the reins to the DC Cinematic Universe to Zack Snyder. Neither of them actually understand or even really like the characters all that much. Abrams did his best to turn Trek into Star Wars and Kirk into Han Solo, while Snyder is trying to turn Superman into Dr. Manhattan and Batman into Rorschach.

[Mego-Amigo]

Hence why I could care less about most modern movies based on iconic characters that I grew up with.

[phil]

Has the release date for the Security Guard and Cheron figures been changed?

[SKotK]

Has the release date for the Security Guard and Cheron figures been changed?

Sounds like it may be up in the air now, but the last date we had for them is Summer 2016. I haven't heard any changes so far.

--SKot

[SKotK]

Well, this may not mean much, but it looks like DST currently has Security & Cheron 2, Spock & Khan, and Sulu & Gorn listed to be available Spring 2016...and Entertainment Earth has them listed as shipping in May 2016. So maybe these are actually coming soon. I've placed my pre-order for Security & Cheron 2 in hopes that it might arrive next month.

--SKot

[phil]

Thanks for the updates.

[SKotK]

Thanks for the updates.

Oddly enough, Kirk & Klingon are still listed as being available Winter 2015/2016 on DST's site (I don't think they ever came out - are they still in the works?). Uhura and Mugato are still listed for Summer 2016. Entertainment Earth doesn't have pre-orders for any of these 4 figures on their site.

--SKot