Ronald Moore doesn’t think Star Trek works well as a film franchise

Star Terk may work better as a TV series and not a film series.

Speaking to TrekMovie.com back in February, Ronald Moore opened up about his trepidations about ever doing another Star Trek film. Moore originally did Star Trek: Generations and then First Contact. First Contact is a film he loves, while Generations, not so much. Moore would leave Star Trek and revive the Battlestar Galactica franchise and create four really impressive seasons of content. Reviving a dead brand, making it modern but also making sure the core of the original was still there.

He became a science fiction genius with that franchise. Sure, the way it ended left some disappointed, mainly with the Kara Thrace storyline, but it was great television. With Star Trek in a state where fans are divided over how good it is or lack thereof, a force like Moore would stabilize things.

So when TrekMovie.com asked Moore if he’d make a Star Trek film again if he were approached, Moore was pretty adamant that the concept just doesn’t work as a film in his opinion.

"…I’m not sure because Trek is, in some ways, an uncomfortable fit to the big screen I’ve kind of come to feel, even though I did two of them. …The movies have to be gigantic, action-adventure, lots of shooting, lots of things at stake – except for Voyage Home. And that’s not really Star Trek to me.To me, Trek is a morality play. It’s a show about ethical dilemmas. It’s a science fiction show about “What if?” And it’s a character piece. The best parts of Trek don’t necessarily lend themselves towards the big screen….So, if they asked me what to do with the movies, I don’t know. I’d want to reboot and start over and do something very different. And try a different flavor of Star Trek for the big screen. And not just make ‘Who’s going to be the “Khan” in this version? What’s the big, giant weapon that’s going to threaten the universe? Or anything like that…."

He’s not wrong.

The best moments in Star Trek aren’t the universe-ending story arcs but the everyday issues that pop up. The disagreements over what to do in a situation where there is no right answer (except Tuvix, separating him was the only right move). Those are the beats and moments that define the franchise. Not just those moments but the after effect of those moments.

Ben Sisko committing a war crime to get the Romulans into the Dominion War? That was great television. Not only because he elected to cover it up, and not inform the Romulans of what happened, but his guilt riddled declaration at the end of the episode, where he declares proudly that he could live with the guilty conscience, all before somberly deleting his entire entree, clearly conflicted over the matter.

Sure, you might get moments like that in a Star Trek movie, but if the Avengers films are any indication of what Hollywood is right now, you’d have to wait 11 years to actually get to it. So why bother?

Keep Star Trek as a show. That’s where it’s best at.