Rod Roddenberry isn’t too keen on Quentin Tarantino taking on Star Trek either.
For some time, Quentin Tarantino was quietly considered for a Star Trek film. That movie, thankfully, never happened and more recently details have emerged about the film from the man who helped write the script, Mark L. Smith. Smith describes the film as a gangster flick.
As Tarantino’s flicks are genuinely gory, violent, and very much not what Trek is about, most fans had an issue with the idea of Tarantino taking over such a beloved franchise. There were some fans who thought it’d be cool to see what Tarantino could do, but ultimately Paramount and ViacomCBS opted not to go with his pitched projects.
This worked out for Rod Roddenberry as well, who didn’t like the idea of doing a Star Trek meets Reservoir Dogs style film. Roddenberry, whose father created Star Trek, told Forbes how he felt;
"I do not think you could say we’re going to do a Reservoir Dogs Star Trek. I’ll be honest, that doesn’t work for me, but he is a fan, and I think as a fan, he probably understands to some degree that Star Trek has to have some of this messaging. I would be curious, and I would try to have an open mind, but I’m not sure what it would be. I am glad that people are willing to explore that at least."
Rod Roddenberry is right about Quentin Tarantino not working for Star Trek
When it comes to the brand that is Star Trek, some people just fit with what the brand is attempting to do. Some, like Tarantino, do not. Tarantino has never made a move that wasn’t violent, bloody, gory, and completely nonfamily friendly. It’s his staple. Everything is over the top in that regard.
Trek, on the other hand, has been and should always be a family-inclusive series. Maybe not every show has to be geared for children, but no parent should have to usher their child out of a room because of something on Star Trek.
Not that franchise. Not with all the values and principles that it has. Tarantino has no business being around that.