Is 21st century journalism even logical anymore?
Variety published a lengthy 3,000-plus word story today (Tuesday, Nov. 4) Inside David Ellison’s Dramatic First 100 Days at Paramount. In the article, it claims that one of the Paramount Skydance Corporation’s upcoming Star Trek films will NOT include Chris Pine nor the rest of the cast from the beloved Kelvin Timeline films. An excerpt from the article, which three contributors are credited with working on, reads as follows:
"Some long-gestating productions, such as the Miles Teller sports drama Winter Games, have been put into turnaround, while there has also been a focus on reinvigorating certain franchises. The hope is to have a fresh Star Trek movie, though the studio has moved on from the idea of bringing back Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and the rest of the ensemble from the J.J. Abrams reboot."
Variety is a well-respected publication and one of the oldest trades covering entertainment in Hollywood. However, after sifting through this politically tilted and business centric story, it seems that a new Star Trek film without Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and company is one of two things.
First, it is the opinion of one or all the contributors from Variety that the Kelvin Timeline cast won't return. Two, it is according to an unnamed source that Pine and company won't come back for another movie.
Nowhere in the paragraph, which focuses only one of its sentences on Star Trek, does it claim this information is from a legitimate source, an insider, or an unnamed source even. For instance, in the paragraph above which discusses James Mangold and Timothee Chalamet’s A Complete Unknown, a source is cited. Here’s how an excerpt from that section reads in the article I’m scrutinizing:
“Ellison personally courted A Complete Unknown’s James Mangold and is shelling out up to $100 million to produce High Side, a motocross thriller that will be the director’s next film with Timothee Chalamet. Insiders at Paramount insist that the film will cost less and no official budget has been set.”
Throughout the article, sources are cited in different sections to corroborate the information presented. So, should we trust that the new Star Trek movie won’t include Pine and company because this story from Variety claims we should? Well, here’s the problem:
Back in August when the Paramount Skydance Corporation merger officially closed, Deadline, which is another of the most well-respected trade publications, reported just days later that two Star Trek movies are in the works. Read the excerpt from their story below:
“As of right now, Paramount is developing a film in the Star Trek franchise that features brand new characters; it has Andor director Toby Haynes on board to direct with Seth Grahame Smith writing and Simon Kinberg and J.J. Abrams producing. The studio has another installment with Captain Kirk, Spock and the rest of usual characters returning with Abrams producing and Steve Yockey writing.”
Now, the Deadline story doesn’t say that Pine and the Kelvin Timeline cast will return. However, J.J. Abrams, who produced all and directed two of those films (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond) is going to be involved in the two new movies.
Again, the Deadline report came out AFTER the merger, too. So, who should Trekkies believe? Deadline’s story leaves the door open for Pine and company to return, while Variety flat out says in their article: “the studio has moved on from the idea of bringing back Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and the rest of the ensemble from the J.J. Abrams reboot.”
Until Paramount Skydance confirms a Star Trek film without the Kelvin Timeline Trek ensemble, do not buy into a red alert being sounded by publications riding the coattails of Variety’s story — and there was a TON — whose editors and writers are just begging you to click on their story to accumulate views and nothing more. That is NOT responsible journalism. Yellow alert, maybe, but don’t lose hope.
Now, how do you feel about the news? Which trade are you more inclined to believe?
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies!