Even the hosts of Today are aware of Trekkies holding out hope for a Star Trek: United. Scott Bakula, who portrayed Captain Johnathan Archer for a total of four seasons on Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005), was a guest on the popular morning talk show recently.
He and co-star Ariana DeBose were promoting their off-Broadway show, The Baker’s Wife, when the buzz on the internet clamoring for Archer’s return in United was brought up. And when asked if he would reprise his role as Jonathan Archer, if the opportunity arose, Bakula said:
“Of course, I would love to do more of it, but I can’t clear up any rumors because I didn’t start them. And they’re not planted. They’re just… people talk about stuff, so […] Star Trek fans are spectacular, and ardent, and loyal. It’s fun to be around them, and they’re running with something, a little piece of information that went out, and they’re having a ball with it. So, you know, enjoy.”
United, which would be an Enterprise spin-off show, has been getting a lot of publicity in the press lately. Star Trek writer and producer Mike Sussman has been teasing just enough information about the possible show online, and, quite frankly, it’s a story fans want to see brought to life. Enterprise has been off the air for 20 years, and it wasn’t as popular at the time as many of the other Trek television series which came before it.
However, it’s impossible now with the benefit of hindsight not to look back and realize what a gem Enterprise was to the Star Trek franchise. And while it was wildly controversial at the time for being the only Trek-based show with its own theme song, I can’t hear “Where My Heart Will Take Me” and not feel nostalgic for a time and storytelling which deserved a better reception while it was on the air.
And even though it’s only an idea for now, United already has its own built-in anthem to help promote Sussman’s vision. Come on, you can hear Russell Watson belting out the lyrics, cant you?
"It's been a long time, but my time is finally near. And I can feel a change in the wind right now. Nothing's in my way. And they're not gonna hold me down no more. No, they're not gonna hold me down. 'Cause I've got faith of the heart. I'm going where my heart will take me. I've got faith to believe. I can do anything!"
How could anyone not be a fan of that song as the Enterprise theme?
Sadly, Star Trek: United hasn’t been greenlit by the new Paramount Skydance Corporation, but surely those in power after this year’s merger realize just how successful Sussman’s idea for United could be on Paramount Plus. It seems to me that Trekkies are having to settle for subpar and/or strangely packaged content of late.
There was the disastrous Star Trek: Section 31 streaming film, and then after two wonderful seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, we, as Trekkies, had to wade through the good, the bad, and the ugly of season 3. And then, to add insult to injury, the best product Alex Kurtzman’s Trek regime has recently offered was produced as an audio drama (podcast).
Star Trek: Khan would have made a wonderful, limited streaming series, which would have SHOWN us fans what happened to Khan Noonien Singh, his beloved wife Marla McGivers, and their daughter, Kali, during the time period set between The Original Series episode “Space Seed” and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
With two new Star Trek films in the works, hopefully Paramount Skydance is at least considering what the fans want. Meanwhile, Star Trek: United simply makes too much sense to go down as a wonderful idea that ends up buried in the would-have-been-could-have-been regrets of those too shortsighted to program meaningful content on Paramount Plus, as opposed to the useless Section 31 drivel, and the like, Trekkies have stomached for far too long now.
What are your feelings about a Star Trek: United? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And for those interested in more information about Scott Bakula’s return (in a different role this time) to The Baker’s Wife, which runs from Oct. 23 through Dec. 21, please visit New York’s Classic Stage Company website.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!