Sign up the Denobulan doctor, President Archer.
Star Trek: Enterprise celebrates its Silver Anniversary this year, and Trekkies would love to see the crew of the NX-01 return for writer and producer Mike Sussman’s Star Trek: United. The series, if Paramount Skydance (Warner Bros.) eventually greenlights it, would focus on an older and wiser President Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula). And Enterprise’s John Billingsley is eager and able to join United, if called upon.
Billingsley, who played fan-favorite Dr. Phlox, was asked in a recent podcast if he wanted to return. Billingsley said via TrekMovie.com: “Absolutely! I love Toronto. And I’d also love the opportunity to work with… I loved working with Scott [Bakula]. He’s generous and gracious and knows everybody’s name and just brings warmth and light and joy to a set. I mean, I can’t say enough good things about Scott."
Billingsley playfully added, during the same sit-down, much as if he were emulating the Denobulan doctor’s snarkier side: “[Archer] is older. He’s probably got rickets, and he needs somebody at his back. Dominic [Keating, Malcom Reed], I think his character is in prison at this point, Jolene [Blalock, T’Pol] is gone. Hoshi died. I think I’m the only one left standing that could possibly appear on the show… Jeffrey Combs [Shran], he’s dead too… Oh no, Mayweather’s dead?”
As Mr. Spock would say, there’s certainly a logical way for Sussman to bring back Enterprise characters like T’Pol (Vulcan Ambassador) and Phlox (Starfleet Surgeon General) without diminishing United’s focus on Jonathan Archer and his adult children. However, I’d love to see Sussman creatively bring Trip back, too. After all, no one really stays dead in Star Trek, right? Just ask Spock and Data.
Would you love to see Dr. Phlox return with Scott Bakula for a Star Trek: United series as much as I do? With the recent cancellation of Starfleet Academy, the new management at Paramount Skydance (CBS Studios), and Warner Bros. could sure use some fan-favorite characters to lead shows like United and the Strange New Worlds follow-up Trekkies are clamoring for: Year One.
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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