10 BOLD Predictions For Star Trek's Next Decade
6. THAT Crossover Event
This one may come a little sooner than some other predictions on this list. Star Trek's sixtieth year is upon us and, as of writing, there are already many plans in place to celebrate. startrek.com has set up a hub to collate all of the year's news, so the fire is clearly there to celebrate what has come before.
It's time.
The last crossover event in Star Trek, Those Old Scientists, was extremely well received. While the novelty of depicting Mariner and Boimler in live action was engaging enough, having two ongoing series share the screen offered fans of both a chance to shake things up.
Star Trek: Generations managed something similar in 1994. When Kirk and Picard meet in the Nexus, a torch was handed over, while audiences merged in theatres. Since then, there hasn't truly been an event in terms of captains meeting. While Janeway spoke to Picard in Nemesis, and Riker spoke to Freeman in No Small Parts, there has yet to be an overall meeting of the minds.
We have been teased with returning actors in recent years. William Shatner was involved with OTOY's Unification, while Patrick Stewart and Kate Mulgrew both returned to Trek. Scott Bakula has been linked to a potential Star Trek: United spin-off, though fans have largely been left wanting for Avery Brooks, who has only appeared in silhouette in the Starfleet Academy trailer.
To be frank, time is running out to have all of the captains share a room together and leaving something like this on the long finger will surely lead to one or more of those performers being unable to join, regardless of the project. For the sheer event of it all, it seems likely that sooner rather than later, the crossover will happen.