Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir slams new Star Trek in controversial interview
Star Trek remains divisive among fans
At this point, it’s safe to say that Star Trek, as it is nowadays, is bitterly divisive among fans. Recently, Paramount Plus pulled the plug on Starfleet Academy (although an already shot second season is on the way), and we even did an article asking the question—where should Star Trek go next?
Andy Weir weighs in on modern Trek
Well, it looks like none other than Project Hail Mary (and The Martian) author Andy Weir is weighing in, with him appearing on the controversial (but popular) Critical Drinker podcast where, when answering a fan question about Star Trek, he remembered hearing the following: “All modern science fiction has been influenced by Roddenberry Trek, except modern Trek.” While Weir didn’t directly come up with that quote himself, his thoughts on modern Star Trek, as helmed by showrunner Alex Kurtzman, are mixed. “I like Strange New Worlds,” he said. “I think it’s pretty good. I didn’t hate Enterprise. I thought it was kinda weird but… Lower Decks I thought was entertaining and fun. All the others, they can go.”
Weir once pitched his own Star Trek series
Funny enough, Weir, who even before Project Hail Mary had amazing science fiction bona fides, admitted he actually once pitched a show to Paramount. “I was in a Zoom with the showrunners of all the shows. I was pitching them my show idea, so I actually spent a long time talking to Alex Kurtzman.” While he’s mixed on Kurtzman’s work, he gave the man himself high marks, saying, “I don’t like a lot of the new Trek, but I actually think he, as a person, is a really nice guy. I feel a little bad for him, but at the same time, those shows are shit.”
Studio interference vs creative freedom
While that’s a pretty blunt statement, Weir admits studio interference no doubt plays a huge part. “For the major properties, Star Trek, Star Wars, you’re always going to get studio interference,” he says, adding that the reason Project Hail Mary worked was that the studio, Amazon/MGM, trusted the movie’s creatives, including directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. “They weren’t up in our faces pushing us around,” he said, adding, “part of the reason PHM ended up being such a good movie is because the studio just let the artistic people do their job.”
You can watch the interview on Critical Drinker embedded below. Do you agree with Weir’s Star Trek thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
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