STAR TREK has always been a television series that became a big screen franchise. Unlike STAR WARS, STAR TREK functioned primarily as a vehicle for episodic storytelling each and every week. The movies have been hit or miss with the new J.J. Abrams series showing it is still a viable property for Paramount. But, STAR TREK will always have a home on television. With that in mind, it has been a decade since there has been a STAR TREK series but that could be about to change.
Latino Review cites sources that say CBS, the original home of the 1966 flagship series, is working on a new STAR TREK that could potentially involve Bryan Singer as director and/or producer. Singer worked with Christopher McQuarrie and Robert Burnett on the proposed STAR TREK: FEDERATION series that was shelved in favor of J.J. Abrams' movie vision. Now, in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry's creation, we may see that show back in development.
Here's the synopsis for STAR TREK: FEDERATION, courtesy of Memory Alpha.
Humanity has become complacent, and many worlds have left the Federation because of its Human-centric nature. Starfleet is stretched thin and many of its ships are outdated. A new enemy called the Scourge attack and destroy the USS Sojourner and two colony worlds. The only survivor is Lieutenant Commander Alexander Kirk. The authorities refuse to believe his story, which cause Vulcan, Bajor, and Betazed to leave in disgust at the corruption of the UFP, leaving it with only twenty systems under its control. The Ferengi become the dominant power in the galaxy, and make money by spreading the Bajoran religion and making Bajor into a major place of pilgrimage. The Vulcans reunify with the Romulans. The Cardassian and Klingon societies have evolved into more mystical and less warlike cultures, though the Klingon Empire is expanding once more (but they are still on good terms with the Federation). Admiral Nelscott commissions a new USS Enterprise to return the Federation to its goal of going boldly, but with the ulterior objective of finding the Scourge. After its captain and first officer are killed, Commander Kirk (third-in-command) is promoted to captain of a crew of four hundred.
While there is no concrete announcement that Singer or McQuarrie are still involved since they both have their hands full with the X-MEN and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchises, respectively, the fact that McQuarrie is working on a Bad Robot production shows there could be an amicable relationship between J,J. Abrams and Paramount in making this happen. The new STAR TREK series does not have to impact the big screen universe rebooted recently but it definitely could enhance it if the show is developed properly.
From my perspective, more TREK is good and if Bryan Singer is involved, I am all for it. So, there is a good chance we could have one hell of an anniversary celebrating STAR TREK in 2016.