Enterprise Look Would've Been Too Late To Save Collection

Star Trek: Enterprise season 4 hoped to have William Shatner visitor star, however even when it had occurred, it nonetheless would have been too late to save lots of Scott Bakula’s Star Trek prequel sequence. Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled by United Paramount Community (UPN) in 2005 after solely 4 seasons.

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William Shatner and writers Judith and Garfield Reeve-Stevens hatched an revolutionary concept for Shatner to appear in a Star Trek: Enterprise two-parter set within the Mirror Universe. As an alternative of Captain James T. Kirk, who Invoice final performed in 1994’s Star Trek Generations, Shatner would have performed the evil Tiberius Kirk from Star Trek: The Authentic Collection season 2’s “Mirror, Mirror.”

Star Trek: Enterprise would have defined that the Tantalus Discipline in Star Trek: The Authentic Collection despatched Tiberius time-traveling to a pocket dimension prior to now. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the NX-01 Enterprise would have encountered Tiberius in that dimension, and the primary Captain of the Enterprise would have battled Captain Kirk’s malevolent Mirror doppelganger.

Showing on TrekMovie‘s All Access Star Trek podcast, Star Trek: Enterprise writer-producer Mike Sussman revealed new particulars about William Shatner’s rejected visitor spot, and the way, within the scheme of issues, not even Shatner showing in season 4 might have saved Star Trek: Enterprise from cancelation.

William Shatner Showing In Season 4 Would Have Been Too Late To Save Star Trek: Enterprise

As Mike Sussman advised TrekMovie, Star Trek: Enterprise season 4 showrunner Manny Coto needed to do a two-parter set within the Mirror Universe. Sussman says Enterprise had “been holding in reserve these two episodes for [Shatner],” however when it fell via, Enterprise shifted to what grew to become the “In A Mirror, Darkly” two-parter.

Even when William Shatner had appeared in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4, it could have been a lot too late within the season to save lots of the present. “In A Mirror, Darkly” was episodes 18 and 19 of Star Trek: Enterprise season 4’s 22-episode order. By then, UPN had already determined to axe Enterprise resulting from low rankings.

The solid and crew of Star Trek: Enterprise discovered the present was formally canceled throughout manufacturing of “In A Mirror, Darkly.”

Since rankings had been Star Trek: Enterprise‘s Achilles heel, the prequel might have used the enhance from William Shatner’s star energy earlier within the sequence’ run. Longtime Star Trek followers did not flock to Enterprise, and its viewers was far smaller than Star Trek: The Subsequent Era‘s was a decade earlier.

William Shatner appearing in Star Trek: Enterprise would have been a must-see occasion had it occurred sooner. Sadly, the very concept got here too late in Enterprise’s run, and the prequel’s destiny was already determined by UPN.

Tiberius Kirk performed by William Shatner in Star Trek: Enterprise would certainly have led to the highest-rated episode of season 4, if not your entire sequence, nevertheless it nonetheless would’ve been too late to garner Star Trek: Enterprise season 5.

Why WIlliam Shatner’s Star Trek: Enterprise Look Didn’t Occur

Captain Kirk on Veridian III in Star Trek Generations

Whereas Star Trek: Enterprise’s govt producers had been excited concerning the concept of William Shatner guest-starring, UPN mentioned no. Relating to whether or not Shatner’s asking worth was too excessive, Mike Sussman advised TrekMovie:

“I don’t suppose he was [asking for too much], however I believe from the standpoint of the studio—had it occurred earlier—perhaps in season 3—they might have been extra prone to go for it. However by this level [in season 4], I believe the writing was on the wall. So the sensation was, properly, why spend the cash?”

Sussman’s analysis of UPN saying no to William Shatner opens up the query of what would have occurred if the concept of Shatner on Star Trek: Enterprise had been offered in an earlier season.

Moreover being a prequel that retconned Star Trek canon, Enterprise had different points with attracting the hardcore Star Trek viewers. William Shatner guesting on Enterprise early on would have given Scott Bakula’s present “the rub” and a inexperienced gentle for hesitant Star Trek followers to present Enterprise an opportunity.

Even when he performed the evil Tiberius Kirk and never the heroic Captain Kirk, William Shatner hadn’t appeared in a live-action Star Trek TV series after Star Trek: The Authentic Collection was canceled in 1969. Shatner on Enterprise would have been, and will have been promoted as, a significant TV occasion and a milestone for Star Trek.

Mike Sussman additionally advised TrekMovie that UPN used market analysis in Las Vegas to gauge viewers curiosity in William Shatner showing in Star Trek: Enterprise, however he would not know the outcomes of the testing. However, the community mentioned no.

Star Trek: TNG Visitor Stars Couldn’t Save Enterprise

Riker and T'Pol in Enterprise finale copia

Whether or not William Shatner showing on Star Trek: Enterprise might have saved the present is conjecture, however iconic actors from Star Trek: The Subsequent Era could not reverse Enterprise‘s fortunes.

A number of actors from Star Trek: The Next Generation era shows appeared on Enterprise, most taking part in characters very totally different from who they’re recognized for in Star Trek. One of the important was Brent Spiner, who joined Enterprise not as Knowledge, however as Arik Soong, the ancestor of Knowledge’s creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.

Star Trek: Enterprise introduced in Jonathan Frakes as Commander Will Riker and Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi to star in Enterprise‘s ill-fated series finale, “These Are The Voyages…” Nevertheless, this backfired with Star Trek followers, and TNG icons within the sequence finale could not have saved Enterprise, regardless.

What Star Trek: Enterprise might have used to seize Star Trek followers’ consideration was a Captain-level visitor star, which might have included Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko, or Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Nonetheless, of that group, solely Patrick Stewart actually had the stature and cache that William Shatner would have dropped at Star Trek: Enterprise. It is simply unlucky Star Trek: Enterprise and William Shatner did not strike upon the concept of guest-starring sooner, as a result of who is aware of what would have resulted?