TF01 3,Star Trek News 4,compiled by Tim Smith STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -------------------------------- The Next Generation finished its seven season run on May 23rd 1994 gaining both record viewing figures and critical praise for its final episode, "All Good Things...". From there the cast went on to film their first full-length feature film, Generations. This featured three original cast members (James Doohan, Walter Koeing and William Shatner) reprising their roles, the historic meeting of captains Kirk and Picard, and most controversially the death of Kirk. At a test screening it got a poor reaction with most criticism directed at the films end. This prompted two days re-filming, and a slightly changed ending in which Kirk falls from a collapsing bridge as opposed to being shot in the back. The film opened in mid-November of last year, entering the box office chart at number one (and knocking Tom Cruise off the top slot) with a record amount for a Star Trek film with almost $40 million in its first week. However it suffered a severe fall in takings the following week, and eventually went on to take just under $78,000,000 at the US box office. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have given the film mixed reviews. Some have found it an entertaining, and sometimes thoughtful film, but most have found it unsatisfying and something of a disappointment. The film has gone into profit though, and work on a second picture is already in preliminary stages. Pre-production will take place during 1995, with filming due to start early 1996, and a US release date of November 1996. All of the cast bar Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner are said to be signed for two more motion pictures. The signing of Stewart and Spiner is only a formality so the whole cast is expected to return. As for plots, several possible ideas have been mentioned; 1. Maurice Hurley's script which features creatures from another dimension unknowingly destroying our galaxy in an attempt to return home. It would also feature a holodeck version of Captain Kirk. 2. A re-match with Dr Soran. 3. A sequel to "Unification", featuring Spock. 4. The return of both Q and the Borg. Of the above, the most likely choice is the last one as some kind of script is supposedly already in existence, and members of the original cast are extremely unlikely to appear in any more feature films. Meanwhile, members of the cast have been keeping busy. Jonathan Frakes has appeared in an episode of the NBC show "Wings" and also supplied a voice for Disney's animated show, "Gargoyles". He has appeared in the Deep Space Nine episode "Defiant" and directed three of its episodes for the third season. He has also directed an episode for Star Trek: Voyager. Marina Sirtis has also benn providing a voice for Disney's animated show "Gargoyles" and is considering performing in a touring version of Othello with Michael Dorn. Michael Dorn is considering touring with Marina Sirtis is a version of Othello. He has also filmed a role as a villain in a new science fiction film called "Timemaster" and has also bought himself a used ex-forces jet! John de Lancie has filmed material for an interactive board game that features Q, directed a radio production of "War Of The Worlds" (which featured Gates McFadden, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Leonard Nimoy and Armin Shimmerman). He is also playing a recurring role in a western series for the Paramount Network called "Legend". Whoopi Goldberg married boyfriend Lyle Trachtenberg, filmed a comedy called "Boys On The Side" (which is due for release soon) and also provided a voice for the recently released "Pagemaster". Patrick Stewart has been very busy. He has moved into a house in the north of England, filmed two motion pictures ("Let It Be Me" and "Jeffrey"), appeared in the Broadway production of "A Christmas Carol" and provided a voice for "Pagemaster". LeVar Burton has appeared in the US drama "Christy" and also directed an episode for Star Trek: Voyager. Gates McFadden has appeared in a radio production of "War Of The Worlds" and is currently co-starring in a new Paramount series set in Hawaii called "Marker". STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE ---------------------------- Deep Space Nine entered its third season without any "competition" from The Next Generation. Its viewing figures continue to improve, with a large improvement after "Past Tense" parts 1 and 2. A fourth season has been confirmed and it is likely that the show will run for the full seven seasons. The third season will now not see the return of Ensign Sito, but talks are well underway for not only Scotty to appear on the show, but a rumoured sequel to "Unification" and the possible appearance of the Borg. Episode Listing --------------- 26/09/94 - "The Search, Part 1" Sisko takes an experimental ship called the Defiant through the wormhole in an effort to find the mysterious leaders of the Dominion known as the Founders. 03/10/94 - "The Search, Part 2" Whilst Sisko witnesses the signing of a peace treaty with the Dominion, Odo and Kira make a shocking discovery. Directed by Jonathan Frakes. 10/10/94 - "The House Of Quark" A drunked Klingon dies in Quark's bar and he claims credit for his death, but he doesn't realise the consequences of his actions. Guest stars Robert O'Reilly as Gowron. 17/10/94 - "Equilibrium" Jadzia suffers from hallucinations that threaten her life. 24/10/94 - "Second Skin" Kira awakes on Cardassia Prime to discover that she is a Cardassian spy who had been on an undercover mission for the past ten years. Guest stars Andrew Robinson as Garak. 31/10/94 - "The Abandoned" Quark buys the wreckage of a ship only to find an infant on board. The child grows up quickly - it is a Jem H'adar. Directed by Avery Brooks. 07/11/94 - "Civil Defense" The station becomes a huge time bomb. Guest stars Andrew Robinson as Garak and Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat. 14/11/94 - "Meridian" Jadzia falls in love with a man who lives on a planet that only appears in the Gamma Quadrant every sixty years. Directed by Jonathan Frakes. 21/11/94 - "Defiant" Riker steals the Defiant in an attempt to attack the Cardassians. Guest stars Jonathan Frakes as Riker and Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat. 28/11/94 - "Fascination" Lwaxana Troi returns to Deep Space Nine. Directed by Avery Brooks. Guest stars Philip Anglim as Bareil and Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi. 02/01/95 - "Past Tense, Part 1" Sisko, Bashir and Dax are thrown back in time. 09/01/95 - "Past Tense, Part 2" Sisko, Bashir and Dax struggle to save history. 16/01/95 - "Life Support" Kai Winn needs Bareil to complete delicate peace negotiations with the Cardassians. However, he lies critically ill... Guest stars Louise Fletcher as Kai Winn and Philip Anglim as Bareil. STAR TREK: VOYAGER -------------------- Opened to phenomenal viewing figures, beating all of the established networks. Episode Listing --------------- 16/01/95 - "The Caretaker" The USS Voyager is thrown to the far side of the galaxy... Guest stars Armin Shimmerman as Quark. 23/01/95 - "Parallax" The crew discover a small anomaly that appears to be an opening to the Alpha Quadrant. 30/01/95 - "Time And Again" Captain Janeway and Tom Paris are thrown back in time to twenty fours hours before a planet is due to be obliterated. 06/02/95 - "Phage" Neelix has his lungs removed by a strange race of aliens who need body parts to maintain themselves. NEWS FLASH! ------------- New has just reached us that Philips are going to be releaseing ALL SIX Star Trek movies on Video CD this year. First up will be Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan both realeased on 28th April. Then in May, we will see the release of both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Finally, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country will be released later in the year, although no date has been announced yet. It is almost certain that Star Trek: Generations will follow some time after that. Prices will be around £17.99 for each film. - Simon That's all for now. Hope to see you next issue for more news from the final frontier!