The future of the Federation=Andromeda???

[Springheeledjack]

Just started watching Andromeda and I was wondering if this series is just a thinly disquised version of Roddenberry's vision of the Star Trek Federation's future. A series after TNG, DS9, etc.? Commonwealth = Federation? Starfleet flagship falls through time portal and winds up the last Starfleet ship in a shattered Federation. Even the big tough guy with the long hair reminds me strongly of a Klingon. Has anyone heard any hard facts that would support my suppositions?

PC

[darkwing duck1]

You hit it right on the head, except for the part about it being Rodenberry's vision. Andromeda's exec producer (Bennett, IIRC) developed the concept and pitched it as a new Trek series to Paramount, who declined it. He later went to Majel's people and bought rights to some notes GR left for another project, and merged the two to produce what we see on screen today.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Originally posted by darkwing duck1
You hit it right on the head, except for the part about it being Rodenberry's vision. Andromeda's exec producer (Bennett, IIRC) developed the concept and pitched it as a new Trek series to Paramount, who declined it. He later went to Majel's people and bought rights to some notes GR left for another project, and merged the two to produce what we see on screen today.

Robert Hewitt Wolfe was asked about this recently, and he pointedly mentioned that it was an urban legend that never actually happened.

The concept was developed from GRs notes (AFAIK) for several different concepts, not modifed to fit them.

[REG]

The Andromeda series is based on a series of notes written by the late Great Bird of the Galaxy himself (not Harve Bennett), unlike Earth: Final Conflict which is based on a draft of the series proposal.

It's good to see one of DS9 producers (Robert Hewitt Wolfe) working on a Roddenberry series.

[Captain Zymmer]

Hmmmm...I think I may have my Star Trek: Lexington Season 3 now

He he he he he

Oh and to any of my players who just read that, don't worry Season 2 hasn't even started yet

[The Kurgan]

Whoa! How soon we forget. Andromeda was not simply based on a few notes left by Gene. Andromeda has actually been on the air three different times before now, albeit in drastically different form. Ok, this is complicated, but is incredibly interesting, so I urge you to keep reading. I will attempt to put everything in order:

1973: Alex Cord (Hunt) and Mariette Hartley star in Genesis II. Movie-length pilot that was not picked up.

1974: Planet Earth starring John Saxon and Diana Muldar <sp>. Here was saw the character of Hunt in a totally different situation and time period (basically a re-worked script placing the action on earth. No starships). This movie failed as well.

1975: Saxon returns, but this time they rename the character to Captain Anthony Vico, another earth-based script comprised by several short stories. Bingo, you guessed it: not picked up.

Ok, now we jump a couple of decades. It is fall, 1999, and two seperate entities are attempting to jump on the Roddenberry bandwagon by developing old properties for a new audience. The first project is called Phoenix Rising. This is a new Trek installment based on the original Andromeda plot. Wolfe is full of bologny when he says it's an urban myth. I'll post links after all of this to the original press releases which I saved. The Federation is in ruins, Vulcans have reverted to barbarism, lemonade stands charge 5 credits for a dirty glass with no ice in it...you get the idea. A Federation ship is found floating in space, its crew in stasis...etc. Ok, at the same time as this, another project is in the works. Andromeda. Follow closely, because this is where it gets really confusing. Andromeda follows the exploits of a scientist on a distant world that suffers an apocalypitic catastrophe, seperating him from his family. A third, CGI-based series was also being developed called Gene Roddenyberry's Starship, but we won't get into that here to avoid getting too confused. So, we have Phoenix Rising and Andromeda in the works, both shows starring a character named Dylan Hunt, since each was based on one of the failed pilots. A little ways down the line Phoenix Rising loses its title and becomes...Andromeda! The series that was originally going to be called Andromeda now has no name, although they still intend on using the Hunt character. Sorbo get's signed for Andromeda, and the nameless show is pretty sure they are going to have Bruce Boxleitner. By February of 2000 they confirmed it with Bruce signing on the dotted line to play Hunt, and the show was finally given a name: Genesis. Yep, this one is based on the very first of the failed pilots, Genesis II. So now we have three different Gene Roddenberry's "__________" series being produced, two live action and one computer generated. An interview with Majel can be read here:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/tv/in...andromeda.html from earlier in February where she discusses all three shows. I don't know when she did the interview exactly, but she mentions that Genesis isn't sold yet, so take that for what you will. Obviously things have not turned out as they were originally planned. News of the other two shows dried up at about this point as well. Starship might be interesting, but Genesis is what I would love to see, personally. Sounds awesome.

Ok, I had decided to post the messages into the bottom of this one, but when I clicked send it snarled at me and said the message was too long. I'll have to break it up into 2 or 3 posts.

The first one:

Ain't It Cool News

PHOENIX RISING

Gene Roddenberry's PHOENIX RISING. Phoenix Rising is being developed by
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine alumni Robert Hewitt Wolfe.

FLASH BACK: Remember Roddenberry's two series pilots from the '70s (Genesis
II and Planet Earth)? Both featured a man called Dylan Hunt being frozen in
(more or less) modern day, then revived on an Earth that has fallen to
great savagery and barbarism. The point of the proposed series would have
been for Hunt and his sidekicks to work towards reuniting and re-unifying
mankind. Remember this concept for a moment, and the name Dylan Hunt.

PRESENT DAY: Robert Hewitt Wolfe conceives of his "perfect" Star Trek
series: a series set thousands of years in Star Trek's future. The galaxy
is in turmoil, all of the governments to which Trek fans are accustomed
have crumbled and imploded. The galaxy is a really screwed up place:
Vulcans have renounced their logic and are now savage enemies of anyone who
crosses them. Homeless Klingons roam space in violent packs of attack
ships. The Federation is long gone - but it is an ideal not forgotten to
those living in this untamed reality.

A Federation Starship...an "Enterprise" from a bit further down the ship's
lineage...is discovered drifting in space, its Captain (and maybe a few
crew) are frozen in stasis. Ship and crew are revived, and are horrified by
the galaxy to which they awaken. Using their Enterprise as an icon for the
cohesion and strength that used to be (but is now lost), Enterprise and her
rag-tag crew set out to restore the Federation to what it once was, and
restore peace and balance to the galaxy.

It is unclear if Wolfe ever formally approached Paramount with this Trek
series concept. None the less, the basic idea for his series is finding its
way into a new (non-Trek) "Roddenberry" series called Phoenix Rising.

Take the Genesis II / Planet Earth scenarios mentioned above...throw them
together with Wolfe's "ideal" Star Trek series...and you get Gene
Roddenberry's PHOENIX RISING. PR is the tale of a spaceship and captain
found drifting in deep space. They are revived into a galaxy that is all
messed-up. They set about trying to restore peace and order to the way of
things - by trying to re-unite the galaxy and resurrect the glorious old
days of solidarity and (relative) peace. It's a tough job in a tough place,
but somebody's gotta do it.

Given this formula, one significant question sticks out: this "galaxy in
decay" notion would have worked magnificently on Star Trek - as viewers
would already have a general frame of reference for what Trek history looks
like & feels like. Thus, we can understand what has actually been lost, and
are able to visualize what our heroes are trying to resurrect.

But Phoenix Rising does not have the benefit of dealing with such solid and
established notions of what has come before, because its back history (on
which the entire series is predicated) has never been seen or experienced
by the audience. As such, one concern regarding Phoenix Rising is that our
heroes will be struggling towards a "new order" / "golden age" which has no
resonance or point of association to the viewer. Thus, the "goal" of the
series might seem tenuous or abstract, unless the show (somehow) conceives
of a brilliant & effective way to convey the coveted age of hope which our
characters are striving to bring back - so we can associate with what their
endgame really is.

As far as I can tell, Hercules' Kevin Sorbo has expressed great interest in
playing the revived captain in Phoenix Rising, although no final decisions
have been made on this. I am told that Sorbo will either go for PR, or Gene
Roddenberry's ANDROMEDA (see below).

Phoenix Rising is currently being developed with an eye towards a Fall 2000
premiere.

STARSHIP

Gene Roddenberry's STARSHIP. This is a series being developed through
Mainframe, the CGI folks who brought us Reboot. I am told there was some
discussion about converting this series into a live-action format, although
I have received indications this is somewhat unlikely due to budgetary
consideration (the plans for the CGI series exceed the budgetary capacity
of live action).

Starship is described as being about a couple of humans (and a lot of
aliens) who are learning to live together on a giant, living starship.
Seems that a series of events unfold which set this group on a pointed
mission.

This is where things get hazy: some reports suggest the missions will be
more "troubleshooting" in nature, often with an environmental theme. Other
reports indicate their mission will be more peacekeeping in nature - as the
starship and its crew must unite warring alien races, and convince them
that all creatures are more or less brothers capable of living together in
peace.

Like Phoenix Rising, Starship is very strong on elements of humanism and
expresses support for collective cohesion. Even though it is a CGI series,
Starship is described as being "very adult".

ANDROMEDA

On a far way planet, an apocalyptic catastrophe (a war, I believe)
separates a scientist from his family - possibly via some sort of time
displacement. The thrust of the series: the adventures of said scientist as
he tries to find those he loves, looks for a way home, and tries to rebuild
that which has been destroyed in the process.

Andromeda is, I am told, the other "Roddenberry" series of interest to
Kevin Sorbo (besides Phoenix Rising) - although recent interviews with the
actor have indicated his excitement over following in the footsteps of
Captains Kirk and Picard - so think "spaceship captain" in Herc's near
future.

Speaking of starship captains, it should be be noted that either Phoenix
Rising or Starship will feature a captain named Dylan Hunt.

It all comes around...

**************************************************

[The Kurgan]

From "Ain't It Cool News"

Tuesday, August 24, 1999 Sorbo in "Phoenix Rising" - err "Andromeda" - but,
but they're the same thing !?!?!?!? ((break out the Tylenol))

Glen here...

Many readers have written in telling me actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys) has announced (in a very recent interview) that he will
play the captain in the new series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.

This is great news for me, as last week I posted Sorbo was interested in
starring in one of three Gene Roddenberry posthumous series currently in
development - whose titles were Phoenix Rising, Andromeda, Starship.

Specifically, I indicated Sorbo was aiming towards either Phoenix Rising or
Andromeda (CLICK HERE to read the previous article & to find out more about
these series).

What many fans may not realize is that the Andromeda show with which Sorbo
is now involved is actually Phoenix Rising, a series mentioned in the
article linked above & being developed by Deep Space Nine's Robert Hewitt
Wolfe. That's right: The Powers That Be have taken the name of one
Roddenberry series-in-development and slapped it onto Phoenix Rising - a
completely unrelated Roddenberry series-in-development. So, Phoenix Rising
is now called Andromeda - and The Series Formerly Known as Andromeda now
has no title at all (for the moment).

As far as I know, Starship is still called Starship, although now that the
title Phoenix Rising is available, they could rename Starship and call it
Phoenix Rising, change The Series Formerly Known as Andromeda's title to
Starship, and it all works out just fine!?!?!?!?

((sigh))

Anyways, to some extent this smacks of arbitrary decision making, and
reflects negatively on all three Roddenberry series in development: as it
suggests a certain "interchangeability" between them. That doesn't look
good to the fans. None the less, matters such as title changes do not
necessarily indicate the potential of a series as a whole - so I supposed
we'd better keep an open mind.

But still, it's weird. Feel free to voice your opinions about the title
swap in the TALKBACKS below.

Oh, in last week's article I mentioned either Starship or Phoenix Rising
(now Andromeda) would feature a character named Dylan Hunt - named after a
Roddenberry character from two series pilots in the early 1970's. Sorbo
says he will play a captain named Dylan Hunt...

[The Kurgan]

Author: Frank Garcia Date: 2/29/00

The secret identity of the lead actor for an upcoming Gene
Roddenberry television series titled GENESIS can now be revealed.
BABYLON 5’s Bruce Boxleitner is the actor who has been signed
to star in a remake of Gene Roddenberry’s 1973 movie of the week
GENESIS II. "I’m signed for the series!" laughs Bruce Boxleitner in
Vancouver, Canada, where he was filming an episode of THE
OUTER LIMITS. "They made GENESIS II, and it was not
successful. Maybe it will work better in today’s climate." The deal
with Tribune Entertainment, the production company supporting the
project, was completed over the holidays last year he says.

There’s some irony attached to choosing Boxleitner as the "new"
Dylan Hunt: Alex Cord, the actor who originated the role, is
actually a friend. GENESIS II, the 1973 film written and produced
by Roddenberry, starred Cord as the 20th Century scientist who
was accidentally frozen in an underground cavern and revived in the
year 2133, where he joined a peaceful society of scientists and
teachers whose goal was to help rebuild the fragmented, post-
nuclear world. In 1974 Roddenberry tried the idea again at ABC,
called PLANET EARTH, with John Saxon in the lead role.

Don’t expect to see GENESIS’s main title theme on your TV
screens any time soon. The property is presently unsold and
looking for a cable outlet just as another series, Gene
Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA starring Kevin Sorbo, prepares for
filming in Vancouver, British Columbia this summer for a Fall 2000
premiere in syndication. GENESIS was originally envisioned as
one half of a two-hour block of Roddenberry programming
in syndication, together with ANDROMEDA. But that ideal may
take some time to bring to life. Boxleitner says that Tribune has
opted instead to place Earth’s rebirth on the development burner.

"They want to do it right," says Boxleitner. "If you try to rush
something on, sometimes that’s not the way. It’s not gonna work. I
want it to be good."

Boxleitner has a very pragmatic attitude towards the slow
development process. "I’m not anxious to jump right in. I’m not
sweating it. It might be too close." What he means, of course, is
that BABYLON 5 completed its successful five-year run just two
years ago, and he wants opportunities to do other things between
one science fiction project and another. "I’m still very much on
BABYLON 5 everywhere! It’s still very much alive. Maybe it’s too
soon," he says. "I’m glad they backed off for a while. Next year
would be a better time--just to get a little distance between series."

But Boxleitner is also experienced enough about the Hollywood
business to realize that GENESIS might never get off the ground.
"You know what? If it doesn’t happen, that’s fine too."

Because GENESIS’ series premise is currently being reworked and
updated from its original presentation, Boxleitner is looking forward
to seeing the final details. In fact, two integral elements — the
name Dylan Hunt and the fact that he had been, like Buck Rogers,
frozen for hundreds of years — have been now taken by
ANDROMEDA. "I saw Dylan Alexander," says Boxleitner. "They
weren’t happy with the original script. They should just change the
whole thing. If it resembles even slightly the Alex Cord thing —
fine. But I think they want to rework the whole thing,"

Contractually, Boxleitner was given a choice where the series
could be filmed. He was offered Australia, Toronto and Vancouver.
"They won’t shoot in the States," says Boxleitner. "I would love to
— but they just can’t make it financially. I said Vancouver. It’s in
the same time zone as California. I can get home on Friday night, if
I have to and if I can. It’s close to the family," he grins.

The proven success of EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT, which is
renewed up to its fourth year, is opening the door for more
Roddenberry projects. Can THE QUESTOR TAPES be far behind?

[Phantom]

Wow, there are more ideas there then you can shake a klingon pain stick at.

Would be really interesting to see some of them make it to the small screen.

[Phantom]

Question to the person who started this thread;

Where did your handle come from, I have heard it somewhere before?

[Imagus]

Originally posted by Phantom
Question to the person who started this thread;

Where did your handle come from, I have heard it somewhere before?

Spring-heeled Jack was a mid-19th century urban myth in London, a cloaked figure with incredible agility and demonic features, prone to jumping out and frightening impressionable youg women. He's frequently linked to Jack the Ripper (Victorian reporters were useless at coming up with original names for criminals) or thought to be supernatural in origin. IIRC he gets a mention as a previous identity for Redjac in "Wolf in the Fold."

On the main subject of the thread, I'd noticed there was a distinct connection in Andromeda to Trek, and assumed it was something like this. I don't think you can pay much attention to the names however, Roddenberry was about as attached to names and ideas as Lucas, and would regularly transfer names and characters from one series idea to another note the Khan Noonian Singh/Noonien Soong connection for example).

Andromeda also owes somewhat to the Traveller RPG - which implies a roleplayet in the development team somewhere! The name of the fleet ('High Guard') and the references to the 'Long Night' are indicators of this.

[Sarge]

Over at SlipstreamBBS, someone asked why Andromeda's crew wasn't harmed by a fireball at the end of the season premiere. One of the writers, Zack Stentz IIRC, answered that obviously they all made their saving throws.

Does anyone remember a TV movie that smelled like a series pilot about a starship called Osiris? I think it came out about four years ago. It was the same basic concept as Andromeda: galactic civilization is in ruins, but one starship with a ragtag skeleton crew is trying to put things right. It wasn't that good, and I don't know if Roddenberry was involved in it, but the similarities are obvious.

[Captain Zymmer]

Springheeled Jack was also the name of an album by the guy who used to front the Smiths, Morrisey.



Love the failed Federation, and Barbaric Vulcan's idea. Though I think I would do them as more imperial and peace-keeper like

I dunno, I think the Klingons shouldn't go fully into the roving gang mentality, they should come out the other side...and be philosophers and pacifists.

Gonna start a narrotors thread on this one, since my players read this stuff

[Springheeledjack]

Imagus hit it exactly about the handle origin. Give that man a Cigar!

BTW: WOW, quite a response on the topic. Thanks for all the effort and research, Kurgan. Quite a complex story. I thought Andromeda was just a rejected ST series with the Star Trek "serial numbers" rubbed off and syndicated. Sort of a cheap knockoff. Sometimes things are deeper than they look.

This would have made a great ST series. Looking at the current Andromeda show, what ST races would the main cast have been if this was official Trek? It might be fun to make up ST Universe versions of the whole crew. Andromeda is obviously a ECH. Dylan a Starfleet human officer. Tyr a Klingon. Any other thoughts. I think I'll run a campaign like this (if I ever find a group to play with ). Any players in Baltimore Maryland interested?

From the slums of Victorian London to a town near you, I'm back.

Springheeledjack

[Captain Zymmer]

Click here for more on the devil himself

Fun read actually.

Just gave me some inspiration for my MSH campaign.

Sorry off topic, I know.