Star Trek
Which characters from Star Trek could get their own series? Many would come to mind. Captain Kirk, possibly in a cartoon series, Worf as captain of his own ship, a series about Captain Sulu was even under discussion ... But what about Chief Miles Edward O'Brien?Is Star Trek: O'Brien coming?
O'Brien appeared in Star Trek: The Next Century and also in Deep Space Nine. But somehow he never really got into a high position with Starfleet. But apparently he still achieved something, because in the cartoon series Star Trek: Lower Decks he is mentioned as "perhaps the most important figure in the history of Starfleet" and we even see a statue of him.Showrunner Mike McMahan explained, "I think [in this scene] we're who-knows-how-far away, and we've tried to make it look like Picard is meant, but then when you see O'Brien, that's the first Thought: 'Ha, not Picard.' The second thought is, 'I should have seen that because O'Brien is the benchmark ... "There are a number of simple ways to make O'Brien the" sacred figure "of all of Starfleet. The story decides who to remember, not who the story wants you to remember. And I think we're far enough in the future that Star Trek is flexible, there are timelines, there are all kinds of things. The headline for me is that you could give any Star Trek character their own series and you could make a great series out of it. "
Of course, that is not a confirmation that we are making a Star Trek series Miles O'Brien, but apparently he did something for Starfleet that would be well worth showing.
Source: Trekmovie
10 Star Trek: TNG Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Originally airing in 1987, The Next Generation was the first live action Star Trek series since the original, and had a high bar to live up to.
The original series still played on syndication and was incredibly popular throughout the eighties. Normally a syndicated show had a good three years of money making, but Star Trek had been going for nearly twenty.
Paramount was nervous about a show negatively impacting a brand that was considered a priceless asset to the studio, but they also believed it would be possible for lightening to strike twice. Unknown actors would be cheaper to hire than continuing to make films with the original cast. If the new series did well, they would have new episodes to play on syndication as well.
In an interview with Graham Norton, actress Marina Sirtis spoke of how difficult it was to initially win over fans who saw them as trying to replace their heroes. With time, though, the show found its own path and grew its fanbase. Seven seasons and 178 episodes later, TNG paved the way for the sprawling franchise we know and love.
Here are ten fascinating facts about TNG that only the most hardcore fans might know.
Stephen Hawking was a long time Star Trek fan. He made a guest appearance in Descent (the 26th episode of the 6th season), becoming the first and only actor to play himself. In this episode Data played poker with the holographic version of the famed scientist.
Over the years, Stephen Hawking played himself in various guest appearances in shows like Futurama and the Big Bang Theory, but TNG was a highlight for him.
Earlier that year, while at Paramount, he asked to tour the TNG set. Hawking spoke about how he requested to sit in the captain's chair, and that it was 'rather more comfortable and a lot more powerful' than his wheelchair. He made it clear he would be open to a guest appearance and the writers made it happen. Data actor Brent Spiner has spoken about how filming the scene is one of his favorite memories from TNG.
Hawking remained a lifelong fan of the series. Years later, when J.J. Abrams was directing the second of his Star Trek films, Benedict Cumberbatch was hired to play Khan. This was kept secret, and meant to be a big reveal within the film. Cumberbatch later confessed that while he wasn't meant to tell anyone, he confided who he was secretly playing to Hawking.