TMC
12-08-2017, 10:47 PM
https://www.cbr.com/movie-legends-did-shatners-salary-demands-give-us-next-generation/
MOVIE URBAN LEGEND: “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was created due to William Shatner’s salary demands for “Star Trek IV”.
Ever since the show exploded in popularity upon hitting syndication in the 1970s, “Star Trek” has been the biggest jewel in Paramount’s crown.
However, along with that great success came two notable problems. One, how to stay true to the original series while putting out new product, and two, how to keep the stars of the original series from realizing just how important they were to the success of the property going forward. Those competing interests came to a head following the box office success of “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”. The studio naturally wanted to do a fourth film, but William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock (and directed “Star Trek III”) wanted significant salary increases for a fourth film.
How, then, did that salary impasse ultimately lead to “Star Trek: The Next Generation”?
MOVIE URBAN LEGEND: “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was created due to William Shatner’s salary demands for “Star Trek IV”.
Ever since the show exploded in popularity upon hitting syndication in the 1970s, “Star Trek” has been the biggest jewel in Paramount’s crown.
However, along with that great success came two notable problems. One, how to stay true to the original series while putting out new product, and two, how to keep the stars of the original series from realizing just how important they were to the success of the property going forward. Those competing interests came to a head following the box office success of “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”. The studio naturally wanted to do a fourth film, but William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock (and directed “Star Trek III”) wanted significant salary increases for a fourth film.
How, then, did that salary impasse ultimately lead to “Star Trek: The Next Generation”?