• Sat. Aug 8th, 2026
    • Culture

    For 8 Years, There Was Only One Star Trek (& Not The One Fans Loved)

    9 minutes, 48 seconds Read


    Not too long ago, there was only one version of Star Trek, but it wasn’t the incarnation of Star Trek that fans knew and loved best. Star Trek went into a dark period after 2005, when Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled by UPN. This put an end to 18 years of Star Trek executive produced by Rick Berman, which began with Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987.

    For three years, Star Trek: Enterprise was the only new Star Trek. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended in 1999, and Star Trek: Voyager wrapped in 2001. Four months after Voyager bowed out, Enterprise (without Star Trek in the title) premiered. Because Enterprise was a prequel set 200 years in the past, the forward movement of Star Trek‘s timeline was dependent on Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s movie franchise.

    In 2002, however, Star Trek: Nemesis was a critical and box office bomb that killed the TNG movies. Star Trek‘s continuity was no longer moving forward. Enterprise was the only new Star Trek in production, carrying the franchise but wholly unappreciated and disregarded by the majority of Trekkers. Then, Enterprise was canceled, and there was no new Star Trek at all for four years.

    J.J. Abrams’ Movies Were The Only Star Trek For 8 Years

    Star Trek Beyond Promotional Art Fire

    J.J. Abrams’ reboot of Star Trek premiered in 2009, which not only restored the final frontier to the big screen, but made Star Trek more visually spectacular, propulsive, and sleeker than before. Abrams proved doubters wrong by recasting Star Trek: The Original Series‘ icons with younger actors led by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock.

    However, J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009), and its sequels, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, were set in the 23rd century of an alternate timeline. Many fans were initially confused and concerned that Abrams’ canon made all the previous Star Trek null and void. That wasn’t the case, and Star Trek (2009) even showed a glimpse of 2387, 8 years after Star Trek: Nemesis.

    Still, for the next 8 years, J.J. Abrams’ big screen blockbusters were the only new Star Trek being produced, and it all took place in a separate reality. From 2005 to 2017, when Star Trek: Discovery premiered, fans didn’t know what happened in the Prime Timeline, outside of the Romulan Supernova of 2387 shown in Star Trek (2009).

    Star Trek: Discovery was set in the Prime Timeline, but its various contradictions to canon angered Trekkers. Compounding the problems, Discovery was a prequel set in the 23rd century in its first two seasons, so there was still no forward movement to the Prime Timeline. It wasn’t until 2020 that Star Trek: Picard, set in 2399, premiered and began filling in the backstory of the post-TNG 2380s.

    For 8 years, J.J. Abrams’ trilogy was the only new Star Trek around, and strove to introduce the Starship Enterprise’s adventures to new audiences. While Abrams’ movies are well-liked by most Trekkers, they were a huge divergence from the previous Star Trek‘s style and content, and were not about the versions of the USS Enterprise crew that fans loved since the 1960s.

    Soon, There Will Be No New Star Trek For A While

    USS Dreadnought chasing USS Enterprise-2

    The four years when there was no new Star Trek produced between 2005 and 2009 may be happening again soon. Star Trek experienced a decade-long renaissance on Paramount+, with six new TV series and a made-for-streaming movie. Star Trek on Paramount+ expanded the Prime Timeline and introduced a slew of new heroes while reintroducing beloved legends.




















    Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
    The Final Frontier
    Trivia Challenge

    🚀ShipsEnterprise!

    ⭐CrewMake it so

    ☠EnemiesResistance is…

    ⚡TechWarp speed!

    📖LoreLive long…

    01

    The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?




    ✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.

    02

    Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?




    ✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.

    03

    Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?




    ✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.

    04

    “Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?




    ✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”

    05

    Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?




    ✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.

    06

    Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?




    ✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.

    07

    At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?




    ✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.

    08

    In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?




    ✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.

    ✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.

    Mission Complete
    Your Starfleet Record

    / 8

    Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty?

    However, every Star Trek on Paramount+ series is now canceled, with the last two shows, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds releasing their final seasons in 2027. There is currently no new Star Trek in production for the first time since 2017, meaning that after Strange New Worlds‘ series finale drops, Star Trek is going dark.

    Paramount+ and its owners, Paramount Skydance, seem to be intentionally creating a new Star Trek dark age, and it’s unknown how long it will last. The idea, apparently, is to let Star Trek lie fallow for a time, before a big relaunch. Similar to 2009, after Star Trek: Enterprise was canceled, however, Star Trek‘s eventual return will likely be at the movies.

    Paramount Skydance has announced a new Star Trek theatrical movie in development, and the studio is prioritizing Star Trek as one of its crown jewel IPs to invigorate movie-going. However, the next Star Trek movie, developed by Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, will reportedly not tie into any prior Star Trek movie or TV show.

    As it stands, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s conclusion with season 2 will end the forward movement of the Prime Timeline in the late 32nd century. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a 23rd century-set prequel, and its ending is designed to lead into Star Trek: The Original Series.

    Whether Star Trek‘s dark age will last the 8 years when J.J. Abrams’ movies were the only new Star Trek remains to be seen.

    Star Trek Franchise Logo

    Cast

    William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Cirroc Lofton, Armin Shimerman, Colm Meaney, Terry Farrell, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Jeri Ryan, Robert Duncan McNeill, Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Garrett Wang, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Scott Bakula, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Anthony Montgomery, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Oyin Oladejo, Emily Coutts, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Rebecca Romijn, Michelle Yeoh

    Created by

    Gene Roddenberry




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