Sci-fi Crush had the opportunity to talk to co-creator, Robert Burnett who brought us the film Free Enterprise 10 years ago. He talks about the possibility of  a sequel and his opinion of  J. J. Abram’s Star Trek. 

HC: It is the 10 year anniversary of your film “Free Enterprise”.  Any celebrations in the works?

RB: Not really, although we are having a 10th anniversary screening at the San Diego Comicon this year which I’ll be attending.

HC: We think you were the first to cross boundaries with “Free Enterprise” in that someone didn’t have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy the film. Was it easier to get this film made because of that?

RB: It absolutely was.  While my co-creator Mark Altman and I used our own obssession with Classic Star Trek as a jumping off point, we were always aware the film had to appeal to a mass audience.  So even though the specifics the characters discuss might be lost on those in the audience who don’t know Trek, they can still understand these guys are just really, really obssessed with their own interests.  Everyone understands or even knows someone that is immersed in something, whether it’s sports, rock and roll or whatever.

HC: So….FREE ENTERPRISE – THE WRATH OF SHATNER. Wow! Do tell.

RB: Mark and I have a script.  We’ve met with Shatner in May and he’s very interested.  We’re currently putting the finishing touches on the screenplay and we have some strong distribution interest.  With the recent success of JJ Abrams reinvention of the Trek franchise, there’s never been a better time to make a sequel, to paraphrase the Romulan Ambassador from Star Trek VI.

HC: I’m sure you don’t want to disclose too much, but if you can get Leonard Nimoy on board, what will his role be?

RB: We’ve never actually approached Nimoy to be in the film, but let’s just say, for a moment, he was in fact, a part of the script.  Obviously, his almost half century of professional and personal association with William Shatner, including insights only he might have into Bill, would have to play some kind of  role in our story, or so I’d like to believe.  Maybe.  If Nimoy were a character in the story and I’m not saying he is.

HC: As the ultimate Star Trek fan, what were your thoughts on the J.J. Abrams film?

RB: I have notes!  Actually, I thought the cast was terrific, the direction and production values were amazing and it reintroduced the franchise to audiences in high style.  The film did a tremendous job of serving both the longtime fan and those who may never have seen an episode of the original series.  I love the fact that 10 year old kids who see it can then go watch the remastered versions of the original series and discover what I loved about Trek when I was a kid.  But I sure would like to serve as a creative executive during the development of the sequel script!

HC: Do you feel partially responsible for the success of the Star Trek films because you re-introduced the franchise in a hip way before it was cool again?

RB: I wish!  In my mind, the original series was ALWAYS cool.  I believe people have always loved Kirk, Spock and McCoy, which is why going back to those characters for the latest movie was so inspired.  What really “did in” the franchise was the lack of creativity exhibited in the two later series, VOYAGER and ENTERPRISE. The characters in those later shows became Star Trek cliches.  The half-human, half-alien character, the artificial life form, the rookie crewmember.  The shows no longer worked as allegory but were increasingly insular about nothing more than Star Trek itself.  The final Next Generation feature, NEMESIS, was a watered-down version of Wrath of Khan and offered audiences little they hadn’t seen already countless times before…and better.

HC: What new Sci-Fi has spoken to you?

RB:.  Aside from gems like CHILDREN OF MEN, SUNSHINE and Soderberg’s remake of SOLARIS, very few real science fiction films are even being made today, unless they have some major action component to them, such as TERMINATOR: SALVATION.  However, I’m really looking forward to Christopher Nolan’s INCEPTION.

HC: Now for our lightening round of questions:

Picard or Kirk
Kirk

Deep Space nine or Babylon 5
DS9

3 stooges or Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy

New York or Los Angeles
New York (But I do love LA)

Mexican Food or Thai Food
Mexican

Red Bull or Monster
Red Bull

Halloween or Christmas
Halloween.

Errand of Mercy or Amok Time
Errand of Mercy.