Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek 2: JFK Assassination Time Travel Fiasco

Summary

Roddenberry’s original Star Trek 2 pitch involved a time-travel plot centering around the JFK assassination.
Paramount rejected his controversial and convoluted idea in favor of a more action-packed and character-driven sequel.
The rejection of Roddenberry’s concept led to the creation of The Wrath of Khan, showcasing the importance of fresh perspectives.

Speaking about the unconventional behavior of Gene Roddenberry during the initial years of Star Trek’s movie phase, it’s hard to find a more extraordinary tale. The visionary who brought to life one of the most cherished sci-fi worlds of all time had some daring plans up his sleeve. Among these audacious ideas, none raised more eyebrows than his original proposal for Star Trek 2 – a project that, if realized, could have terminated the franchise before it had another chance to explore new frontiers.

Following the financial success yet critical apathy towards “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” Paramount found themselves in a tricky predicament. The film earned revenue, but it didn’t quite reach its potential. Many fans characterized it as dull, clinical, and overly intellectual. Critics shared these sentiments. The lengthy shots of the Enterprise seemed more like spaceship aesthetic photography than narrative development. The philosophical musings, though in keeping with Roddenberry’s beliefs, failed to resonate with audiences. Paramount’s executives sought a change for the sequel: more character-focused drama, more action, and most significantly, less Gene Roddenberry influence.

Roddenberry’s Abandoned Star Trek 2 Plot

JFK Assassination…In Space?

When Roddenberry presented his idea for the second movie, the studio was already apprehensive, and rightfully so. His proposal for Star Trek 2, far from being merely daring, was downright eccentric and highly contentious among studio officials. The narrative, as revealed in The Making of Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, revolved around a high-stakes political intrigue that would have positioned Starfleet at the heart of one of the most impactful incidents in American history.

If Roddenberry had successfully proposed his idea, viewers would have witnessed Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by legendary actor William Shatner, and the crew of the USS Enterprise journey into the past to prevent President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. This move was intended to preserve history as it should be. However, this plotline didn’t receive approval. Here is a brief overview of the story:

1. The crew receives information about JFK’s impending assassination.
2. They decide to travel back in time to prevent this tragic event.
3. Challenges and obstacles arise as they attempt to alter history without causing unintended consequences.
4. After a thrilling adventure, they manage to save the life of President Kennedy, ensuring the continuity of history.

The Enterprise detects a temporal distortion and discovers someone is tampering with 20th-century Earth history.
The crew travels back to 1963 and discovers that someone from the future is trying to prevent JFK’s assassination.
Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (DeForest Kelley) debate whether letting JFK die is morally acceptable if it protects the timeline.
In a shocking twist, Kirk himself may be the one who fires the fatal shot. Essentially, he becomes Lee Harvey Oswald with a phaser.

Why Roddenberry’s Pitch Was Rejected

Paramount didn’t simply decline Roddenberry’s proposal; they essentially hurled it into outer space due to its highly contentious, complex nature and lack of resonance with what viewers expected from Star Trek. Keep in mind that this was during the early 80s, a time when the JFK assassination was still a raw wound in our cultural consciousness. The notion of treating such a sensitive subject so flippantly was unacceptable to the studio.

Initially, the concept was rather disorganized. Following accusations that The Motion Picture was overly slow and excessively intellectual, Paramount Studios sought to avoid another philosophical discourse set in space. Instead, they required excitement, conflict, and an antagonist – a villain – for the narrative.

Within private confines, a mounting discontent emerged concerning Roddenberry’s firm control over the creative development. Although his vision had successfully launched the franchise, by the early 1980s, it was perceived as somewhat outmoded. The executives believed that infusing new creative perspectives was necessary to breathe life back into the brand and rejuvenate Star Trek.

The Internet Reacts With Horror and Humor

Years later, as details about Roddenberry’s abandoned script emerged, fans on platforms such as Reddit couldn’t help but express their reactions – frequently a blend of astonishment and humor. Many users openly showed dismay at the concept, labeling it an unsuitable tone for the franchise. A common comment summed up the feelings of the fanbase succinctly: “‘This would have been disastrous,’” suggesting widespread dissatisfaction.

One viewer noted the script’s similarity to the classic TOS episode “The City on the Edge of Forever,” both delving into the idea of sacrificing a tragic death for historical preservation. Although they acknowledged that this concept was thought-provoking and rooted in Trek history, they felt it might not have had the same impact on the big screen as The Wrath of Khan did. They summed it up by saying, “An intriguing ‘what if’… Perhaps, in another dimension, people are still exclaiming ‘KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!’

Another user offered a blunt but widely shared opinion:

In my opinion, if Gene had maintained complete authority over Star Trek, it likely wouldn’t have expanded into numerous series and might have ceased after the films.

They used the large budget of “The Motion Picture” and its lukewarm response contrasted with the more economical “Wrath of Khan”, which was a success, as evidence for their point.

It seems that one of the most insightful comments was made by a user, stating: “Trek is at its finest when Roddenberry’s vision is interpreted by someone else.” They acknowledged collaborators like Gene Coon during the original series, Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer in the movie period, and Ira Steven Behr for Deep Space Nine as the key figures who transformed Roddenberry’s ideas into captivating storylines.

Despite some supporters conceding that the concept had its imperfections, it originated from a strong desire to express a message. Roddenberry aimed for Star Trek to have impact – to comment on history, ethics, and the price of advancement. However, in the end, it turned out to be a misstep.

What We Got Instead: A Wrath to Remember

Instead of accepting the rejection calmly, Roddenberry allegedly reacted angrily due to feeling excluded from the franchise he originated. According to reports close to the production of The Wrath of Khan, his involvement was at times detrimental and even disruptive.

Despite being downgraded to the role of “executive consultant,” Roddenberry made use of his limited authority to share early script drafts with fan clubs in an effort to provoke dissent. He also voiced his disapproval towards the movie’s militaristic theme and strongly opposed Spock’s death, feeling it went against the essence of the series.

In the sequel’s production, Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer were tasked with guiding the storyline, but they frequently encountered obstacles due to Roddenberry’s involvement. The twist is that by attempting to derail the fresh direction, Roddenberry inadvertently validated Paramount’s decision to seek new leadership. With Roddenberry assuming a more symbolic position, Harve Bennett reportedly spent time reviewing all 79 episodes of the original series and identified what the movies were lacking: a strong adversary. Later, Meyer swiftly rewrote the script in mere 12 days without requesting screen credit.

I was thrilled to witness the reappearance of Khan Noonien Singh, portrayed magnificently by Ricardo Montalbán under Nicholas Meyer’s guidance. In contrast to its predecessor, The Wrath of Khan transformed into a compelling narrative that was tight, emotionally charged, filled with action, and deeply focused on characters. It dared to explore themes like aging, sacrifice, and vengeance, all while leaving indelible moments etched in memory, continuing to resonate strongly even today.

The Kobayashi Maru test and Spock’s memorable sacrifice made “The Wrath of Khan” a model for what “Star Trek” could achieve when approached with respect and originality. Stepping away from Roddenberry’s oversight turned out to be beneficial in this instance.

The Roddenberry Paradox: Star Trek Visionary; Sometimes Wildly Off-Base

It’s worth noting that Roddenberry consistently had grand ideas. He saw Star Trek as a means for social reflection, a place to delve into both the noble and flawed aspects of humanity. Indeed, this perspective is evident in many of the most thought-provoking episodes from the original series, reflecting his philosophical influence.

However, Roddenberry’s prowess in creating intricate universes sometimes led to a lack of narrative coherence or emotional resonance with the audience. He had a knack for pushing boundaries, but at times, these boundary-pushing endeavors felt isolating. The discarded JFK script wasn’t his only unconventional idea. Fans will recall episodes that featured space-dwelling hippies, multiple Kirks, and even Abraham Lincoln drifting in nothingness.

Roddenberry’s genius was undeniable yet unbridled. Without the influence of editors, colleagues, and studio executives to challenge him, his ideas could veer significantly from what made Star Trek unique initially. Looking back, Paramount’s choice to shelve Roddenberry’s time-travel assassination plot might have preserved the franchise. The release of The Wrath of Khan breathed new life into Star Trek, demonstrating that allowing fresh perspectives in the creative process could lead to outstanding results. While Roddenberry is the founder of Star Trek, even legends sometimes need someone to suggest, “Perhaps not this time, Gene.

2025-04-19 20:05