Trek Franchise

Business Week: Trek Franchise Prospering

By Anthony Pascale ⋅ August 8, 2007 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

In a new lengthy feature Business Week takes a look at the current crop of film franchises in Hollywood, including Star Trek. In their introduction they note that some franchises come to a natural end (like Lord of the Rings), others (like The Matrix) peter out, “but some franchises—a Bond or a Star Trek—will keep on going until the studios stop making money on them.” The article includes a snapshot of 16 franchises, including Trek. On Trek they surmise…

One of the rare examples of a successful TV series that was able to make the leap onto the big screen, Star Trek’s dedicated fan base of Trekkies guaranteed that the movies would be a hit no matter how creaky the actors looked or how thin the plot lines. Since the first film adaptation nearly 30 years ago, the series has grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide. Live long and prosper indeed.

Just a few years ago the Trek franchise was being written off for dead. The article notes that the franchise has ‘10 films and counting with a new feature on the way.’ The comparison to the Bond franchise is appropriate as that is only franchise with more films then Trek (the recent prequel/reboot Casino Royale was the 21st film in that venerable franchise). If Paramount play their cards right with the new Star Trek there is no reason why the series cannot continue for decades to come.