Rumor has it that Scott Bakula, star of Quantum Leap, is in the running to head up the next Star Trek series.
As of right now, I’m not putting much faith in the Scott Bakula rumor. Why, only last week we had a rumor that Anthony Michael Hall (of those classic eighties films with Molly Ringwald) was going to be heading up Series V. Joy, just what we’d want, another geek in a prominent Star Trek role, right up there with Wesley Crusher.
I like Bakula a lot, but he wouldn’t be my first pick. Honestly, if there’s a way, I’d love to see Christian Slater at the head of Series V. First, he’s a major Trek fan. Second, he’d be a major draw for the series. Third, he’s doing practically nothing these days. I don’t know if Berman and Braga would ever think in that direction, and I’m sure Slater’s asking price could be a little pricey, but I can see a definite coolness factor involved.
I’m more convinced than ever that Series V won’t be the Birth of the Federation series. Why? Two things. First, John Eaves is designing the ship, and he’s said that the ship won’t have warp nacelles. Not a biggie, right? Wrong. We know from First Contact that warp nacelles are pretty much standard equipment, from 2063 onward. Basic design principles. But a series set in the future wouldn’t necessarily have ships with warp nacelles. Second, Berman said the ship will be “kick-ass.” Would you describe a ship a whole lot less powerful than Kirk’s Enterprise as “kick-ass”? No, neither would I. Tenuous? Absolutely; I’m grasping at straws here. Oh, how I want to know something….