As William Shatner‘s Captain James Tiberius Kirk prepares to return to the big-screen in Roberto Orci’s upcoming ‘Star Trek 3,’ let us take a moment to remember the death of said Captain, and the man behind the decision to kill off the beloved sci-fi hero, Ronald D. Moore. Nowadays Moore is known for rebooting ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ his ‘Outlander‘ show, and for being an executive producer on ‘Helix,’ but back then he was an up and coming scribe, eager to make his mark on the franchise.
Moore got his foot in the door by writing a spec script for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ at 23. When asked about getting the gig and writing for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation,’ here’s what he had to say:
“Looking back on it now, I’m like, “God, you were just full of hubris. What the hell was wrong with you?!” But at the time, I totally believed it. I was like, “I’m gonna sell this, they’re gonna make it, and they’re gonna bring me on this show.” I remember walking through the building where all the writers were at Paramount while I was on the tour, and we walked by this tiny little office. It was literally the size of a closet, next to the stairwell. As we passed by that office, Richard Arnold, who was giving me the set tour and was instrumental to that whole story, he said, “One of the writers used to work in there, and they just left.” I remember looking in that office and going, “I’m gonna be in that office someday.” And you know what? I was. But, it’s hard to even tell that story because it’s so ridiculously arrogant for a 23-year-old. That was the attitude I had. I completely believed that I was gonna sell it, it was gonna happen, and I was gonna do it. Some miracle of the gods actually decided to make it happen.”
After writing for the show for some time, Moore and his writing partner Brannon Braga went on to write the motion picture ‘Star Trek: Generations,’ the controversial sequel that actually killed of Captain Kirk. Here’s what Moore had to say about the decision:
“It was difficult, and yet I was very eager to do it. It was a really odd thing. I really wanted to do that story. I really wanted to write the death of Captain Kirk. I really wanted to do it in the movie. I remember writing the scene with Brannon [Braga], my writing partner, at the time. When I said, “And Kirk dies,” I wept. It was very emotional and very strange, in the moment and all the way through the process. I’d read it in the script and I’d always be struck by what I’d just done and what we were doing, and that this was my childhood hero and I was writing his death. Even then, I didn’t quite know what to make of it. I was mystified by why I was doing it, why I was so driven to do it, and why it was affecting me like it was. I still don’t know what it means. It’s a strange singular experience. I don’t even know anyone to talk to about it because I don’t know anyone who’s had that experience.”
Of course, now that Kirk is back for the next film, it seems Moore’s decision has been made moot. Any thoughts on Moore’s decision to kill off Kirk? Does anyone wish it hadn’t happened now? Or upset that Orci’s film will undo that decision? Sound off in the comments below.
Source: Blastr
