As we reflect on the Star Trek franchise’s impressive run of nearly six decades, can we truly pinpoint the unsung heroes who have propelled us at warp speed from one generation to the next? Absolutely! The Star Trek canon has expanded to include a number of new TV series, a movie franchise, and other media since Gene Roddenberry created the universe in 1966.
While we are eternally grateful to prolific visionaries like Roddenberry, as well as second-wave pioneers like Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, and Brannon Braga, it was the quiet lifeline tossed by one man, Harve Bennett. Having said that, the late producer actually reignited the flame of the Star Trek franchise when it was about to flicker out.
Bennett’s pivotal role in producing four of the first six Star Trek films in the 1980s can’t be overstated. His astute assessment of the first film’s flaws and knack for tight budgeting earned him the helm from none other than the former Paramount CEO, Charles Bludhorn.
The Impact of Harve Bennett’s Contributions on the Star Trek Franchise
After the success of Star Trek: The Original Series in the 1960s, the franchise struggled to find its footing on the big screen. The first film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was a financial success but a production nightmare, as we learned from CBR.
Gene Roddenberry’s battles with the screenwriter & the ballooning budget led to his demotion to a mere consultant on future films. It was in this chaotic environment that the legendary late screenwriter-producer Harve Bennett stepped in to save the day.
Bennett, a seasoned producer with experience in television and film, was not a Star Trek fan himself. However, he saw the potential in the characters created by Roddenberry and knew that there was a way to bring Star Trek back to its former glory. With a mandate to cut costs and make the films more focused and engaging, Bennett set out to make Star Trek into a successful film franchise.
After Roddenberry was relieved of his producing duties, Bennett was next in line at Paramount. The latter had mentioned their initial meeting numerous times, most notably in the DVD extras for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982). When Charles Bludhorn, the CEO of Paramount at the time, asked Bennett about the first Star Trek flick, the latter replied it was “boring” (via All The Right Movies).
He responded in the affirmative when Bludhorn asked, “Can you make it for less than 45 f—king million?” Bennett was brought on board to manage the series’ legacy after stating that he could, beginning with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Despite the challenges and pressures, Bennett’s efforts paid off. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, directed by Nicholas Meyer, is widely considered one of the best Star Trek films ever made, grossing $97 million against a $12 million budget (Box Office Mojo).
The film’s success spawned four more successful sequels, each of which built on the original series’ legacy while expanding the Star Trek universe.
Harve Bennett: The Man Who Shaped Star Trek’s Future Died at 84
According to the Medford Mail Tribune, Harve Bennett, a producer who helped shape four of Paramount’s Star Trek films in the 1980s, passed away on February 25, 2015, in a Medford, Oregon, hospital.
Bennett also had a hand in creating or producing some of the most iconic sci-fi TV shows, including The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. Director Nicholas Meyer, who collaborated with Bennett on Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, reportedly stated (via THR):
He was a remarkable man and he was unpretentious and self-effacing. I don’t think there would be a Star Trek franchise without him. He rescued it. He’s endangered of being lost in the shuffle, but he’s the guy who figured it out.
The late producer, brought on by Paramount after the underwhelming Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), is widely regarded as having saved the franchise.
Without Harve Bennett’s vision and determination, Star Trek might have faded into obscurity. The acclaimed franchise would prosper for many years to come, thanks to his willingness and take the series in new directions.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is streaming on Max.
