Sci-Fi Storm

You may have heard about an unproduced script for the original Star Trek from writer Norman Spinrad, who also wrote “The Doomsday Machine”. It had been rediscovered, and Spinrad began selling digital copies and was going to direct the episode for Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II, the fan-led continuation of the original series. That was, until CBS decided they couldn’t.

CBS owns all the TV rights, including any scripts produced and paid for of the original series, whether they were filmed or not. They haven’t really interfered with STNV, and in fact have a good relationship, especially since STNV hasn’t really profited on it’s production. And they didn’t seem to care when an unproduced script from Star Trek: The Next Generation by David Gerrold got the STNV treatment. But apparently CBS thought this was different, serving a cease-and-desist notice to STNV to stop production and to Spinrad to stop selling.

Both appear to have happily complied, although Spinrad’s own response on the matter (the date on it is confusing – he updated the original post, and it retains the original date) is a bit more lawyer-ish, and as part of the settlement, he apparently cannot comment further on it.

So it appears that the project is dead, at least for now, until CBS changes their mind.

In next Monday’s Lost Girl, Saskia unexpectedly drops by to see Bo and tries to convince her to a night on the town but Bo declines. Watch the sneak peek as tensions heat up when Saskia doesn’t quite know when to quit. Check it out at 10/9c Monday, April 2nd, on Syfy.
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