A biopic of ''Star Trek'' creator Gene Roddenberry is in development

The story of the man behind Star Trek will be produced by his son.

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Recently, Trekkies the world over celebrated Gene Roddenberry on what would have been his 100th birthday. The Star Trek creator led a fascinating life beyond the 1966 series, including surviving not one but two plane crashes, the creation of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and writing speeches for the LAPD.

While Star Trek has no shortage of films, the time has finally come for the creator himself to be on the big screen. The news of a Roddenberry biopic comes just days after his 100th birthday. The project will be produced by Gene Roddenberry's son, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth. The duo is already working together on Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard.

Slated to write the film is Adam Mazer, who won a Primetime Emmy for You Don't Know Jack, a biopic about Jack Kevorkian starring Al Pacino. Director and cast is yet to be announced. 

The biopic will cover Roddenberry's life both before and after the production of Star Trek. "Gene lead a remarkable life," said Rod Roddenberry and Trever Roth in a statement. "He was an incredibly complex, compelling man, whose work changed the face of television, and whose ideas changed the world. It’s time to share Gene’s story with audiences everywhere."

There's no word on when they will aim to release the movie. Who would you cast as the father of Star Trek?

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47 Comments

djw1120 32 months ago
Personally, I can't wait to see if and when they put this out.
I would love to see it.
BTW, MeTV, you forgot Majel Barret as Lwaxana Troi - Deanna Troi's mother.
JimmyD 38 months ago
I don't really like biopics. I like the way Adam Nimoy did the documentary about his father.
laurag315 38 months ago
I sure hope they incorporate his movies. The Questor tapes, Planet earth, earth 2 all late 60s early 70s I am sure there are old scripts laying around somewhere.
Mac2Nite 38 months ago
Hard pass... he was NOT a nice man... creative... but definitely not nice.
Pacificsun Mac2Nite 26 months ago
You'll find many innovators/creators do not follow the "norm." It's not a defense. But it is indicative of their ability to think beyond boundaries and limitations. They seem to follow their passions, heavily invested in changing the norm, with a goal of free expression. I think society needs an infusion of such type people. To push the boundaries. And let others expound upon them. We should be grateful for visionaries such as GR who saw, and expressed, the potential of human nature. With even flaws and all. He was a rare free thinker.
Andybandit 38 months ago
Nice story. Gene made such a good show in Star Trek. I think a nurse on the show was Gene's real life wife.
lynngdance Andybandit 38 months ago
Yup, her name is Majel Barret. She played Nurse Chapel.
Mac2Nite Andybandit 38 months ago
Well... she started out as his lover while he was married to his first wife... as did Nichelle Nichols.. then Majel graduated to his wife when Nichelle stepped aside... then he went on to rape Grace Lee Whitney before he fired her from Star Trek TOS... before it even aired. Real nice guy. 🙄
JimmyD lynngdance 38 months ago
She was also the computer voice in TNG and Troi's mother.
texasluva lynngdance 38 months ago
Middle of the Week Fun----

Remember When - Back to the 50's & 60's.
.

Movies coming to your screen this weekend.
Coming attractions-
Epic "Conan the Barbarian" 1982 Introduction. About the 1 min 10 sec in you'll want to arm yourself and join Conan!

.

2001 A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick's 1968 masterpiece: Look Out HAL9000!

WilliamJorns Mac2Nite 26 months ago
Grace never fingered Gene Roddenberry as her attacker. She kept the assailant's true identity a secret for the rest of her life. It was either a network executive, or someone from Desilu Studios who abused her.
Pacificsun Andybandit 26 months ago
Re: Grace Whitey.
You know its always difficult to judge what goes on behind closed doors. I'm not defending either behavior. But the reality of "Hollywood" is well known. And actors put themselves into positions of vulnerability. Its easy to judge after the fact, regarding many situations. Only the victim can judge the value of evident risk.
gouldsrich 38 months ago
I believe Rod Roddenberry should play his father, I don't know how closely he resembles his Dad,but what could be a better tribute?
Zip 38 months ago
Who would I cast as Roddenberry?
What could be better than having Capt. James T. Kirk himself - William Shatner - play him?!

Ok, maybe not. But it would be interesting to see what Shatner would do with the role.
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MrsPhilHarris texasluva 37 months ago
That’s it. I love it! I live in a house built in the 50s and I think it would look great in my living room. 😃 I’d move our black large screen downstairs.
MrsPhilHarris texasluva 37 months ago
I’m sure it would be near impossible to find one working. Where would you get tubes? Although I wouldn’t doubt I have some in the boxes of stuff that came from my dad’s workbench. 🤔

I didn’t remember William Smith was in Conan, nor James Earl Jones for that matter. I looked it up and admit it sounds amusing.
texasluva MrsPhilHarris 37 months ago
I have not seen that TV for sale yet. I looked BC, CA Craig's List none like that. Most Vintage TV's that size on Ebay is pick up only. If you even got one that is not working you'd have to scout for parts from another broken one. Find someone in BC that can fix vintage Tv's and they would have to scour for parts. Cost would be over $1000 I am sure. Not sure if that set is still tube or transistors. You would not be able to attach cable to it so it would only be local stations. Quality might be low. It would be nice to have but near impossible to find and able to buy a working one.
MrsPhilHarris texasluva 37 months ago
Yeah it wouldn’t be practical. Poo.
justjeff 38 months ago
Gene Roddenberry contributed a number of scripts to "Have Gun, Will Travel"...
Pacificsun justjeff 38 months ago
And the Lieutenant. I wonder why they don't run that on H&I on Saturdays?
Pacificsun justjeff 38 months ago
Hey J. Jeff, I had that comment on the other site deleted.
justjeff Pacificsun 38 months ago
Good to know! Thanks...
LoveMETV22 38 months ago
I think it's great they're doing a biopic for Gene Roddenberry. Good timing releasing the info days after what would have been his 100th birthday. It's great his son is producing the tribute to a truly epic individual.
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 38 months ago
Maybe his son could represent his younger version, when he was first inspired.
texasluva Pacificsun 38 months ago
Middle of the Week Fun----

Remember When - Back to the 50's & 60's. .

Movies coming to your screen this weekend.
Coming attractions-
Epic "Conan the Barbarian" 1982 Introduction. About the 1 min 10 sec in you'll want to arm yourself and join Conan!
.

2001 A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick's 1968 masterpiece: Look Out HAL9000!
srrainwater 38 months ago
Only reason I did so well in elementary school. My parents used Star Trek as a bargaining chip.........They knew what they were doing
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