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Updated: Is Harlan Ellison's Star Trek suit aimed at J.J. Abrams' movie?
[Update 3: TrekMovie.com is calling it an old rumor recycled ... ]
[Update 2: TrekMovie.com reports that Ellison's lawsuit has to do with the uncompensated use of "City" elements in the 2006 Pocket Book "Crucible" trilogy of books, among other things, and not Abrams' film. Meanwhile, Ellison has been quoted on video saying he's been reassured that Abrams' film does not include the Guardian of Forever, but that was more than a year ago. Could it be he found out otherwise in the intervening months? Could it be he was lied to? Or could it be that the new reports are simply rehashing old rumors? Stay tuned ... ]
[Update: original Star Trek writer David Gerrold has posted on TrekMovie.com his thoughts on the Ellison lawsuit and the issues at stake. His comments are numbered 222, 225 and 287.]
About that lawsuit filed by SF author Harlan Ellison against Paramount over his Star Trek episode, "City on the Edge of Forever"?
Reports have surfaced that the lawsuit may have something to do with the rumored plot of J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek reboot movie, which (spoilers ahead!) may feature elements of that episode—specifically, the time-travel device called the Guardian of Forever.
Fans know that in "City on the Edge of Forever," Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) travel back in time through the mysterious alien portal to 1930s Earth to rescue Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and inadvertently upset the timeline by saving a woman named Edith Keeler (Joan Collins).
When Abrams' film was coming together, various rumors circulated that the plot would hinge on time travel, specifically dealing with the Guardian of Forever. Since then, there's been no confirmation that the device would figure in the story, though it is widely believed the story will deal with a Romulan villain, Nero (Eric Bana), who travels back in time to wipe out Kirk (Chris Pine) before he becomes captain of the Enterprise. None of this has been officially confirmed by Paramount.
In any case, Ellison—who has jealously guarded his rights to his creations over the years—has previously warned Paramount not to use any elements of "City on the Edge of Forever" that he takes credit for creating (which would include everything except the main Trek characters) without compensating him.
Abrams' Star Trek opens May 8.
By Dugga48 at 2:21 PM ON 03/18/09
Harlan Ellison is a pretty cool guy. i actually
used to fence with the guy in the basement
of used S.F.book store in S.J back in the day.
he was pretty good with a foil, but of course
everyone knows that the sabre is a "true" man's weapon. I'm kidding I was in complete awe of the guy!
By chris von danger at 2:46 PM ON 03/18/09
I'll agree ellison is one of the best Sci-Fi writers of the past 50 years. But, when he pulls lawsuits like this, that to me shows that he's a bitter old crank wanting money.
By URABUTND at 2:47 PM ON 03/18/09
Actually, this is old news. Those rumors surfaced months ago, Harlan responded on his Website, saying that he sure hoped Abrams wasn't doing that, and Abrams responded by saying he wasn't.
By BrownJenkin at 2:50 PM ON 03/18/09
I also have met Harlan while doing sketches at a Con. Unimpressed with my loud-mouthed boss he asked me, "Does he make you get coffee?" I stopped drawing and answered, "Yeah". He asked, "Does he make you get lunch?" I said, "Sometimes."Harlan leaned close with a crazed look in his eye. "Does he make you sing spirituals down by the river?" Flustered, I said, "Uh...no." "Yeah," said Harlan,"Just you wait." Seriously? What a freaking nutcase.
By TJ at 2:58 PM ON 03/18/09
Brown-Jenkins: you were SO lucky to get invited to an Ellison-owning. Thanks for sharing.
By BrownJenkin at 3:05 PM ON 03/18/09
TJ: I swear to you, I'm not trying to be crass. But, the next day a fan asked him a question and he stood up on his chair, screaming at an invisible "commie" that apparently only he could see. It was like having a booth next to Gary Busey's evil grandfather all weekend. I mean, WOW man.
By Oldcode at 3:08 PM ON 03/18/09
No! Not time travel again!
Time travel has been done to death! Next Gen pretty much put the nail in the coffin for time travel stories for me. It's been done!
By GoblinRevolution at 3:09 PM ON 03/18/09
While I acknowledge Ellison's undeniable stature in the genre, I lost all respect I had for him when he trademarked his own name. This lawsuit is typical for Harlan Ellison (TM).
By Phy at 3:11 PM ON 03/18/09
By Rafe at 3:24 PM ON 03/18/09
Look this is a business dispute. Ellison owns the rights to 25% of all revenue generated from his Star Trek work. In the past, Paramount has released books based on the concept and did not pay him per the contract. Why should Ellison stand by and be cheated with a multi-billion dollar company violates a contract? If some company violated a contract with Paramount, the company would sue. Didn't Fox sue Warners over contractual obligations based on Watchmen?
Why is there so little respect for a little guy standing up to a big company that is potentially cheating him? Hello! Star Trek is a great mythology but it is owned by a BIG Fortune 1000 company.
By TJ at 3:41 PM ON 03/18/09
BrownJenkin: Don't get fooled by the Nick Nolte survivor armor. Inside that facile if blowfishy exterior lies not only a genius but one of humanity's best friends. (e.g. Ticktockman) And the best damn writer (and reader) I ever got to hang around. A weekend? To die for.
By GoblinRevolution at 3:49 PM ON 03/18/09
Harlan Ellison is anything but 'the little guy'. He's as rich as Croesus. Besides, almost all of the work that was done on Star Trek was written on spec, and I am also fairly certain that his was as well. In any case, the script as aired is nearly unrecognizable as the original Ellison, so there is a good argument there for Paramount. If it really mattered, why did it take him 35 years to file suit?
By Captain America at 4:13 PM ON 03/18/09
(Why is there so little respect for a little guy standing up to a big company that is potentially cheating him? Hello! Star Trek is a great mythology but it is owned by a BIG Fortune 1000 company.)
And why is that when a big company is involved some people automatically come down against them? Whatever happened to basing decisions on what's right and what's wrong, as opposed to making personal judgments about the parties involved in a situation?
By Captain America at 4:14 PM ON 03/18/09
(Why is there so little respect for a little guy standing up to a big company that is potentially cheating him? Hello! Star Trek is a great mythology but it is owned by a BIG Fortune 1000 company.)
And why is that when a big company is involved some people automatically come down against them? Whatever happened to basing decisions on what's right and what's wrong, as opposed to making personal judgments about the parties involved in a situation?
By flexnfx at 4:50 PM ON 03/18/09
If Paramount was warned and the best JJ can do remake an episode of TOS...then go get 'em Harlan!
By greenhornet428 at 5:57 PM ON 03/18/09
WHY TIME TRAVEL?????? STAR TREK IS ABOUT SPACE TRAVEL - NOT TIME TRAVEL. wHATS UP WITH THE SUITS THAT THEY THINK WE LIKE TIME TRAVEL (AND BIG CHESTED BORG GIRLS)?? If its time travel Im walking out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Devon at 6:15 PM ON 03/18/09
"If Paramount was warned and the best JJ can do remake an episode of TOS...then go get 'em Harlan!"
If Sci-Fi wire can't even get its facts straight or are so far behind the times when this was debunked in January 2008... well you get the idea.
Anyone want to hear Harlan address and debunk this MONTHS ago when this was news?
By Paul Riddell at 6:24 PM ON 03/18/09
Good on David Gerrold for sharing why this is so important. I've noticed that the very same people who figure this is just Ellison's way of grabbing money are the same exact ones who are in shock when they discover their favorite writer is having to work at the local liquor store to pay the bills. (Speaking as someone who was in that very situation, having it told to my face "What are you doing here?" with an accusatory tone does absolute wonders for the ego.) Go right back and pretend that all of your favorite writers are ridiculously rich from their efforts, but don't you dare get offended because those writers go four and five years (or more) between books because rent and groceries are more important. Between television and publishing, the only people making the least are the people producing the actual content you crave, and if Harlan's suit convinces a few to give the writers a bit more respect, then good on him, too.
By Hobbes76 at 7:15 PM ON 03/18/09
Um, of course there's going to be time travel in it. Didn't any of you see the trailer, with old Spock talking to new Spock? It's kind of obvious.
By jasonthegreat at 2:19 AM ON 03/19/09
Hey! Some of us like big chested Borg women ya know
By QuantumSam at 11:27 AM ON 03/19/09
Regardless of the merits of the suit -- Harlan is a 10 ft jerk stuffed into a 5 ft body. I was in the blast radius of several convention encounters between him and Isaac Asimov. They hated each other and Harlan would always start the fracas and Asimov would fricasee him.
By Matthew at 12:23 AM ON 01/16/10
Erm...in the plot of City on the Edge of Forever, Kirk and Spock do NOT "inadvertently upset the timeline by saving a woman named Edith Keeler", the plot is that they realise that IF they do save her, the timeline gets screwed (or rather it did get screwed by Bones's intervention), so they DON'T save her...they let her die. And boy, I can't believe I'm having to fix you guys on a point involving the plot of the most famous episode of the most famous EVER Science Fiction TV series. Shame on you!
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Matthew:
Erm...in the plot of City on the Edge of Forever, Kirk and Spock do NOT "inadvertently upset the timeline by saving...More »