New ‘Star Trek’ Film Takes Dark Turn with ‘Training Day’ and ‘Crimson Tide’ Vibes
For the time since 2016s Star Trek Beyond a new theatrical Star Trek film is officially moving forward—and Star Trek film is not what anyone expected. Filmmaking duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) have confirmed that their upcoming Star Trek reboot will be a near-real-time thriller inspired by two iconic films: Training Day and Crimson Tide.
A New Vision for Starfleet: Star Trek
Rather than continuing the Kelvin timeline or revisiting classic characters like Kirk and Spock, Daley and Goldstein are taking a different approach. Star Trek film will feature a new cast of characters and will examine Starfleet as an institution that has existed for a very long time—and what happens when “all is not well” within Starfleet.
“The portrayal of Starfleet and the people that work within Starfleet have always been generally idealized versions of what the future could be ” Daley explained. “While this [script] isn’t an nihilistic take on Starfleet I think it does acknowledge that there are some bad apples in every institution that can have a strong voice and can really make an impact on that institution and everything it stands for.”
The ‘Training Day’ and ‘Crimson Tide’ Connection
Both Training Day (2001) and Crimson Tide (1995) center on conflicts between a grizzled veteran and a younger more idealistic subordinate—a dynamic that translates seamlessly to a Star Trek setting.
Training Day follows a rookie police officer who discovers his decorated mentor is deeply corrupt while Crimson Tide depicts a power struggle aboard a submarine between an experienced captain and his new executive officer. Applied to Star Trek these reference points suggest a confrontation within Starfleet itself pitting the old guard against the new.
Goldstein confirmed the inspiration directly: “Two movies we cite as comps for what we’re hoping to do are Training Day and Crimson Tide.”
Real-Time Thriller with Spectacle
The Star Trek film will take place “ in real time ” offering “a whole other look at what a Star Trek movie could be without betraying the fundamentals of what it should be.” Daley emphasized that with modern television achieving quality Star Trek film must justify its theatrical release through genuine spectacle on the biggest screens possible.
A Fresh Start for the Franchise
The reboot represents a reset, unconnected to any previous entry in the Prime or Kelvin timelines. Chris Pine confirmed this year that he knows nothing about the project offering the filmmakers a cheerful “have fun good luck live long and prosper.”
Daley and Goldsteins primary goal is to make a Star Trek film that stands on its own for newcomers rather than relying on existing fandom. “We do not want to rely on fandom ” Goldstein stated. “We want to make a great Star Trek film that lives in the world that people are familiar with—some people are familiar with—and that others will discover.. Then with good fortune we launch a new franchise into existence.”
With no cast, production date or release date yet announced the project remains in development—but for the first time in years the future of Star Trek, in theaters looks certain again.
