Akiva Goldsman had two cameos in Star Trek earlier than he began writing episodes

Akiva Goldsman has had many highs and lots of lows throughout his profession as a screenwriter in Hollywood. The scribe gained an Oscar in 2001 for writing “A Stunning Thoughts,” however he was beforehand nominated for a Razzie (honoring the worst in cinema) for writing the screenplays for “A Time to Kill.” and the atrocious “Batman & Robin.” He has been deeply concerned in main blockbusters and media franchises, writing “The Da Vinci Code,” 1998’s “Misplaced in House” and “The Divergent Collection: Rebel.” He additionally wrote “I, Robotic”, “I Am Legend” and most lately “The Darkish Tower”.

Since 2017, Goldsman has grow to be nearer to the large bosses of “Star Trek”, serving as govt producer of the franchise and writing a number of episodes of “Star Trek: Discovery”, “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Unusual “. New Worlds.” He additionally directed 5 episodes, taking his new place on the prime of the “Trek” class. Goldsman can also be engaged on different initiatives — he created the collection “The Crowded Room” in 2023 — however “Star Trek” appears to take up most of his time.

Goldsman has lengthy been a Trekkie, so becoming a member of the brand new wave of reveals within the Paramount+ period was most likely a dream come true for him. This wasn’t the primary time the screenwriter had performed within the “Star Trek” sandbox, both. In 2009, Goldsman fought with director JJ Abrams – a pal of his – to make a cameo in his 2009 movie “Star Trek.” Look intently on the picture beneath and scan the faces of the 2 courtroom members Vulcan taking a look at younger Spock (Zachary Quinto). The one simply to the proper of the middle choose is none apart from Akiva Goldsman in a wig.

Within the above from “Star Trek Into Darkness”, Goldsman will also be noticed as a human Starfleet admiral. It is the bald man within the white-breasted uniform on the proper facet of the desk.

Goldsman mentioned his Trekkie cred in a 2014 interview with StarTrek.comand the way his cameos got here to be. The author grew up watching “Star Trek” and is such a fan that he has an opinion on the “Trekkie vs. Trekker” debate. He even went to conventions again then. He stated:

“I am a die-hard Trekkie, 1000 %. And I say Trekkie, not Trekker, and I do not care what the nomenclature has grow to be. I feel my first “Star Trek” conference was on the Statler Hilton lodge in 1977 or 1978. I grew up in Brooklyn, and what you noticed was on WPIX, Channel 11. And also you watched it at 7 p.m. each days. I am not sufficiently old, I feel, to recollect seeing it in prime time. However I picked it up in a short time in syndication.

Goldsman remembers the wild and woolly days of the Seventies, when a bunch of youngsters may go away city on their very own, discover a lodge room and do nothing however watch “Star Trek” and experience joints (primarily seeds and stems, he stated). on vinyl copies of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Highway” (by recent EGOT Elton John). It is most likely no coincidence that his manufacturing firm is named Weed Highway Productions. He stated he related “Star Trek” together with his personal sense of adolescent liberation, lastly discovering “a factor” of his personal.

Goldsman stated he adopted all the pieces the strange legal battles sparked by Harlan Ellisonand he learn each design handbook written by the present’s designer David Gerrold. When “Star Trek: The Movement Image” got here out, Goldsman stated he was in faculty and fell in love with Persis Khambatta. There was by no means a time when Trek wasn’t part of his life.

It appears that evidently Goldsman, as a result of he was buddies with JJ Abrams, was merely capable of name his buddy and ask for an look. Abrams was the co-creator of the 2008 tv collection “Fringe” (with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci), and Goldsman labored on “Fringe” as a author, advisor and producer. Goldsman in the end wrote 18 episodes of this collection and even directed one. Figuring out Abrams was engaged on “Star Trek,” Goldsman reached out and subtly requested for a small favor. Okay, really, he pleaded. In Goldsman’s phrases:

‘I launched JJ to his spouse. I did’Fringe.’ And so when he made the primary ‘Star Trek‘, I principally begged. Every part went nicely, so I assume possibly it was simply a good suggestion to convey individuals again from the primary one. [for ‘Into Darkness’]. Perhaps I may have begged for extra. And there I used to be. I could not love him extra. I’ve a gum card proper right here in my workplace representing myself on the Vulcan Council.”

Akiva Goldsman is, oddly sufficient, not one of many many producers listed for the upcoming TV series “Starfleet Academy”at the moment in growth. “Discovery” and “Picard” have each ended, so when it comes to “Star Trek,” Goldsman may focus all of his energies on the following seasons of “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds.” Its third 12 months will start within the first months of 2025.