New Star Trek Canon Policy?

[Havok]

I was wondering, with the lead up story to Star Trek being handled in a comic series and that story having actual bearing on the plot of the movie, has Roddenberry's "It's not Star Trek until I say it is Star Trek", which was then translated into "TV and Movies Only", given way to something new? Also, do the novelizations of Star Trek movies, and in particular Star Trek, exist in canon?

[Stofsk]

Well, frankly, the idea that Star Trek isn't Star Trek until Gene says it is, is a little problematic.

What, with the Great Bird being dead and all. FYI.

[Havok]

Well, frankly, the idea that Star Trek isn't Star Trek until Gene says it is, is a little problematic.

What, with the Great Bird being dead and all. FYI.

As I said, that was translated/turned into "TV and Movies Only".

[Bounty]

It's not like that canon policy was set in stone even before the movie. It's been brought up time and time again that in making new materials, the writers have "canon" and "continuity" to work with, and they don't always overlap.

Still, the fact of the matter is that the new universe has two major pieces of accompanying fiction out and the movie borrows heavily from at least one of them. For all practical intents and purposes I'd say the secondary materials that are explicitly referenced can be considered canon since it's obvious the creative staff intended them to be seen as such, but at the same time it's too soon to tell if this'll be a hard rule in materials to come or if it just means the lines between Trek media are blurring.

[Revy]

Didn't William Shatner try and get them to canonize the Trek novels where Kirk gets brought back to life, so that he could have a part in the new movie alongside Nimoy? From what I heard that wasn't totally out of the question, but Abrams didn't want the plot of the film to be overshadowed by Kirks return or whatever.

Would it even matter now? Since the entire slate has pretty much been wiped clean, is anything from before 2009 Trek canon anymore? Or is there now two distinct sets of canon, old Trek timeline and new?

[mr friendly guy]

Given how we have debated time travel in trek ad nauseum (usually in vs threads) and come to the conclusion that Trek works on a "many worlds" scenario rather than time travel alters history scenario, why can't the "Abrahamsverse" and the old Trekverse just be considered two different time lines, just like how DC comics had the old Earth 1 and Earth 2 parallel universes. In which case by default both are canon, but in their own universe.

And just so you hear it from me first, I expect fan fiction crossovers between the new canon and the old canon to be hitting fan fiction websites shortly.

[Bounty]

... that's pretty much what Spock explicitly states in the film.

[tim31]

And I know I've said this in other threads, but I very nearly expected him to look at the camera and wink with a 'ting' sound effect.

[Themightytom]

And I know I've said this in other threads, but I very nearly expected him to look at the camera and wink with a 'ting' sound effect.

Spock spent most of the movie leaning casually on the fourth wall, I had the same impression, both when you mentioned and also at the end with his "Maybe I won't say live long and prosper this time"

I don't think a new policy for a new Star Trek would be a bad idea, but they should definitely leave the old Star trek right where it sits. William Shatner as the case in point, actors will start writing up hack work in a bid to get new rules. Can anyone imagine Ethan Phillips launching his new book series "Adventures of neelix"? Or levar burton coming up with "Geordie Laforge: private eye"

[Revy]

Can anyone imagine Ethan Phillips launching his new book series "Adventures of neelix"? Or levar burton coming up with "Geordie Laforge: private eye"

That reminds me

[General Zod]

Well, frankly, the idea that Star Trek isn't Star Trek until Gene says it is, is a little problematic.

What, with the Great Bird being dead and all. FYI.

As I said, that was translated/turned into "TV and Movies Only".

Translated? Uh. . .that was adopted as Paramount's official canon policy years ago. Seeing they own the rights and all.