Akiva Goldsman had two appearances on Star Trek before he started writing episodes

Akiva Goldsman has had many highs and lows in his screenwriting career in Hollywood. The writer won an Oscar in 2001 for writing “A Beautiful Mind,” but had previously been nominated for a Razzie for writing the screenplay for “A Time to Kill.” And the terrible “Batman and Robin.” He has been heavily involved in blockbuster films and media franchises, having written “The Da Vinci Code,” 1998’s “Lost in Space” and “The Divergent Series: Insurgent.” He also wrote “I, Robot,” “I Am Legend,” and most recently “The Dark Tower.”

Since 2017, Goldsman has joined the top brass at “Star Trek,” serving as one of the franchise’s executive producers and writing multiple episodes of “Star Trek: Discovery,” “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Strange.” New Worlds.” He also directed five episodes, embracing his new place atop the “Trek” pile. Goldsman is also working on other projects — he created 2023’s “The Crowded Room” series — but “Star Trek” seems to occupy the bulk of his time.

Goldsman has been a long-time Trekkie, so joining the new wave of Paramount+ era shows was likely a dream come true for him. And it just so happens that this isn’t the first time the screenwriter has been able to play in the “Star Trek” universe. In 2009, Goldsman negotiated with director JJ Abrams — a friend of his — for a special appearance in his 2009 film “Star Trek.” Look closely at the photo below, and scan the faces of the two Vulcan court members looking down at the young man. Spock (Zachary Quinto). The person to the right of the central judge is none other than Akiva Goldsman wearing a wig.

In the above below from “Star Trek Into Darkness”, one can also spot Goldsman as a human Starfleet admiral. It’s the bald man in the white-breasted uniform on the right side of the table.

Goldsman discussed his Trekkie credibility 2014 interview with StarTrek.comAnd how did its inscription come about? The writer grew up watching “Star Trek,” and is such a huge fan that he has an opinion on the “Trekkie vs. Trekker” debate. He even went to conferences that day. He said:

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool, hardcore, 1,000 percent Trekkie. And I say Trekkie, not Trekker, and I don’t care what the label has become. I think my first Star Trek convention was at the Statler Hilton in 1977 or 1978. I grew up in Brooklyn; And what I saw was on WPIX, channel 11. And I watched it at 7. I don’t think I’m old enough to remember seeing it in prime time, but I caught it pretty quickly.

Goldsman remembers the heady days of the 1970s when a group of teenagers could leave town on their own, get a hotel room, and do nothing but watch “Star Trek” and roll joints (mostly seeds and stems, he says). On vinyl copies of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (By recent EGOT Elton John). It’s probably no coincidence that his production company is called Weed Road Productions. He said he connected “Star Trek” to his own sense of teenage liberation, and finally found “something” that was his own.

Goldsman said he followed everything The bizarre legal battles instigated by Harlan EllisonAnd he read all the reference design books penned by display designer David Jerrold. When “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” was released, Goldsman said he was in college and fell in love with Persis Khambatta. There was never a moment when Trick wasn’t a part of his life.

It appears that Goldsman, because he was a friend of JJ Abrams, was only able to call his friend and ask for his appearance. Abrams co-created the 2008 TV series “Fringe” (with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci), and Goldsman served on “Fringe” as a writer, consultant and producer. Goldsman eventually wrote 18 episodes of this show and directed one. Knowing that Abrams was working on “Star Trek,” Goldsman reached out to him and subtly asked for a little favor. Well, actually he begged. As Goldsman puts it:

“I introduced JJ to his wife. I did it.”margin.’ And so when he did the firstStar Trek“,” she basically pleaded. It went well, so I think it might have just been a good idea to bring anyone from the first movie back (for “Into Darkness”). I probably could have begged for some more. And I was there. I couldn’t love him more. “I have a gum card here in my office for my Vulcan Council.”

Oddly enough, Akiva Goldsman is not one of the many producers on the list Upcoming TV series “Starfleet Academy”.currently under development. Both “Discovery” and “Picard” are over, so as far as “Star Trek” is concerned, Goldsman may be focusing all his energies on the upcoming seasons of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” Its third year will begin in the first months of 2025.