Paramount is betting on writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley to revive Star Trek, and fans are already getting nervous about what that means. The pair behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Spider-Man: Homecoming have a habit of turning well-known franchises into light, joke-filled Hollywood comedies. That style might charm casual audiences, but it often drains the seriousness that made these properties memorable in the first place.
Star Trek at its apex was always about big ideas, great character, and thoughful philosophy. Even the flashier Kelvin films kept some of that spirit alive. Goldstein and Daley’s record, however, goes in the opposite direction. Their version of Dungeons & Dragons traded the franchise’s grounded fantasy tone for a wisecracking adventure that felt more like a bargain-bin Guardians of the Galaxy. That movie, which earned only $205 million worldwide, split fans and critics who said it was too woke and that it mocked the source material instead of honoring it.
Now, the same creative approach seems to be looming over Star Trek. Sources told Deadline that the duo’s pitch is “fresh” and “fun,” a pair of buzzwords studios love to use before unveiling another movie full of punchlines and irony. If that’s the case, audiences can expect a version of Star Trek where serious moments are undercut by quips and character drama takes a back seat to quick laughs.
The franchise already drifted from its thoughtful roots when Paramount pushed the Kelvin trilogy toward action-heavy blockbusters. A full comedic spin could cement the shift away from the show’s original heart. Picking Goldstein and Daley signals that the studio wants a product closer to a Marvel movie than to anything Gene Roddenberry imagined decades ago. It might make sense for a studio chasing box office dollars, but it’s also the kind of move that longtime fans see as proof that Hollywood no longer understands its own legacy brands.
That’s not a great look for Paramount. The Marvel-style humor Goldstein and Daley specialize in isn’t aging well. James Gunn’s own comedy-heavy versions of Superman and his HBO Max projects have struggled to connect. Audiences appear burned out on the same formula of fast talking and self-aware charm that’s been recycled across every major franchise for years.
While no script details have surfaced, the creative team’s history leaves little doubt about the direction. If Paramount actually wants to win back those who still care about Star Trek, it might need less “fun” and more sincerity. Fans aren’t asking for another superhero comedy set in space. They’re asking for the return of the thoughtful science fiction that once made Star Trek a cultural landmark.
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Jamison Ashley
Comic geek, movie nerd, father, and husband - but not necessarily in that order. Former captain of this ship o' fools secretly training everyone's computers and snarkphone spell-checkers to misspell 'supposebly.'
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