Akiva Goldsman has confirmed that long-running sci-fi franchises “Doctor Who” and “Star Trek” almost happened.
A producer on “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Goldsman tells the Radio Times that he and former “Doctor Who” showrunner Russell T. Davies had talked about it and tried to make progress on it until the higher-ups stopped them:
“We were like, ‘Okay, let’s do a crossover,’ and we were plotting it out. There were too many grown-ups that were saying no. But I understand.”
Unable to do it, Goldsman made it his personal mission to incorporate as many “Doctor Who” easter eggs as he could into ‘Strange New Worlds’:
“I have thrown in literally every possible – by the way, without getting sued – I’ve, you know, tried to throw in every possible opportunity for an imagined intersection in the past.”
The results have included a TARDIS in the background of one VFX shot, while Carol Kane’s centuries-old engineer character Pelia has made at least two direct verbal references, including mention of her time as a companion to a “time-travelling Doctor” she once knew.
Previously, Davies appeared on a panel and expressed a desire for such a franchise crossover, saying at the time:
“If anyone can make that happen… it’s fans that can make that happen! Two great big broadcasters, two great big empires — and their lawyers! — would have to come together, but we can do that, can’t we? Quite seriously, I’d love it.”
Goldsman also indicated that the chances of the previously proposed “Star Trek: Year One,” with Paul Wesley’s Kirk taking control of the Enterprise, are pretty much over:
“Nobody’s called, the sets are gone. Everybody else has started to take other jobs. It’s never been officially yes, and it’s never been officially no. But I don’t see it happening.”
The fifth and final season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” has already been shot and is expected out next year.
