Diehard Trekkies and casual fans alike may have had their phasers set on “stunned” when they heard that Star Trek: Nemesis would be the final voyage for the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. “A generation’s final journey begins,” proclaims the tagline for the film, the tenth in the Trek film series and the fourth for the Next Gen crew.
But Marina Sirtis, who plays Counsellor Deanna Troi in the series and in the movie–due in theaters Dec. 13–had a word of advice for fans at the 2002 San Diego Comic Con: “Pay no attention to that!”
Sirtis, who has been a part of Gene Roddenberry‘s futuristic phenomenon since The Next Generation premiered in TV syndication in 1987, revealed that although by the end of the film many of the U.S.S. Enterprise shipmates “go our separate ways,” fans should definitely expect the crew to reunite in the future.
“I don’t want to not be Troi,” the actress said, reminding fans that where there’s a will (and big box office profits to be had), there’s a way. She said that during filming none of the cast–including Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn–approached the film as if this were their last visit to the final frontier.
In previously reported interviews, those involved in the film, from Stewart to Paramount Pictures’ studio head Sherry Lansing, have also cast doubt on Nemesis‘ status as the last chapter in the saga.
Sirtis also added that despite the cinematic breakup of the crew, a clever screenwriter could gather them all together very easily, pointing out that Worf–the Klingon security chief played by Dorn–has managed to return for each film even after the character became a regular of the sister series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Wherever we are, he’s nearby,” she laughed, then imitated Dorn’s basso tones. “‘Hi, I was just passing by.'”
To fans’ delight, Sirtis showed slides from the film, including a shot of Troi seated in the captain’s chair on the starship’s bridge. She also unveiled some tantalizing plot tidbits, saying that Troi goes through a particularly harrowing travail and does indeed marry her longtime love, Commander Riker (Frakes) during the course of the film.
The actress reported that onetime Trek regular Wil Wheaton, who played Ensign Wesley Crusher and left the series during its seven-year run, returned for the first time in the film series to attend the wedding. However, after Sirtis’ Comic Con appearence, Wheaton reported on his personal website that Trek executive producer Rick Berman called him to deliver bad news: the first cut of the film had to lose 48 minutes, which caused Wesley’s return to be left on the cutting room floor.
Other Trek alum, including Whoopi Goldberg (Next Gen’s Guinan) and Voyager‘s Kate Mulgrew have also been reported to appear, but Wheaton said Berman told him at least one other unnamed actor has been told their part has been culled from the film.
Sirtis lavished praise on A-list screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator), a longtime fan of all Trek incarnations, whom she said lobbied for the job against the better wishes of his agents. She said Logan’s knowledge of Star Trek minutiae, combined with director Stuart Baird‘s relative unfamiliarity with the well-established universe of the 24th century, made for a potent new take on the timeworn story and characters.
“This has been the best 15 years of my life,” Sirtis finished by telling the audience. “You are the most loyal fans in show business. Every blessing that I have I owe to you.”
