WI: Disney Buys the Star Trek Franchise

Star Trek doesn't really have the mass-market appeal and kid-appeal of Star Wars so it is probably a bad move for them. I'm not saying Trek is bad but it just isn't going to sell as many toys or make a good themed area of an amusement park like Star Wars would.
 
It is far easier to buy Star Wars than it is to buy Star Trek. Star Wars was all part of Lucas Film, a small company, you can easily buy, while Star Trek is part of Paramount and CBS large companies (at least larger than Lucas) you either have to buy entirely (probably too expensive for Disney, certainly too expensive if you are just interested in Star Trek) or have to buy Star Trek from. That last part is a lot harder, especialy since the movie and television rights are split.

If they buy it before the new movie was made, they will probably not reboot the franchise, but work within the universe they have, creating a new tv show. If they buy it after the movie was a succes, they will create a new tv show set in the rebooted universe (my guess would be a TNG reboot, since TNG was the most succesful of the tvseries) and continue the movie franchise.
 
Your POD to get this through could be that the reboot film comes out and bombs - someone really cocks it up ITTL - and after Nemesis and Enterprise, that bombing makes someone at Paramount think Trek is a finished brand. Not that plausible but something you could work round.
 
Star Trek doesn't really have the mass-market appeal and kid-appeal of Star Wars so it is probably a bad move for them. I'm not saying Trek is bad but it just isn't going to sell as many toys or make a good themed area of an amusement park like Star Wars would.

Your POD to get this through could be that the reboot film comes out and bombs - someone really cocks it up ITTL - and after Nemesis and Enterprise, that bombing makes someone at Paramount think Trek is a finished brand. Not that plausible but something you could work round.

the problem with decline of Star Trek franchise begann as ViaCom took over Paramount in 1994
They CEO had no idea what to do with it, after 1995 what let to cruelties like "Star Trek: Nemesis" aka "worst Star Trek ever"

Interesting would be this What if: Paramount is buy instead by Disney in 1994
today we could have a "Star Trek" Theme park
 

Gaius Julius Magnus

Gone Fishin'
I think a problem is that prior to the reboot, why would Disney buy what would appear to be a dead brand after Nemesis and Enterprise? Which would also have much more limited appeal than Star Wars
 
I think a problem is that prior to the reboot, why would Disney buy what would appear to be a dead brand after Nemesis and Enterprise? Which would also have much more limited appeal than Star Wars
Disney? For no reason of course. As stated by ComradeWukongDisney basicly buys property aimed at children, like Star Wars and Marvel (and yes, both are aimed at children, even if adults can enjoy it too). Star Trek was always aimed at adults, although children can enjoy it too. So Disney wouldn't buy Star Trek. Some other company might (if the rights weren't as messed up as they were), if they saw potential for a relaunch. That said, since Star Trek isn't its own company, it is a lot harder to buy the rights for it than it was for Star Wars. Mind you, it probably wouldn't have happened anyway, but it is not impossible.
 
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