CBS has blocked plans for the popular fan-series, Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II from adapting Norman Spinrad’s unused Star Trek script, “He Walked Among Us, into an upcoming episode.
According to a New York Times report, CBS stopped the planned production and claimed rights to the script. “We fully appreciate and respect the passion and creativity of the ‘Star Trek’ fan and creative communities,” CBS said in a statement. “This is simply a case of protecting our copyrighted material and the situation has been amicably resolved.”
The report goes on to point out that New Voyages has already produced an unused David Gerrold script “Blood and Fire,” which was reworked as it was originally planned for an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987.
“I’m not going to do anything that might be questionable. I have such a good relationship with CBS that I can call them anytime and ask, ‘Is this a problem?’ ” said New Voyages senior executive producer and star, James Cawley.