“Project Hail Mary” Writer Andy Weir Throws Some Cosmic Shade at “Star Trek” After Paramount Rejects Series Pitch

If there is one thing Hollywood executives excel at, it is fumbling a massive golden opportunity right when it lands in their lap. Case in point: Paramount apparently took a look at a pitch from the undisputed king of hard sci-fi, and decided to pass. What? That’s right. Andy Weir, the brilliant mind behind the monumental blockbuster “Project Hail Mary” and the modern classic “The Martian,” pitched a brand-new show to the powers that be at Paramount. Their response? Thanks, but no thanks. Now, Weir is firing back, and he is not pulling his punches when it comes to the current state of the beloved sci-fi franchise.

The Irony of Paramount Rejecting a Sci-Fi Mastermind 

Let’s set the stage here. Weir is currently riding the massive, unstoppable wave of “Project Hail Mary,” a film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling that is absolutely annihilating the global box office. It’s so far the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year. Audiences are desperate for smart, optimistic, and thrilling science fiction that actually respects their intelligence.

So, when a writer of Weir’s caliber knocks on your door with a “Star Trek” pitch, you would think the executives at Paramount would roll out the red carpet. Instead, they showed him the door.

Appearing on the “Critical Drinker” podcast, Weir finally let the world know exactly what went down behind the scenes. He revealed that he hopped on a Zoom call with the franchise showrunners, including executive producer Alex Kurtzman. After spending a significant amount of time discussing his vision, the studio ultimately rejected his pitch.

Weir’s reaction to the rejection? A beautifully blunt, “They didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f*** ’em.” You have to respect the absolute level of sass. That’s admittedly one way to process disappointment.

Andy Weir’s Brutally Honest Take on Modern Star Trek

It is no secret that the newer iterations of the franchise have heavily divided the fanbase. Weir, a self-proclaimed Gen X sci-fi nerd who grew up on reruns of the original series, shares the exact same frustrations as the fans. During his podcast appearance, he completely roasted the current lineup, agreeing with the host that modern sci-fi has been heavily influenced by the original series – with the glaring exception of the new “Star Trek” shows themselves.

“I don’t like a lot of the new Trek,” Weir stated. He even threw a backhanded compliment at Kurtzman, noting that while the executive producer is a nice guy, “at the same time, those shows are sh*t.” Interesting.

However, Weir isn’t just a blind hater. He did give credit where credit was due. He admitted that he likes “Strange New Worlds,” calling it “pretty good.” He also confessed that he didn’t hate the notoriously divisive “Enterprise,” and found the animated comedy “Lower Decks” to be highly entertaining. As for everything else? “All the others, they can go,” he declared.

What This Means for the Future of the “Star Trek” Franchise

This whole situation feels like a massive unforced error for Paramount. The studio recently had to swallow the bitter pill of canceling “Starfleet Academy” after its already-shot second season, proving that their current shotgun approach to the universe is simply not resonating the way they had hoped.

Fans are tired of dark, overly gritty space dramas that forget the core message of Gene Roddenberry’s original vision: hope, exploration, and the triumph of the human spirit. You know who understands that exact tone perfectly? Author Andy Weir. His novels are literal master tutorials in optimistic problem-solving. A “Star Trek” series penned by Weir would have been the ultimate return to form.

The “Project Hail Mary” Phenomenon Speaks for Itself

While Paramount continues to struggle with finding a cohesive direction for their flagship property, Weir is laughing all the way to the bank. “Project Hail Mary” has grossed hundreds of millions of dollars precisely because it delivers the kind of awe-inspiring space adventure for which audiences are currently starving. 

Paramount had the chance to bring that magic to their streaming platform. Instead, they passed on a generational talent. Hopefully, the studio will eventually figure out how to boldly go in a direction that actually makes sense. Until then, we will just have to keep re-watching “Strange New Worlds” and wondering what could have been.