Paramount
Having experienced an oscillating career in Hollywood, Akiva Goldsman has certainly left his mark on the industry. After bagging an Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind” in 2001, he has been part of some major blockbusters and franchises. This includes writing scripts for “The Da Vinci Code,” “Lost in Space” (1998), and “The Divergent Series: Insurgent.” His portfolio also includes “I, Robot,” “I Am Legend,” and his latest work, “The Dark Tower.”
In 2017, Goldsman associated himself with the “Star Trek” franchise, working as an executive producer and contributing to several episodes of “Star Trek: Discovery,” “Star Trek: Picard,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” He even directed five episodes, showcasing his versatility in the industry. While working on other projects, including the 2023 series “The Crowded Room,” his primary focus seems to be on “Star Trek.”
As a lifelong Trekkie, this association with the Paramount+-era shows is undoubtedly a dream come true for Goldsman. Interestingly, his engagement with “Star Trek” dates back to 2009 when he had a cameo in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” movie. In an intriguing scene, Goldsman can be spotted as one of the Vulcan tribunal members observing young Spock (Zachary Quinto).
Akiva Goldsman’s Role in Star Trek
Paramount
In “Star Trek Into Darkness,” Goldsman returned for another cameo, this time as a human Starfleet admiral. He is the bald man in the white uniform on the right side of the table. In a 2014 interview with StarTrek.com, Goldsman shared his love for “Star Trek” and how he managed to score his cameos.
Goldsman grew up watching “Star Trek” and identifies himself as a Trekkie rather than a Trekker. He has even attended conventions. His first was at the Statler Hilton Hotel in 1977 or 1978. His love for the show is so immense that he associates it with his sense of adolescence freedom. He recalls his younger days when he and his friends would leave town, rent a hotel room, watch “Star Trek,” and roll joints on vinyl copies of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” It’s no surprise that his production company is named Weed Road Productions.
Goldsman has been an ardent follower of all the strange legal battles that Harlan Ellison initiated. He is also a fan of David Gerrold’s design sourcebooks. When “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” was released, Goldsman was in college and fell in love with Persis Khambatta. There was never a moment when “Star Trek” wasn’t a part of his life.
Behind Akiva Goldsman’s Cameos
Paramount
Goldsman’s cameos in “Star Trek” came about due to his friendship with J.J. Abrams. Abrams co-created the TV series “Fringe” in 2008 (with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci), and Goldsman was a writer, consultant, and producer for the show. Knowing that Abrams was working on “Star Trek,” Goldsman reached out for a cameo. He stated, “I introduced J.J. to his wife. I did ‘Fringe.’ And so when he was doing the first ‘Star Trek,’ I basically begged.”
While Goldsman isn’t listed for the upcoming “Starfleet Academy” TV series, he might be concentrating on the upcoming seasons of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which is set to start its third year in early 2025.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
