As D.C. Fontana (a writer on both “Star Trek” and “The Next Generation”) told EW, scripts for “Star Trek: Phase II” were written; the pilot of “TNG” — “Encounter At Farpoint” — was meant to launch “Phase II.” Then, she said, “Star Wars” came out in 1977 and Paramount decided they’d rather make a “Star Trek” movie instead. After all, George Lucas’ new epic proved that audiences would line up to see starships and space battles convincingly portrayed onscreen. Paramount thus shelved “Phase II” and the “Original Series” cast instead reunited on the big screen for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”
It was only after “Star Trek” proved to be a viable film franchise that a new TV show was produced, which morphed from “Phase II” to “The Next Generation.” The title shift reflects the premise being redone; the new series was literally a new generation of characters, with a new starship Enterprise, who followed in the originals’ footsteps. “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry accepted the offer to lead “TNG” because Paramount made it clear the series was happening with or without him. However, it was only under later writers, such as Ronald D. Moore, that the series came out of the shadow of “Phase II” and found its footing — footing firm enough to hold for seven seasons total.
Moore, who has since co-created the alternate history space race series “For All Mankind,” acknowledged this “Star Trek” trivia in that series. In this timeline, “Phase II” went ahead, “The Wrath of Khan” was the first “Star Trek” movie instead of the second, and “The Next Generation” became the third and final “Star Trek” series. A world without “Deep Space Nine”? Not sure I could bear that.