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Star Trek: Most Beloved Franchise in the Science Fiction Genre

By Garrett Godwin

Since boldly going into space in the final frontier in 1966, Star Trek has endure from being a cult favorite to become one of the most beloved franchises in the science fiction genre. It has spawned three series, several spin-off movies, and legions of devoted Trekkies all over the world.

Though J.J. Abrams' highly-anticipated new Star Trek movie doesn't come out until next year, people can still get their Trekkie fix thanks to Osiris, an Internet fan series that is based on Trek.

Michigan residents Jay Miller of Sterling Heights and his friend, Best Buy co-worker Todd Adams of Waterford Township are the producers, writers, and directors as well as the stars of this show, which began shooting this summer and will start posting episodes online this fall at www.st.osiris.com.

"It made for great conservation until we realized, 'Yeah, we can do this'" Adams said. "It doesn't have to be just a conservational topic anymore."

However, Osiris isn't the first Trek series created for fans online. In 2000, Rob Caves executive produced Hidden Frontier, the first show produced with regular episodes. Since then, several cast and crew members -- including writers -- went on to another series, Phase II, and so on.

Making the series in Miller's basement, Osiris will take place after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, in which Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the Enterprise crew stopped his evil clone -- ending with the potential of a permanent peace with the Romulans. In the web series, the starship Osiris heads out to its maiden voyage while forces within Starfleet itself rise up and threaten the Federation. Miller will be Osiris Captain Kieran Bale, with Adams as First Officer Alaric Thorrson.

"It's for the love of the series" Miller stated. "There's been a huge lapse as far as keeping stuff out there for the fans to latch onto that's fresh and new."

Garrett Godwin writes for NewsBlaze from Michigan. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.