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As the old saying goes,“necessity is the mother of invention”, and that certainly held true when the creative minds behind action-packedMission: Impossible IIfound themselves looking to theStar Trekuniverse for some visionary inspiration.
Have you ever wondered who helped transform this single film into a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut? Enter Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, the writing wizards who mesmerized us with their 1996 hit movieStar Trek: First Contact. This film not only brought out the wildest imaginations ofStar Trekaficionados but also caught the keen eye of Cruise himself.
The actor, along with his then-producing partner Paula Wagner, enlisted Moore and Braga to rewrite the script forMission: Impossible 2after talks with the movie’s original writer, David Marconi, fell through.
The Unlikely Connection: HowStar TrekSaved Mission: Impossible 2
Tom Cruise’sMission Impossiblefranchise has become acultural phenomenon,but it’s never been easy to forget that it almost didn’t happen. Yes, the story of how the franchise nearly missed its mark is as intriguing as the film’s jaw-dropping stunts. Thanks to the unlikely duo of Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga; they were plucked from the world ofStar Trekto save the day.
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Flashback to 1996, when Moore and Braga were riding high on the success ofStar Trek: First Contact. Their work on the iconic sci-fi hit caught the eye of Paramount executives, who were on the hunt for a savior for the strugglingMission: Impossible 2script. The studio had hit a roadblock after original writer David Marconi’s departure, and the pair ofStar Trekscribes were just the heroes they needed.
Moore recounted toThe Hollywood Reporter:
We had been approached by Don Granger [the feature exec on Star Trek at the time]. He called us and said, ‘Hey, we’re having trouble getting M:I-2 off the ground. I think you and Brannon might be good candidates to help.
Mission: Impossible 2stood out like a sore thumb in the franchise. Directed by John Woo, the film was unforgettable for its bike-jousting escapades, doves flying through scenes for no apparent reason, and Cruise’s iconic bare-handed mountain climb.
Star Trek: First Contactvs.Forrest Gump: A Test-Screening Showdown
Star Trek: First Contactand Tom Hanks’ Forrest Gump are two iconic films that haveleft a lasting impacton audiences, each dazzling like a shining star in their own right. But who would have thought that a film about the complexities of time travel and alien encounters would outshine a heartwarming tale of a simple man’s extraordinary life?
Indeed,Star Trek: First Contactmanaged to outshineForrest Gumpin a spectacular category: test-screening scores, as Ronald D. Moore recalled (via THR):
First Contact came out in November 1996, and a Paramount exec who worked on it approached us shortly after the premiere, in December.
Per the outlet, the buzz surroundingFirst Contactwas nothing short of stellar, boasting the best test-screening scores in Paramount’s history—surpassing even their golden child,Forrest Gump. This was no small feat!
And just like in a Hollywood script, the success of thisStar Trekflick opened doors for Moore and Brannon Braga, leading them to a new adventure withMission: Impossible 2. It was like winning the lottery twice in a row – a rare feat in the cutthroat world of Tinseltown.
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And speaking of Tom Cruise, it turns out he’s not just a pretty face with killer stunts – he’s actually a creative genius. The collaboration between him and the writers led to some of the film’s most memorable moments, like the mid-air plane hijack and the ‘Chimera’ virus. Moore disclosed:
That sequence was all Tom. Tom was deep into rock climbing at that point. He was like, ‘I want to be rock climbing at the beginning,’ and we said, ‘Okay.’
But let’s not forget the real cherry on top—getting to hang out with Cruise himself. Moore further reminisced:
We would meet with Tom every day, for like a month, just hanging out with him and working on story. It was wild.
In the end, it just goes to show that sometimes the most unlikely pairings can lead to greatness. No, we haven’t thought that a couple ofStar Trekwriters could save the day for Cruise and his Impossible Missions!
StreamForrest Gump,Mission: Impossible II&Star Trek: First Contacton Paramount+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
