The Questor Tapes is an American TV series in the planning stage. It is based on the television movie, The Questor Tapes, which was created in 1973 (and aired in January 1974) by Gene Roddenberry, who had hopes that the movie would serve as a pilot for a television series that "had the potential to be bigger than Star Trek."[1]
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The Questor Tapes was one of a series of television movies created by Gene Roddenberry as pilots for possible television series.[2] It was originally conceived as a television series pilot about an android with incomplete memory tapes who searches for his creator and his purpose.[3]
It was picked up and scheduled to air as a TV series, but was never produced, due to "creative differences" between Gene Roddenberry and NBC, which had aired the pilot and had agreed to show the series.[4]
Although the series was not produced, some elements of Questor, the android played by Robert Foxworth in the pilot, were eventually incorporated into the character, Data, in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the movies based on that series.[5] As one commentator put it, Questor was the "spiritual father of Data."[6]
A novelization of the TV movie was later created by D. C. Fontana.[7]
Herbert J. Wright, who had a long friendship with Roddenberry, had strong ties to the series that was never made. When the rights to the series reverted to the Roddenberry family in the early 2000s, Wright secured those rights with the blessing of Roddenberry's family to produce the series. Wright made several promotions for the series in 2003 at conventions. Wright even reserved production locations while working on a first script. The show suffered what was at first a simple setback when Wright fell ill within a year, which delayed the show's development. Wright died in 2005 before he could finally bring the show to life.
In January 2010, news releases indicated that Rod Roddenberry, son of the late Gene Roddenberry, had struck a deal with Imagine Entertainment, the production company owned by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, to create the new series.[1] Imagine has a "first-look" agreement with Fox, so it is likely that the show will air on that network.[8]
The announcement of the deal between Roddenberry Productions (where Rod Roddenberry serves as CEO) and Imagine was made at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame induction ceremony where Rod Roddenberry accepted the posthumous honor, presented by Seth MacFarlane, on his father's behalf.[3] "My father always felt that 'Questor' was the one that got away," said Rod Roddenberry. "He believed that the show had the potential to be bigger than 'Star Trek.'"[3]
Early reports indicate that "it is expected" that Tim Minear, known for his work on such science fiction and science fantasy series as Angel, Dollhouse, and Firefly, would lead the production team.[9] Although Roddenberry is careful to say that it is not 100% certain that the series will air, observers have noted that "it would be hard to discount a partnership between two well-respected names having the ability to generate some interest and open a few doors."[9]
According to early news discussions, Rod Roddenberry has identified Brent Spiner, well known for his role as Data, as his "first choice" for the role of Questor.[10][11]