Andy Weir Clarifies His Comments to Alex Kurtzman About ‘Star Trek’

Andy Weir Issues Apology Over Controversial Comments on Star Trek

Author Andy Weir has publicly apologized for remarks he made about the Star Trek franchise, which he admits were inappropriate. Weir, known for his bestseller Project Hail Mary, addressed the issue in an open letter directed at Star Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman, stating, “I was trying to be funny, but in retrospect it comes off as disrespectful and mean.”

In a recent appearance on the Critical Drinker podcast, Weir made several statements about Paramount’s approach to the Star Trek universe and revealed that his pitch for a Star Trek series was rejected by Kurtzman. He later clarified that his comments were “taken out of context as salacious sound bytes” and emphasized he was attempting to be self-deprecating.

Reflecting on his podcast statements, Weir remarked, “I pitched a Star Trek show to Paramount and I was on Zoom with the showrunners. He, as a person, is a really nice guy. But at the same time, those shows are sit. He is a nice guy, but they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, fck ’em.”

In his recent Facebook apology, Weir reiterated his admiration for Kurtzman, emphasizing, “how much I like you as a person and what a nice guy you are.” He also expressed a willingness to discuss the matter further, stating, “if you want to talk about it in real time – even if it’s just to rip me a new one – I’m happy to hop on the phone or Zoom.”

Weir’s comments were met with criticism from members of the writing community, including author Don Winslow, who voiced disapproval over Weir’s disparaging remarks about Star Trek.

Weir gained significant attention for Project Hail Mary, the basis for a successful film produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The movie, starring Ryan Gosling as a teacher who awakens with amnesia on a spacecraft, has performed impressively for Amazon MGM Studios, achieving notable box office success for a non-franchise release.