Genesis II

“Star Trek” wasn’t a big Nielsen hit during its original run on NBC from 1966-1969, but when the series went into syndication it became a cultural phenomenon. NBC brought “Star Trek” back in 1973 in the form of an Emmy-winning animated series created by Filmation. CBS offered producer Gene Roddenberry the opportunity to create a new science fiction series for their network, hoping to create another ratings bonanza. When the pilot episode was completed the network presented it as a made-for-tv movie.

This week’s movie was “Genesis Ⅱ” from Warner Bros., broadcast the night of March 23, 1973. Gene Roddenberry’s script was directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, who had scored a ratings hit the previous year with “The Night Stalker.” The movie starts in the year 1979 in a NASA laboratory in Carlsbad Caverns. Scientist “Dylan Hunt,” (Alex Cord), is undergoing an experiment in suspended animation when a global thermonuclear war breaks out. Instead of a few days Hunt is in hibernation for 154 years. Civilization comes to an end, except for a group of scientists called “PAX.” They are using Carlsbad Caverns to store the science and culture of the past, hoping to build a better future. Hunt is revived by “Primus Kimbridge,” (Percy Rodriguez), and his idealistic young assistant “Harper-Smythe,” (Lynne Marta). His care is overseen by “Lyra-a,” (Mariette Hartley), a mutant spy from the enemy city of Terrania. Lyra-a convinces Hunt that PAX is evil and they escape to Terrania. Hunt quickly learns that it is the Terranians who are the tyrants. A PAX team lead by the giant “Isiah,” (Ted Cassidy), helps Hunt to start a slave rebellion and escape back to Carlsbad Caverns using an underground transport system called a “subshuttle,” (one of the movie’s most memorable elements).

“Genesis Ⅱ” did reasonably well in the ratings, and CBS instructed Roddenberry to develop the project as a weekly series. Then something went wrong. The network broadcast the 1968 movie “Planet of the Apes” and got incredible ratings. CBS contacted Roddenberry and asked him to incorporate apes into his new show. When Roddenberry refused the network canceled the project. Instead they developed a “Planet of the Apes” television series with 20th Century Fox. (This program lasted only fourteen episodes before it was canceled for low ratings.)

“Genesis Ⅱ” is a watchable and fairly enjoyable little movie with a pretty good cast. It had the potential to be developed into an interesting series. When CBS abandoned the project the ABC network took an interest. Roddenberry was invited by this network to try again with a new pilot to be called “Planet Earth.”

The city of Terrania was filmed partly on the campus of the “University of California, Riverside” to take advantage of some “futuristic” architecture.

One of the scripts under development for “Genesis Ⅱ” was called “Robot’s Return.” It eventually formed the basis for the plot of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

The name “Dylan Hunt” would be reused for the character played by Kevin Sorbo on the television series “Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda,” (2000-2005).