Star Trek Communicator's Update with Rick Berman, DS9/VOY/IMAX portion

You had said last time we spoke that you felt optimistic that Deep Space Nine would have a seventh season. Is there anything official yet on a seventh season?
There is nothing official yet but I can say that I am even more optimistic now than I was a month ago. [Ron Moore has confirmed the 7th season, although no official Paramount announcement has been issued.]

Do you predict that the entire cast will be back if there is a seventh season?
I absolutely predict that the entire cast will be back. [Terry Farrell (Dax) has publically said that she will NOT return. Nana Visitor (Kira) in a recent convention confirmed her departure. No official word as yet, but the decision is pretty much already made. Recent speculation on-line proposes that she will be killed in this year's season finale, and I strongly concur with this notion.]

How has Jeri Ryan's addition to the cast of Star Trek: Voyager changed the way the show is written and perceived by the cast an crew?
I think that the addition of the Seven of Nine character has only helped the show. What is has allowed us to do is add an extremely interesting character to the mix, developing very unique, interesting and individual relationships with each of the crew. Her mentor-type relationship with Janeway is extremely important to the series. It helps the writers come up with more interesting storylines and more interesting character arcs for both Seven of Nine and Janeway. I think the same is true for a number of our other characters. I think what we have gained with Seven of Nine is immeasurable right now. It is helping in many different ways. As far as the cast and crew are concerned, everyone loves having her there.

Beyond the sex appeal of Jeri's tight-fitting costume, why would a Borg wear high heel shoes?
(Laughter) As a de-borgified Borg, Seven of Nine has a number of circuits and prosthetic devices still remaining in her. Unbeknownst to everyone, and something you will now exclusively know, a number of circuits are hidden inside though high heels!

Star Trek: The Experience had its grand opening in January. You were there for its unveiling, how did it go?
It was very rewarding for me. I have been involved with this project for the last three years and to finally see the reaction of people who were coming and attending it was great. There are still some rough edges that need to be smoothed out but that's to be expected. You know, when you make a movie, before anyody sees it, you get to polish off those rough edges. But, here, it's an ongoing process. I think the responde that I have gotten from people who were waiting for it has been that the wait was worth-while.

Rick, besides all of the current Star Trek projects, are there any other new projects that Rick Berman Productions is preparing?
I'm working right not on that revisions of the first script of the IMAX film and that, along with Star Trek IX and the two series, is keeping me real busy. But, I am hoping that in the Fall, a writer who is part of the family now, will be working with me on some non-Star Trek projects possibly for a motion picture but most likely, at first, as a television series concept.

There ya go! Rick also discusses Star Trek IX. Click Here for that portion of the article.

The article was written by Dan Madsen for the Star Trek Communicator. The article is the exclusive property of that publication, and TrekWeb.COM does not claim ownership to any part of it. Go buy the magazine anyway, it's great! This issue: African Americans pioneering in Star Trek.