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Andy Weir, bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary, apologized to Star Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman after calling modern Trek shows “garbage.” The comments, made during a podcast interview last week, went viral over the weekend, sparking widespread backlash across social media.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Incident date: Weir made comments on the Critical Drinker podcast last week, apologized via Facebook on March 30, 2026
- The criticism: Weir said modern Star Trek shows “are shit” during a podcast taping, while pitching his own Trek concept
- His pitch: Weir revealed he spent time in Zoom calls with Kurtzman pitching a Star Trek show, but Paramount rejected it
- The apology: Weir posted an open letter calling his remarks “disrespectful and mean,” claiming they were attempts at humor taken out of context
When a Sci-Fi Author Trashes the Franchise He Wanted to Join
Andy Weir has become one of Hollywood’s biggest names with adaptations of The Martian and his newer bestseller Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling. But his bold criticism of Star Trek’s modern era appears to have crossed a line. During a taping of The Critical Drinker podcast last week, Weir didn’t mince words about Paramount Plus‘s Trek slate. He praised Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, but dismissed the rest as fundamentally flawed television.
The timing made it particularly pointed: Weir revealed he had personally pitched a Star Trek show concept to Kurtzman and the Paramount team. When they rejected his idea, he joked “fuck ’em” on the podcast. Coming from an author currently dominating box office charts, the comments felt like sour grapes.
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What He Actually Said About Modern Trek
In the podcast segment, Weir opened by discussing how modern science fiction shows owe a debt to the original Star Trek. He then delivered his controversial assessment, explaining he liked Strange New Worlds, tolerated Enterprise, and enjoyed Lower Decks for being “entertaining and fun.” But he claimed all other modern Trek shows failed to capture what made the franchise special.
Weir then revealed his direct connection to the franchise politics. He spent significant time pitching his own Star Trek concept in video calls with Kurtzman and the showrunner team. His frustration seemed to stem partly from rejection and partly from genuine creative disagreement about the franchise’s current direction.
The Backlash and Public Criticism
| Timeline | Event |
| Last week | Weir tapes podcast comments criticizing Star Trek shows |
| Weekend | Comments circulate widely on social media, sparking backlash |
| March 30, 2026 | Don Winslow publicly criticizes Weir on X; Weir posts apology |
| March 31, 2026 | Industry and fan reactions continue across platforms |
Don Winslow, author of Crime 101, publicly scolded Weir on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Congrats on the success of Project Hail Mary and The Martian. I’m a real fan. But when you have your moment don’t use it to crap on other writers’ work. For the record, Alex Kurtzman is a visionary writer, creator, producer and you owe him an apology.” Winslow’s rebuke highlighted the writing community’s sense that Weir had crossed professional boundaries.
“I was trying to be funny, but in retrospect it comes off as disrespectful and mean. So I’m sorry for that. I was also trying to be self-deprecating when I said ‘but they didn’t like my pitch so fuck em’ – but out of context it can read like I actually meant it.”
— Andy Weir, in open letter to Alex Kurtzman
The Apology: Context and Self-Deprecation Defense
On March 30, 2026, Weir posted a lengthy open letter to Kurtzman via Facebook, attempting to frame his comments as humor taken out of context. Weir acknowledged that his quotes had been circulated as “salacious sound bytes” without the portions where he praised Kurtzman personally and expressed appreciation for Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks.
Weir explained his “blunt” communication style and noted he hadn’t been in the media spotlight for about a decade before Project Hail Mary became a major film. He also offered direct reconciliation, inviting Kurtzman to discuss the matter by phone or video call. The Project Hail Mary film has already reached $300 million globally, making Weir‘s public apology a strategic necessity alongside a genuine attempt to repair the relationship.
What Does This Reveal About the Star Trek Franchise’s Current Standing?
Weir’s comments, despite their harshness, hit on a real tension within the Star Trek fanbase. Strange New Worlds has been broadly praised for balancing legacy with innovation, while the Kurtzman era’s other shows have proven divisive. The fact that a major contemporary sci-fi author felt moved to criticize Trek’s direction suggests the franchise’s reputation has genuinely fractured since Discovery launched in 2017.
Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary’s massive box office success proves audiences respond when sci-fi entertainment captures their imagination. Weir’s apology ultimately signals respect for professional boundaries, even if it simultaneously validates some criticisms about modern Star Trek that have circulated for years among longtime fans and creators alike.
Sources
- Variety – Andy Weir apologizes to Star Trek boss after calling shows garbage, reporting his open letter posted to Facebook
- The Hollywood Reporter – Detailed coverage of Weir’s Star Trek comments, the podcast segment, and his full public apology
- Deadline – Coverage of Don Winslow’s public criticism and the broader industry reaction
