Science fiction author Andy Weir recently disclosed that he pitched a Star Trek television series to showrunner Alex Kurtzman but the project was not approved. Weir's published works, including The Martian and Project Hail Mary, contain thematic elements central to Gene Roddenberry's original Star Trek vision—namely optimistic depictions of humanity's future and emphasis on scientific storytelling. In contrast, recent Star Trek television productions have increasingly focused on contemporary dialogue and action sequences, moving away from the philosophical and exploratory foundations that defined the franchise's initial success.

Weir's works illustrate futures where unprecedented international coordination enables solving existential problems. The Martian portrays a stranded astronaut's rescue evolving into collaborative effort between American and Chinese space agencies. Project Hail Mary depicts global leaders unanimously authorising a single coordinator to address a planetary threat. These narratives centre human cooperation and scientific advancement toward shared objectives—themes reflecting classic Star Trek's portrayal of an evolved civilisation where unified effort achieves remarkable feats across the cosmos.