‘Project Hail Mary’ Writer Apologizes to Alex Kurtzman for Calling Modern Star Trek “Sh—”

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Andy Weir, the author of Project Hail Mary, has apologized to Alex Kurtzman, who leads the Star Trek television shows, after speaking negatively about the franchise. This apology has upset many science fiction fans, who feel he didn’t need to apologize at all.

Some fans believe that Weir simply stated a harsh but truthful opinion about the current state of Star Trek, a sentiment many within the fanbase already felt. Interestingly, a recent adaptation of Weir’s own work has been quite popular, while Star Trek has had difficulty keeping viewers interested under Kurtzman’s direction.

Weir Weighs in on Star Trek

The discussion started after author Andy Weir spoke with The Critical Drinker. He stated that nearly all modern science fiction films and TV series owe a debt to the original Star Trek, but that the current Star Trek shows are, with very few exceptions, poorly made.

The comment specifically highlighted the work of Alex Kurtzman, who has been in charge of the Star Trek television shows, starting with Star Trek: Discovery and continuing through Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. This observation seems accurate because, after more than ten years, there are currently no new Star Trek series in development.

As someone from Generation X, Andy Weir grew up watching classic sci-fi like reruns of the original Star Trek and Lost in Space. He explained that these shows heavily influenced his creative style. Fans often note the realistic science and adventurous spirit of those series in his novel, Project Hail Mary. Many also feel that recent Star Trek installments have moved away from these qualities.

However, Weir did receive some backlash, which may be why he is now apologizing.

Peer Pressure Played a Part?

Science fiction author Don Winslow criticized Andy Weir on X (formerly Twitter), though he started by congratulating him. Winslow objected to Weir publicly criticizing the work of other writers, implying those opinions should have stayed private. While Weir is now a respected voice in the genre, Winslow felt he overstepped by voicing those criticisms publicly.

Look, as someone who really appreciates good storytelling, I gotta say, Alex Kurtzman is a seriously talented writer, creator, and producer. And honestly, people should apologize to him – one creative to another, you know?

The Apology

Soon after, Andy Weir publicly apologized to Alex Kurtzman on social media. He started his message by saying, “Hey, Alex. This is Andy Weir, and I want to apologize for what I said on the Critical Drinker podcast.” He then explained that his comments had been taken out of context and presented in a sensationalized way.

He didn’t say who changed or reworded his statements, so that part of the story remains unclear. This leads to a situation where his words are being interpreted and re-interpreted, and he likely isn’t to blame for the latest version. Ultimately, his views are similar to those held by a lot of fans.

Andy Weir repeated his previous statements from a podcast, saying he personally likes Alex Kurtzman and enjoys both Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks. However, during a conversation with The Critical Drinker, he quickly followed that praise with strong criticism of other Star Trek projects.

Weir admitted he overstepped the mark with a recent post. He explained he intended it as humor, but now realizes it was disrespectful and hurtful, and he apologized for that.

Final Assessment

Being honest about something can be risky, especially in the entertainment world. Speaking out, particularly if it involves criticism of well-known people or popular series, could have serious career consequences.

As a long-time Trek fan, I noticed a lot of people initially agreed with Ethan Weir’s strong words about the newer shows. However, he eventually decided to soften his stance. But honestly, I don’t think all the debate will really change anyone’s mind about the Kurtzman-era Trek – people seem pretty firmly set in their opinions.

Do you think Andy Weir owed Alex Kurtzman an apology? Sound off in the comments!

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2026-03-31 23:57