Star Trek: The Original Series the 23rd century bearing a crew dedicated to exploring the Milky Way Galaxy. Roddenberry noted a number of influences on his idea, some of which includes A. E. van Vogt's tales of the spaceship "Space Beagle", Eric Frank Russell's "Marathon" series of stories, and the film "Forbidden Planet" (1956). Some have also drawn parallels with the television series "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" (1954), a space opera which included many of the elements that were integral to "Star Trek"—the organization, crew relationships, missions, part of the bridge layout, and some technology. Roddenberry also drew heavily from C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower
Star Trek (film series) creating a television series, "", with the original cast. However, following the huge success of "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in 1977, Paramount changed its mind again, halting production on the television series and adapting its pilot episode into a "Star Trek" feature film, "" (1979). Five more "Star Trek" feature films featuring the entire original cast followed. The cast of the "Star Trek" sequel series "" (1987-1994) starred in a further four films. Upon the release of "" on December 13, 2002, the film had grossed $67 million, a meager amount compared to the box