So, will there be a sixth Star Trek series? That's hard to tell ... most can't even predict if the current series on UPN, "Enterprise," will last five seasons. But a couple of veterans from the franchise's past is stepping forward with some ideas of their own ... and one is an idea that fans have heard too many times before.

Of course, whatever William Shatner (Capt. James T. Kirk, "Star Trek") has come up with, he isn't sharing it with anyone who can publish it. But he says he has an idea for a new Star Trek series.

"I'm trying to interest the powers -- and that has many levels to it -- for me to conceive another Star Trek manifestation," Shatner recently told the Sioux City Journal. "It would be a concept for a series."

Since the end of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," the franchise has suffered a ratings slump. The last two movies, "Star Trek: Insurrection" and "Star Trek: Nemesis" were box office bombs, and most have written off the future of Star Trek as it approaches its 40th anniversary.

Another vet talking about a new series is not afraid to share his idea. Of course, it's an idea that has been floating around for almost 20 years.

Former Star Trek movie producer Harve Bennett, who has been out of the spotlight since his 1998 series "Invasion America,"
wants to resurrect his age-old movie concept as a series ... you know, "Starfleet Academy."

What has always been rumored as a new series idea before "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Enterprise" were announced, Bennett told Mark Rahner of the Seattle Times that exploring the young relationships between James Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy while they were in the academy would be a perfect idea that would grab younger viewers.

"Spock is the first Vulcan to attend the academy," Bennett said. "It was a story of prejudice against Spock, who almost dies in it. It's the story of Kirk's first and last love, with a cadet lady who dies heroically saving the planet or something similar. But its undertone is about racism. It's about redblood vs. bluebloods vs. greenbloods. And at the end, Kirk isalone. He and Spock part, and you understand why Kirk is going to run around the galaxy chasing illusions and skirts."

Bennett said he last tried to pitch the idea before Paramount decided to go with the "Enterprise" premise.

Of course, Paramount has not released any indication it is even considering ideas for a sixth Star Trek series, so whatever happens is still up in the air.

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