Despite the fact that J.J. Abrams has vacated the director’s chair in favour of Star Wars: Episode VII, Paramount Pictures is wasting little time in moving Star Trek 3 up to full impulse power, with The Hollywood Reporter revealing that screenwriters J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay will join Robert Orci in penning the script for the third instalment of the rebooted movie series.
Payne and McKay already have a working relationship with Abrams (who will remain involved in a producing capacity), having adapted the graphic novel Boilerplate for Bad Robot, while Orci has co-written both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness with regular writing partner Alex Kurtzman.
At present, Paramount is yet to confirm a replacement for Abrams on Star Trek 3, and while it has been reported that Attack the Block helmer Joe Cornish was the studio’s favourite to take on the task (as well as Abrams’ pick), but Variety has suggested that he is no longer in the mix. Either way, we should expect an official announcement on a director soon, with Paramount and co-financiers Skydance looking to mark the sci-fi franchise’s 50th anniversary with a 2016 release date.
Originally published December 9, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
