Earlier this month, Paramount Pictures caught Trekkies off guard when it announced that its fourth modern Star Trek film was slated to begin production by the end of the year, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho and Simon Pegg in talks to reprise their respective roles. Evidently, these actors were every bit as surprised by the announcement as fans were.
At Paramount’s investor day event, Star Trek series producer J.J. Abrams said, “We are thrilled to say that we are hard at work on a new Star Trek film that will be shooting by the end of the year that will be featuring our original cast.” However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that “most, if not all, teams for the franchise’s primary players” were “not aware that an announcement for another film was coming.”
Pine, Quinto, Saldana, Urban, Cho and Pegg’s representatives were also not aware that “their clients would be touted as a part of the deal,” nor were they aware that “their clients would be shooting a movie by year’s end.” At any rate, insiders say Pine — who is described as the project’s “lynchpin” — is the first to enter early negotiations to reprise his role as Capt. James T. Kirk.
According to THR, sources say the script for Star Trek 4 is “still being worked on” and “there is no green light or budget in place. In fact, the budget will now likely have to account for talent deals that may be supersized. Industry insiders say that Paramount let go of negotiating leverage in order to have a key chess piece as it courts Wall Street investors.” Nevertheless, Paramount hopes to get cameras rolling by this coming fall so as to make the film’s Dec. 22, 2023 release date.
Pine, Quinto, Saldana, Urban, Cho and Pegg starred alongside the late Anton Yelchin in 2009’s Star Trek, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. The first two films that make up the Star Trek franchise’s “Kelvin Timeline” were produced and directed by Abrams, with Beyond being produced by Abrams and directed by Justin Lin.
Plans for a fourth Kelvin Star Trek film seemingly fell through back in 2018, when Pine and Chris Hemsworth (who played Capt. Kirk’s father, George Kirk, in the 2009 film) reportedly exited the project due to pay disputes. While the franchise’s stars remained hopeful that the issue would be resolved and expressed their desire to make another film, Star Trek 4 was reportedly shelved as of early 2019. In April 2021, however, Paramount officially slated a new Star Trek film for release in June 2023. In July 2021, Matt Shakman (WandaVision) was tapped to direct, with Abrams returning to produce. The following November, Paramount delayed its next Star Trek film to December 2023.
Star Trek 4 is currently slated to hit theaters on Dec. 22, 2023.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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