Paramount has two ‘Star Trek’ movies in the works. Even though these films have been pretty rapidly diminishing in popularity, it seems the studio thinks it can eke out just a bit more from the star-studded Kelvin crew. First, there is a straight-forward follow-up to 2016’s ‘Star Trek Beyond’, which was in the planning stages even before that sequel hit theaters. But the installment that most people are curious about (and maybe more than a little skeptical of) is the ‘Trek’ movie directed by indie legend Quentin Tarantino. The mastermind behind ‘Django Unchained’,’Kill Bill’, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Reservoir Dogs’ expressed interest in helming a ‘Trek’ movie and Paramount took him up on that.
Since then, Tarantino is developing the project, even though he is presently directing the Charles Manson-based thriller ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’. But many are wondering what his ‘Trek’ film will be about. Tarantino clearly has a passion for pop culture, but his frame of reference tends to be older– TV and movies from the ’60s and ’70s. He has also never directed a movie that wasn’t 100% his creation, or a franchise film (unless you count the two ‘Kill Bill’s as separate movies or the fact that most of his films take place in the same universe). Is he willing to play in the established sandbox and use the modern Kelvin crew? Or is he going to want to create his own concept within the ‘Trek’ brand?
Zachary Quinto, who plays the modern Mr. Spock, appeared on the MTV Happy Sad Confused podcast and discussed Tarantino’s project and stated that he believes that Tarantino is, in fact, planning to use the current film cast.
“My assumption is that it is with us. That is how it has been presented… You know, until deals are done and contracts are signed and schedules are cleared, nothing is set in stone, so anything can happen. My understanding is Quentin had this idea and they were shaping it and forming it and he is off to do his Manson movie. And it would be after that, that we would go maybe do one with him. Which is pretty exciting, pretty cool.”
And of course, there is still the more straightforward fourth movie that is also in the works with S.J. Clarkson (‘The Defenders’, ‘Jessica Jones’) attached to direct and ‘Star Trek Beyond”s Patrick McKay and John D. Payne penning the script. Meanwhile, Mark L. Smith (‘The Revenant’) is penning Tarantino’s script, based on a story concocted by the director himself.
Which of these projects are you most interested in seeing?
