The next ‘Star Trek’ film has made quite a splash over the last month or so, despite the fact that very little is actually known about it. That’s not exactly a surprise, given Quentin Tarantino‘s involvement, but it nonetheless means that – moreso than usual – fans are left with more questions than answers. While it’s to be expected that those in the know wouldn’t be making a mad dash to share details about a film that hasn’t even been written yet, there are some uncertainties that stand out from the pack. The big one, of course, is that we don’t actually know who the film will be about. Most have been operating under the assumption that it will continue with the “reboot cast” of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, etc, but there has yet to be any official word to that effect.
Fans might take some comfort, however, in knowing that they’re not the only ones who’ve been left in the dark. John Cho, who plays Sulu in the reboot trilogy, recently spoke with Larry King to promote his new film ‘Columbus’. In time, however, the conversation inevitably turned toward ‘Star Trek’, and it quickly became clear that Cho knows little more than the rest of us. Responding first to King’s belief that Tarantino would be directing the film, Cho said that he had “heard the rumors,” but not an official announcement. Asked if he would be in it, Cho simply responded “I hope so,” adding that he would “like to do some Quentin Tarantino dialog as Sulu.”
Nothing has been publicly revealed of the film’s plot at this time. However, Tarantino has in the past expressed an appreciation for ‘Star Trek’ episodes that deal with big, esoteric sci-fi concepts, including classics such as ‘The City on the Edge of Forever’ and ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’. This may give us some idea of what to expect from the upcoming film. The screenplay is currently being written by ‘The Revenant’ scribe Mark L. Smith, in collaboration with a writers room that includes Lindsey Beer, Drew Pearce, and of course, Tarantino.
Be sure to check back with ScienceFiction.com for more news on Tarantino’s ‘Star Trek’ project as it becomes available.