Star Trek movie sequel planned before Star Trek prequel release
Even as the Star Trek prequel movie is set for release on May 9, 2009, Paramount has announced a sequel to the movie, Variety has reported.
Spock and James T. Kirk in a still from the Star Trek prequel
J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, Felicity, Mission Impossible III), director and producer of the Star Trek prequel, will produce the Star Trek sequel. J.J. Abrams’ first feature film was Mission Impossible III.
The Star Trek sequel will be released in 2011. It is not yet known if J.J. Abrams will direct the Star Trek sequel as well.
The script of the Star Trek sequel will be written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, and Damon Landelof.
Photo: Chris Pine as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek prequel
Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have penned the Star Trek prequel, while Damon Landelof was a producer with Bryan Burk (Lost).
Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci were co-writers for Mission Impossible III.
Reports have said that the creators of the movie will wait for the reaction of the audience to the Star Trek prequel before making any decisions about the plot of the movie.
“Obviously we discussed ideas, but we are waiting to see how audiences respond next month. With a franchise rebirth, the first movie has to be about origin,” Alex Kurtzman has been quoted as saying.
Zachary Quinto photo from the Star Trek prequel
But with a second, you have the opportunity to explore incredibly exciting things. We’ll be ambitious about what we’ll do,”he added.
The Star Trek prequel is the eleventh Star Trek film made so far. It will hark back to the time before James T. Kirk and Spock come together on the USS Enterprise and take on Nero, the Romulan villian.
The movie stars Chris Pine as James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock. The Star Trek prequel also stars Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, John Cho as Hikaru Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov, and Eric Bana as Nero.
Photo: Still from the Star Trek prequel
Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek has been made into six TV series and ten feature films. The TV series comprised The Original Series (1966–1969), The Animated Series (1973–1974), The Next Generation (1987–1994), Deep Space Nine (1993–1999), Voyager (1995–2001), and Enterprise (2001-2005).
The ten Star Trek films are The Motion Picture, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, The Final Frontier, The Undiscovered Country, Generations, First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis.
A lot is riding on the Star Trek prequel for Paramount’s floundering Star Trek franchise. The last Star Trek movie, Nemesis (2002), was a complete disaster.
The last Star Trek TV series, Enterprise (2001-2005), which went back to the future with characters predating James K. Kirk and Spock, got low ratings as well.
Given that, Paramount’s decision to make a sequel before the Star Trek prequel has been released is a bit baffling.