Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Star Trek 3: Shat Chatter Denied

Rumors started recently that Star Trek-TOS star William Shatner  could finally return  to the franchise in Star Trek 3.


Shatner was originally in the script for a cameo in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" '09 but the notion was nixed. According to the report, a sequence in the new script reunites Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as Kirk and Spock for their first canon appearance together since 1991's "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country". Kirk Prime's appearance is said to be 'plot-driven' rather than some throwaway cameo which means it will likely stay in the script despite the further polishing being done.

Roberto Orci co-wrote and produced Abrams' "Star Trek" '09 and "Star Trek Into Darkness" with longtime partner Alex Kurtzman is tipped to helm. Abrams commitments to the Star Wars: Episode VII kept him from coming back. Names like "Attack the Block" filmmaker Joe Cornish, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" director Rupert Wyatt and G.I. Joe: Retaliation" director Jon M. Chu were in the mix to call action.

Now Orci responded to the Shat chatter while on the Trek Movie message boards:

"Not in my interest to confirm or deny anything because it limits my options while maintaining my integrity as a truth teller. The movie  is not the movie till it is in the theater. Until then, everything is a rumor."

Shatner stated via Twitter:



Even if it's true--At this early stage everyone is gonna deny it--Duh!!

"Thor" and "X-Men: First Class" writers and "Fringe" producers Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz were eyed to script the sequel but opted not to do it.

Now J.D. Payne, Patrick McKay and Orci are co-writing the next film. Orci confirmed the first draft of the screenplay was completed last month and will be closer in tone to the original 1960s show than the previous two films.

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and John Cho are all expected to return to the Final Frontier in their respective roles as Kirk Spock Uhura Dr. McCoy Scotty Chekov and Sulu.

Abrams Bryan Burke and David Ellison will produce the film

Skydance is reportedly behind Orci directing the film, but Paramount wasn't so sure at first.

The sequel is going to move forward quickly to make a 2016 bow coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the "Star Trek" franchise. Filming on the next "Star Trek" hopes to begin in the Spring with pre-production aiming to start at the end of this year or in very early 2015.

No comments: