J.J. Abrams is putting distance between himself and the original Variety news feed about the next STAR TREK installment, which he was reportedly to direct.

In comments to Empire Online on the 26th of April, he stated that the statements concerning the project and his part in it were somewhat erroneous and premature.

“The whole thing was reported entirely without our cooperation,” Abrams is quoted by Empire Online on Wednesday. “People learned that I was producing a Star Trek film, that I had an option to direct it, they hear rumors of what the thing was going to be and ran with a story that is not entirely accurate.”

Abrams also clarified that he may or may not be directing the flick and that the news feed from Variety (which many use, including us here at SoSF for early release of stories) was also inaccurate concerning the plot idea for the eleventh film in the STAR TREK franchise. He was tightlipped concerning what the plot would be stating that “We’ve made a pact not to discuss any specifics.” However, he did hint at a possibility for a timeline being set during the original series with the statement, “Those characters are so spectacular. I just think that… you know, they could live again.”

Slice of SciFi waited two days in order to get verfication of the accuracy concerning Abrams’ statements before releasing this story today. The fact that it looks like the storyline set in Kirk and Spock’s Starfleet Academy days will not be what was originally reported by Variety and many of us is going to be good news to many fans that voiced immediate concern over taking the Trek franchise in that direction. It is possible that the original story may have had some teeth to it and the worldwide reaction of fans against such a plot could have made Paramount reconsider. At this point we are just pleased to have another Trek feature in our futures.