Paramount Pictures is expecting their May 8 release of J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” feature film to be a huge success and has already given the go for a sequel, according to reports in Variety.
The studio has hired back Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof to co-write it and Abrams will return as the film’s producer. The studio has yet to announce if Abrams will also direct his second Trek film. Abrams’ creative buddies Orci, Kurtzman and Lindelof will also serve as producers of the next film due out sometime in the Summer of 2011.
It is expected that the sequel will continue to follow the exploits of young Kirk and Spock as they and the rest of the youthful Enterprise crew venture where no one has gone before. Kurtzman says a full decision on the direction of the next story will depend on overall moviegoer reaction to their story in May’s film.
“Obviously we discussed ideas, but we are waiting to see how audiences respond next month,” he said. “With a franchise rebirth, the first movie has to be about origin. But with a second, you have the opportunity to explore incredibly exciting things. We’ll be ambitious about what we’ll do.”
One thing is obvious, Paramount has a lot of faith and hope with the Abrams team and is giving them full control over the direction their 40-plus year successful franchise will take over the next 40.
Awesome news.
If i understand the setting of the new Trek film, it will be an extension of the world as it is, and not so much of a “Wouldn’t it be nice if…” of the original. That being said, the creators can take the sequel in a completely different direction, making something that is Trek in name and setting only, not necessarily in message.
Shouldn’t they seriously consider the possibility of the first movie tanking before they schedule a sequel? Sure, the numbers look good now, but what about when the movie opens and suddenly people realize that Will Shatner ain’t in it? Oh, right, only the geeks will notice…sorry.
I have a strange feeling…and it is only a feeling….that somewhere along the way this film (the May 09 release) was touched by Shat. There is one scene in the movie in which Kirk and others perform an ultra-altitude jump to the planet’s surface. That scene comes straight from an idea presented by Shatner for the film “Star Trek: Generations,” but ended up on the cutting room floor. Shat also used the same concept in one of his novels in which he and Picard do the jump. So, we might just see Shat’s name somewhere in the credits as one of the contributing writers of this movie….then again, I could just be having one of those Shat Attack, touchy, feeling geek moments.
i agree with lejon. talk about taking a huge risk. J J “s track record is anything but stellar. the man is good at one thing, i will say, marketing. But as for film making? He’s done one and I was less than impressed by it.
Tim
Somebody at Paramount finally understands that, as Kirk paraphrased to Harriman, “Risk is something you will have to take if you want to earn that chair.”
I’m hoping this will also fuel the hearts and minds of the suits at Paramount to reconsider the TV Series franchise of Star Trek – If things go well, this might just do it.
Pat….. I hope so.