The Enterprise crew of the Kelvin timeline is now setting off on a new adventure one last time. (It took long enough.) Image source: Paramount
Advertisement
Trekkies can finally hope again, because Star Trek 4 is actually coming! At least that's what a new report from Variety which provides a promising update on the new film that fans have been waiting for for eight years.
What news is there now about Star Trek 4?
- With Steve Yockey (Supernatural, Scream, The Flight Attendant) a new writer has been hired for Star Trek 4.
- Star Trek 4 should
the last chapter
for the Enterprise crew of the Kelvin timeline.
Unfortunately, there is no further information available at this time. For example, it remains unclear when Star Trek 4 will start in theaters, who will direct it and which cast members (like Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana) will actually return for the big finale.
The long wait for Star Trek 4
Nevertheless, this is undoubtedly good news, as Star Trek 4 has been in development hell for quite a long time. For example, there was a draft script for a time travel plot (via esquire), in which Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) meets his father (Chris Hemsworth), but that was canceled in 2018.
Advertisement
Quentin Tarantino and Noah Hawley then started talking about implementing their own ideas for a new Star Trek – but these plans disappeared into the poison cabinet in 2020. In 2022, JJ Abrams announced (via Variety), that his Enterprise crew should return for a fourth film, directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision).
Nothing came of this announcement either because the actors weren't even brought on board and shortly afterwards Shakman left to film for Marvel Fantastic Four.
This means that there is currently a gap of eight years between Star Trek Beyond from 2016 and Star Trek 4 – the sci-fi franchise has not had such a long break from cinema since 1979.
2:18
Official trailer for Star Trek Beyond
What else is happening with Star Trek right now
Nevertheless, Star Trek 4 will still be a while away. If a new script is just being written, then the actual start of production and therefore of course the theatrical release is still a long way off.
But Trekkies don't have to despair, because it looks like the new cinema project by Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Toby Haynes (Andor) will go into pre-production at the end of 2024.
In addition, a TV film is being worked on as a continuation of the Picard series with Patrick Stewart, while new TV series such as Section 31 with Michelle Yeoh and Starfleet Academy are continuing.