Star Trek Into Darkness

[MacGuffin]

'Star Trek' sequel on track
Paramount hires trio to pen screenplay
Source: Variety

As Paramount Pictures readies the May 8 release of its "Star Trek" franchise relaunch, the studio is moving forward with a sequel, and has hired Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof to pen the screenplay.

J.J. Abrams, who directed and produced the latest chapter, is onboard to produce the follow-up alongside his Bad Robot partner Bryan Burk. No decision has been made yet on whether Abrams will return behind the camera for the sequel.

Orci, Kurtzman and Lindelof also are receiving producing credit on the sequel.

Story is still in the embryonic stage, but the trio are aiming to deliver their script to the Melrose studio by Christmas for what would likely be a summer 2011 release.

"There's obviously a lot of hubris involved in signing on to write a sequel of a movie that hasn't even come out yet," said Lindelof, co-creator with Abrams of ABC's "Lost" who produced the upcoming "Trek" but did not contribute to Orci and Kurtzman's screenplay. "But we're so excited about the first one that we wanted to proceed."

As for potential storylines, Kurtzman stressed that the writing team will wait to take a cue from fan reaction about which direction to go.

"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."

Though Orci and Kurtzman have worked together as a writing team for more than 12 years, the duo has worked with Lindelof on only one screenplay: DreamWorks' "Cowboys and Aliens," which they are currently writing together.

Paramount has high hopes for the "Star Trek" relaunch, and is pulling out all the stops on the marketing front. Studio began a full-scale campaign six months before the film's May bow.

[pete]

wow, that's smug.

[Derek]

admin note: (Derek wants to talk about the possibility of Star Trek XII, which i think means the sequel to JJ Abram's Star Trek. he started a new thread in Grapevine but since it's only a figment of anyone's imagination with absolutely nothing concrete to post about it, it was moved here. he's just talking about it, so talk about it with him in this thread, the actual thread for the time being.)

I know this is a couple years off, and nothing official yet...but what the heck?

Loved JJ's effort and was probably my favorite movie of the year along with Inglorious Bastards.

They're working on the story now and a rumor is they may bring back Khan. While I liked the fact they've opened up the universe and are free to taker it wherever they want in the sequels, I think the idea of brining this character back in a new way could be very intriguing. Either way, a ton of faith for Bad Robot's team!

IF they do go with a new Khan, they have to cast Lost's Nestor Carbonell for it.

[MacGuffin]

New Star Trek sequel has a 2012 release date!
Source: SciFi Wire

Paramount has reportedly set a date for J.J. Abrams' second Star Trek movie: June 29, 2012. Assuming the world ends later that year, at least we'll get one more Star Trek!

The news, which appeared on ComingSoon.net, suggests that writers Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have cracked the script for their second film, which doesn't yet have a title.

Of course, we don't know anything about the movie yet, or even whether Abrams will again direct or simply produce. Stay tuned!

[MacGuffin]

Trek 2 "About the Villain"
Screenwriters dicuss sequel and their love for Indiana Jones.
by Chris Tilly; IGN

Star Trek scribes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have been discussing their work on the Trek sequel, with the plan to have the second film revolve around a villain.

Speaking at a Writers Guild event covered by TrekMovie.com, Kurtzman explained, "I think our idea on this is that the first of any series is about them coming together or the formation. I couldn't really tell you what Jeff Bridges was doing in Iron Man, but it doesn't matter at all because it is all about Iron Man becoming Iron Man.

"Whereas I think sequels are very much about the villain. Because while [in the first one] the villain serves to bring the crew together, the second one I think has to be a true challenging of what that family is about.

"That is why Wrath of Khan was so amazing. Khan tested each one of them and ultimately asked for the ultimate sacrifice, and that is why that movie held up so well."

Regarding the film's place in the Trek time-line, Orci explained, "It will be sometime in the five-year mission. But that is a question. Should we pick them up immediately the next day, or should it be later? We are still discussing that."

In related news, when asked what other franchise they'd like to turn their hand to, Kurztman said, "I would like to take a run at Indiana Jones, but that is a pretty closed door, so not sure that is ever going to happen."

[Gold Trumpet]

"Whereas I think sequels are very much about the villain. Because while [in the first one] the villain serves to bring the crew together, the second one I think has to be a true challenging of what that family is about.

I agree, but I hope they limit the focus on the villain to the first sequel because if every installment is highlighted by the introduction of new villains, that can be tiresome in itself. The perfect revolution of focus would be to have the first sequel be about the villain and then the next one to go back to the crew to examine how their lives and reality has changed because of the previous villain. The new Batman films look like they're going to be doing that exact kind of transitional focus so Star Trek could serve to take some lessons.

[RegularKarate]

The perfect revolution of focus would be to have the first sequel be about the villain and then the next one to go back to the crew to examine how their lives and reality has changed because of the previous villain. The new Batman films look like they're going to be doing that exact kind of transitional focus so Star Trek could serve to take some lessons.

I don't know if they need a lesson from Batman necessarily, they can follow the same path the original films followed... they quoted Khan as being a good sequel that focuses on the villain.  Search for Spock was the next movie... in which they have to deal with the aftermath of what Kahn did to them. 

A lot of people shit-talk the odd numbered Star Treks, but Search for Spock wasn't bad.

[Derek]

I can find good stuff in the so-called bad ones, I look for it though.III was pretty good and Generations got a bad rap, but its what got me on to Star trek...SPOILERS....With Vulcan being destroyed and Romulus on the brink of being destroyed in 100ish years, there's lots of drama to mine. But I hope that stays in the background for the most part. It's a big galaxy.

[MacGuffin]

Benicio wanted for 'Star Trek' villain
J.J. Abrams wants actor for Paramount sequel
Source: Variety

Though most roles are cast in Paramount and Skydance's "Star Trek" sequel, the mysterious villain part was still available -- and now J.J. Abrams has made his choice.

Sources close to the project tell Variety that Benicio Del Toro is expected to be offered the part, possibly before the weekend is out. Insiders say Del Toro has met with Abrams but, in an effort to keep the role a secret, still doesn't know exactly what it is.

Par and Skydance had no comment on the casting process.

Abrams is back to direct with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof penning the script. Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison will produce through Bad Robot and Skydance Productions.

Production is expected to start in early 2012.

Del Toro most recently finished production on Universal's "Savages."

[MacGuffin]

Paramount's 'Star Trek' Sequel to Open May 17, 2013
The studio's rebooted sci-fi franchise will continue in 3D.
Source: THR

Paramount has plotted a course for May 17, 2013, for its next Star Trek sequel, which it plans to shoot in 3D. The release date slots the sci-fi franchise into a very busy tentpole-filled May 2013, coming right after Marvel/Disney's Iron Man 3 and Warner Bros.' Guillermo del Toro-directed Pacific Rim.

Earlier this year, director-producer J.J. Abrams, who directed the first Trek reboot, was tied up with Super 8 and hadn't committed to directing the new episode, forcing the studio to abandon its original date of June 29, 2012. But the studio's announcement of a new release date for Summer 2013 indicates that Abrams is happy with the status of the script from Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.

The 2009 Star Trek movie grossed $386 million worldwide. Paramount, looking to the way Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. relaunched the Batman franchise with Batman Begins, is hoping the newly refurbished Starship Enterprise will reach even greater heights with this second installment.

[MacGuffin]

[Kellen]

count me in.

[samsong]

when starfleet is ashes, you have my permission to die.

on the upside, this probably can't and won't be worse than the dark knight rises.

[MacGuffin]

New Trailer

[pete]

is this movie gonna end on a down note and leave things unresolved for the third movie? is that what happens to every number two sequel now?