Chris Hemsworth’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be coming to a close – you know, providing the two parties don’t hash out a contract extension soon after Avengers 4 – but it seems the towering Aussie may still have a role to play in Star Trek 4, the mooted sequel from Paramount and J.J. Abrams.
Initially announced in the summer of 2016, Paramount’s follow-up has struggled to take flight ever since – a delay made all the more apparent when Abrams agreed to helm Star Wars: Episode IX for Lucasfilm. Toss in Quentin Tarantino’s advances and suddenly, Star Trek 4 no longer feels like a sure thing.
All of this was presented to Chris Hemsworth during a recent chat with IGN, in which the Phase One Avenger admitted that he’s as much in the dark about Star Trek 4 as you and I:
I don’t know. It’s a reminder to call J.J. and ask the same question because I haven’t heard any updates on it either.
As for how George Kirk returns, Hemsworth remained mum, and only told IGN that J.J. Abrams’ plan to “reinsert” Papa Kirk into the story is rather brilliant – even if it is a total mystery at this early, early stage.
Just the fact that he had a way of reinserting the character into the world. I can’t say too much — there’s not even a script — but I always thought, maybe, there was a possibility of him coming back in some way. I didn’t know how or what, but he was pretty enthusiastic about what they had planned.
Closer to home, Chris Hemsworth has wartime drama 12 Strong galloping over the horizon (January 19th), before Marvel assembles its finest heroes for Infinity War. It’ll bow on May 4th, by which point we’ll hopefully have more news regarding a fourth Star Trek movie – or, failing that, Tarantino’s R-rated redo.