There are many exciting projects in the works for the Star Trek universe, but easily the most mind-boggling is that Quentin Tarantino’s developing an R-rated movie starring the crew of the Enterprise. The idea of the highly-individual filmmaker, who’s never worked within an established franchise before, doing Trek is one of those “I’ll believe it when I see it” things, so it’s fair enough if some are skeptical that it’ll ever materialize. Tarantino himself, though, has offered an update on the movie and says there’s still a big chance it could happen.
While speaking to /Film about adapting The Hateful Eight into a Netflix miniseries, the topic of the Star Trek project came up and the director revealed that a script’s been written and there’s a “very big possibility” that it’ll get made.
“It’s a very big possibility. I haven’t been dealing with those guys for a while cause I’ve been making my movie. But we’ve talked about a story and a script. The script has been written and when I emerge my head like Punxsutawney Phil, post-Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, we’ll pick up talking about it again.”
Tarantino has yet to talk about his ideas for the movie, but thankfully, star Karl Urban has shed some light on what he’s got planned. We know for one thing that the Kelvin timeline cast is expected to reprise their roles, with at least Zachary Quinto’s Spock and Urban’s Bones confirmed for now. Urban has also teased that the R-rating will come from the exploration of the horror of space travel and less from Tarantino’s typical strong language. As for the story, the actor described it in one word: “Bananas.”
At one time, Paramount was developing both “Tarantino Trek” and Star Trek 4 with S.J. Clarkson. However, that project seems to have stalled indefinitely after both Chrises – Pine and Hemsworth, who was supposed to return as Kirk’s dad – pulled out over contract disputes. It’s strange to think that the conventional sequel might not get made but a darker, more mature one from Tarantino probably will. Apparently, we’re living in the Mirror universe now.