Due to a myriad of reasons, ranging from Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth leaving the movie, to Star Trek Beyond‘s lackluster performance, and quite possibly that other space-based, long-running franchise’s dominance of the box office, the fourth outing in the Kelvin timeline – Star Trek 4 – was indefinitely postponed back in January. And at the moment, nobody’s quite sure what’s going on with the film. Not even the sideways Spock himself, Zachary Quinto.
During an interview with Vulture, the actor was asked directly about the status of the beleaguered sequel. “I don’t know what’s happening with that,” he said, just after confirming there were three scripts in play at one time. Spock would go on to say that he’s trying to figure out his “future” with the film series, and if he even has one. “I’m glad the franchise is having its own life continuing on with [Star Trek: Discovery],” Zachary said, before adding that he hopes he gets to play the character again in the future.
What an unfortunate mess Paramount has gotten themselves into with all this Star Trek business. I mean, I do like the 2009 reboot, warts and all, but then again, I’m also not a huge Trekkie or anything. I also think Into Darkness was hot garbage, which was only barely redeemed by how radical Beyond was. The fact that the third installment only just broke even is a testament to how dumb moviegoers can be sometimes though, missing an absolute gem in the process.
In any case, I’m hoping that Hemsworth and Pine lower their paychecks and egos a bit to get the fourth one made, hard-R or not. We need Kirk and crew, man. We need stuff to be illogical! We need to be beamed up, Scotty! Star Wars needs a direct competitor, and I really do think this Kelvin timeline Star Trek can stand up to the behemoth, but only if everyone works together, like the Enterprise squad always has in the past.