Paramount Hires Writer and Director For Star Trek 4

After a long delay (mostly still waiting on Quentin Tarantino to give in and direct), Star Trek 4 is finally starting initial steps to getting filmed. Paramount has hired Noah Hawley (Legion, Fargo, Lucy in the Sky) to write and direct Star Trek 4. There are no details on story, time frame, or budget but it has been confirmed that it will remain set in the Kelvin-verse with Chris Pine and company reprising their respective roles as the Enterprise bridge crew.

Supposedly the (now) Star Trek spinoff from Quentin Tarantino is still in the mix but personally I am not holding my breath. The director has long said and recently repeated that he is directing only 10 films and then retiring. I just do not see him wanting a studio intellectual property owned film as something he wants in his directing slate. Attached as a story creator, writer, and executive producing a Star Trek film - yes I am sure he would love that. Taking up one of his last 2 directing slots? No. For Paramount, I suspect the only way they would green light the film is only if he directs. They might, just might re-consider if JJ Abrams were to return to direct it which I guess could happen.

As for the proposed Chris Helmsworth return as Kirk's father, what little hope you might have had on that story is now most definitely dead. The high cost of then post Avengers: Infinity War Helmsworth is now even higher after the near $2.8 billion take of Avengers: Endgame had already killed it but the new hire means that even resurrecting it with a modified concept is out too.

While this is great news, just moderate your excitement. Even if the long process goes smoothly, then still looking at a mid to late 2022 2021 release date at best. Yeah my brain was thinking new year is 2021 instead of 2020. Why? Beats me.