Everything you need to know about the long-delayed Star Trek 4

The release of Star Trek 4 is still to come, but at least we know that development on the long-awaited film is continuing.

In March 2024, it was reported that Steve Yockey, the developer of The Flight Attendant, had become the latest writer to tackle a new draft of the film, which would feature Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña returning.

This film is unrelated to the other two Star Trek films currently in production: a prequel film directed by Toby Haynes and the Star Trek: Discovery spin-off Section 31, which wrapped filming in March 2024.

We’ll probably see both movies before we see Star Trek 4, but at least that one should come out at some point. But while we wait, here’s everything you need to know about the (possible) return of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek 4.

Is Star Trek 4 confirmed?

As far as we know, Star Trek 4 will definitely happen, even though almost eight years have passed since the release of the last film, Star Trek Beyond.

In February 2022, the long-awaited film finally seemed to be on track when, to the surprise of the cast and fans, it was announced that JJ Abrams would return as a producer with Matt Shakman directing.

Unfortunately, Shakman left the film in August 2022 to shoot Fantastic Four for Marvel instead. And then Paramount took the film off the release calendar entirely in September 2022.

In March 2023, JJ Abrams – who produced all three films in the reboot trilogy and directed two – said the search for a director was underway.

“I would say it’s the first time (since the original reboot) that we’ve had a story that feels as compelling as the first one,” he told Esquire. Of course, Pine also called the franchise “cursed,” so it depends on how hopeful you want to be.

Since then, we haven’t heard anything about a possible director for the film, but at least we know that Star Trek 4 is in active development at Paramount, as a new writer is now on board.

Possible Star Trek 4 release date: When can we expect Star Trek 4?

Once upon a time, the theatrical release of Star Trek 4 was scheduled for December 22, 2023.

Of course, that never happened, and there is no confirmed release date for Star Trek 4 until May 2024. There are also no rumors about when the film might be back on the schedule.

In June 2022, before Shakman left the project, Paramount boss Brian Robbins confirmed that development on the fourth Star Trek was underway. “We’re deep in with JJ Abrams, and it feels like we’re getting close to the starting line and are excited to see where we go creatively,” he said.

However, in November 2022, star Zachary Quinto told The Independent: “Right now, I honestly have very little attachment to it.

“We’d all love to come back and do another movie, but I’ve learned to only be excited about things that I know are actually real. And nothing about a fourth Star Trek movie feels real at the moment.”

However, other stakeholders seem to have confidence in the project’s continued development and hope that the addition of a new author is a positive step.

We can only observe this space.

Star Trek 4 Cast: Who will be in Star Trek 4?

Even when Star Trek 4 was originally scheduled to be released in December 2023, it was not 100 percent confirmed that the reboot’s cast would return.

However, when making his announcement in June 2022, Robbins said he knew audiences “want this cast in this movie” – referring to the cast of the reboot.

So if it ever happens, we’d be surprised if there was a brand new cast. Then you can probably expect the return of Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoe Saldaña (Uhura), Karl Urban (Bones), John Cho (Sulu) and Simon Pegg (Scotty).

Urban certainly seems keen to return, although he also revealed in March 2022 that, like Pine, he hasn’t read a script yet. “I’d love to work with those guys again; so much fun, the best time. We’ll see,” he raved.

It all feels very uncertain, as Quinto puts it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have hope.

The original plan for the fourth film was a time-travel adventure in which Chris Pine’s James T. Kirk would, in one way or another, team up with his long-dead father, played by Chris Hemsworth.

In May 2019, Hemsworth spoke openly about why he dropped out of the film: “I didn’t feel like we had found a reason to reconsider yet. I didn’t want to be disappointed with what I was bringing to the table.”

It’s unclear if Hemsworth will return in this new version of Star Trek 4 or if the series will take a completely new direction, but Hemsworth seems open to a return in the fourth film.

In October 2022, Rings of Power bosses JD Payne and Patrick McKay dropped further hints about their original idea for the fourth film. “The idea was that, by some cosmic quirk in the Star Trek world, they were the same age,” McKay explained.

We also don’t yet know if Pavel Chekov will be recast in the new film after Anton Yelchin’s tragic death in 2016. “It’s bittersweet because we’re coming together for the fourth time and one of us is no longer with us,” Saldaña said in March 2022.

“But we honestly believe that bringing him back and keeping the Star Trek family together is a way to really keep him alive in our minds and hearts.”

Star Trek 4 Plot: What will happen in Star Trek 4?

We currently have no confirmed details about the plot of the fourth film and it is unclear how closely it will tie in with the end of Star Trek Beyond.

The third film ended with Kirk turning down a promotion to Vice Admiral and remaining as Captain of the USS Enterprise. Spock also decided to stay in Starfleet and rekindled his romance with Uhura.

At the end of the film, they are ready to continue their mission on a brand new USS Enterprise after the previous ship was destroyed during the events of the film.

This means the fourth film can go in any direction. However, Pine believes that no matter what the plot, the film should not try to compete with Marvel.

“I’ve always thought that Star Trek should operate on a smaller scale. You know, it’s not about Marvel’s appeal. It’s more about making the movie for the people who love this group of people, who love this story, who love Star Trek,” he said.

“Let’s do it for them and then if people want to come to the party, that’s great. But it has to have a price tag and something like that, if it makes half a billion dollars, it’s really good.”

Trailer for Star Trek 4: Is there any footage of Star Trek 4 yet?

This is a joke, right? We would love to become zeitgeist ourselves and show you a trailer for Star Trek 4 from the future, but we are stuck in the mirror universe.

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