Here’s what we know so far about STAR TREK 2. A few months ago, Paramount re-hired screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman plus Damen Lindelof to start working on the sequel and they’re looking at 2011 as the release year. J.J. Abrams said that with this different ‘timeline’ but same characters, it allows them “use any of the ingredients from the past or come up with brand-new ones to make potential stories.”
Collider had the chance to ask Kurtzman and Orci some questions and they said that they still don’t know if J.J. is directing the sequel because he’s still undecided (I’m sure it’s because now Abrams is focusing on producing/developing MI:4 but I think he’d return to direct STAR TREK 2, I mean why wouldn’t he?!), they want to finish the sequel script by Christmas, Paramount wants to make the film as soon as possible (after the movie earned $235 Million in domestic box office, I don’t blame Paramount for being impatient), and they’ve been reading what the fans have been saying online (Well,.. their version of Star Trek wasn’t quite the Star Trek that the fans really grew up with but it was a cool one nonetheless).
As far as their idea for the villain.. here’s what they’re willing to say for now
“the exploration sci-fi plot where the unknown and nature itself is somehow an adversary or the villain model. That’s an active discussion we’re having right now. In terms of thinking about more than one movie, we want the movie to be self-contained in a way, but we’re discussing the idea of having a couple of threads where if the second movie works, you could pick up into a cohesive whole. No thread more exciting and shocking for me when in “Star Trek III” you realize that Spock grabbed Bones and downloaded his Katra into him. When I saw “Star Trek II” I was like, “What’s going on here?” and two years later, you’re watching it and you’re like “They’re geniuses! They’re geniuses!” So we’re trying to think is there a version of that but again, “Star Trek II” does not rely on that thread, even though it turns out to be a thread. So we’re thinking in those terms.”
I’m not a Trekker but I did enjoy J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek, so I’m all open to whatever tricks Kurtzman and Orci might have up their sleeves for the sequel. They’re probably the most bankable screenwriting duo in recent years.
