J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie cast has the right attitude about the long-delayed Star Trek 4. Led by Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock, J.J. Abrams' successfully recast and relaunched the dormant Star Trek franchise in 2009. Set in the alternate Kelvin Timeline, the Abrams-directed Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013, and the Justin Lin-helmed Star Trek Beyond in 2016 elevated Star Trek movies into cinematic summer blockbusters, and set the stage for the rebirth of Star Trek TV shows for the streaming era on Paramount+.
However, it has now been over 8 years since Star Trek Beyond hit theaters and the fourth J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movie has been mired in development hell. Versions of Star Trek 4 spearheaded by directors S.J. Clarkson and Matt Shakman went nowhere. Quentin Tarantino walked away from Star Trek 4 after envisioning it as an R-rated gangster picture. Paramount Pictures has announced an Untitled Star Trek Origin prequel movie directed by Toby Haynes, but a reunion of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto's crew aboard the Starship Enterprise remains elusively in the far-off final frontier.
Zachary Quinto & Cast Are Right Star Trek 4 Has No Age Limit
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek cast gets more interesting with age
In an interview with Variety about his new NBC series Brilliant Minds, Zachary Quinto said he is "open to it" and would "absolutely love" to return in Star Trek 4. Quinto's Star Trek cast originally portrayed the crew of the Starship Enterprise in their energetic 20s. Inevitably, Star Trek 4 would present the Enterprise heroes at their current ages, in their 40s or beyond. But Zachary Quinto correctly points out that Star Trek characters aging has always been part of Star Trek's "limitless universe." Check out his quote below:
Zachary Quinto: There’s no cutoff. The original cast did movies for decades, well into their 50s, 60s. The stories might be different. We might not be running as fast on the other planets, but I think anything’s possible, and I think there’s nothing more fulfilling as an artist then to come back to something after time has ed, and cultivate a relationship with it from a completely different perspective, and a completely new point of view.
Chris Pine echoes Zachary Quinto's feelings about playing their Star Trek characters as older and more experienced. Pine is in his early 40s, and he would similarly portray Captain Kirk warping toward middle age in Star Trek 4. Pine told the audience at ACE Superhero Comic Con 2024 that he would be "curious" about playing an older Kirk and what that story would be. Read Pine's quote below:
Chris Pine: In of the next phase of [Star Trek], obviously you’re all fans, so I’m sure you’ve read it… We all like one another a lot. I’m good friends with everybody I’ve worked with. We have a great time doing it. I’m a lot older now, so I would be curious where that next story lands us in of what it would be and what we’ve said in the press.
As Zachary Quinto pointed out, ' cast played their characters in several films into their 50s and 60s. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan saw iral Kirk (William Shatner) mark his 50th birthday, but advancing age didn't hinder the heroism of the original Starship Enterprise crew. Seeing J.J. Abrams' cast as older could easily be woven into Star Trek 4 and become one of its most interesting aspects.
Is Star Trek 4 Ever Happening?
The long wait continues
The last report about Star Trek 4 was earlier in 2024, indicating that screenwriter Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant) was hired to pen the film. Star Trek 4 was also billed as "the final chapter" of J.J. Abrams' Starship Enterprise cast. However, there have been no further updates on the state of Star Trek 4. This is especially unfortunate because 's 60th anniversary is in 2026, and the return of Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and his Enterprise crew in a new movie would have been an ideal way to mark 60 years of Star Trek.
Star Trek movies in theaters and streaming are still on the way.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and their Star Trek movie cast have repeatedly stated they all want to return if Star Trek 4 happens, so there is no lack of desire from the actors. Coming up with a worthy Star Trek 4 story seems to be one of the issues preventing the next movie from taking flight. However, Star Trek movies in theaters and streaming are still on the way. Along with Toby Haynes' prequel, Paramount+ will premiere the first Star Trek streaming movie, Star Trek: Section 31 starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, in 2025. Luckily, age will not be an issue for the Starship Enterprise cast if Star Trek 4 does happen.
Star Trek Beyond
- Release Date
- July 22, 2016
- Runtime
- 122 minutes
- Director
- Justin Lin
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Doug Jung, Simon Pegg
- Budget
- $185 million
- Main Genre
- Action
Your comment has not been saved