10 Directors Who Bailed On Their Own Movie Franchises (But Should Have Stuck Around)

7. J.J. Abrams - Star Trek

Star Trek JJ Abrams
Paramount Pictures

The world was shocked when J.J. Abrams was announced as the director of Star Wars Episode VII, and one of the first questions on the mind of Trek fans everywhere was - is he still going to direct Star Trek 3?

The answer ended up being no and sadly

It's a shame, because Abrams delivered a barnstorming reboot with 2009's Trek, and though this year's Into Darkness wasn't a patch as good, it still made good on its promises of frenetic entertainment, reminding us how well Abrams can build worlds and stage exhilarating set-pieces.

For him to not be around for the third movie is a real shame, as it will be difficult to avoid a fresh voice somewhat upending everything Abrams has meticulously assembled.

Contributor
Contributor

Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.