Two movies in and J.J. Abrams' alternative Star Trek universe almost feels like it needs a reboot already. This summer's illogical Star Trek Into Darkness started promisingly enough but lost all hope after the much-feared Khan reveal and then succeeded in accomplishing nothing but disappointment, confusion and eventually hate from the fans. Hardcore trekkies would go on to name Star Trek Into Darkness the worst movie in the series history. With Abrams deep into Star Wars Episode 7 casting and pre-production on the next chapter of his career, a new director for the Star Trek film series won't exactly give us a clean slate and wipe all the problems away, but it might just give us something fresh to be excited about...
Deadline reports that Brit helmer Joe Cornish, the writer/director who brought aliens to a London council estate with Attack The Block, is being eyed by Paramount to take helm for Star Trek 3. For Cornish, that's resourceful low-budget success to big-budget studio in maximum warp... kind of like Wesley Crusher taking over from Captain Picard and bypassing all other senior officers for the captain's chair of the Enterprise, but for a franchise that has seen its characters involved in more mystifying quick-fire promotions/demotions than a full season of the TV show, one that seems oddly fitting. Although not an obvious choice (Abrams regulars Jack Bender, Damon Lindelof or Matt Reeves seemed more likely to get the gig), what Cornish does bring to the table is his keen sense of story. He co-wrote Steven Spielberg's animated Tintin movie and has worked for years on collaborating with Edgar Wright on the Ant-Man screenplay that Marvel reportedly love and are of course pulling the trigger on soon. His CV is admittedly light but he doesn't strike me as a director for hire but instead a young creative who has a huge voice and vision of his own. How much of that will be curbed by Abrams' production wheel (series regulars Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are writing the script, which Abrams is likely to have a big say in) remains to be seen however... Paramount hope to shoot Star Trek 3 next summer for a release in 2016.