Trekkies might never get their R-rated Star Trek film with Quentin Tarantino directing. The fourth film in J.J. Abrams’ Kelvin timeline of reboot films has been developing since 2016 after the release of Star Trek: Beyond. However, the film has undergone various iterations and missed several deadlines.
Jonathan Frakes, who plays William Riker in the franchise and has directed multiple episodes of original films has reportedly lost all hope on a fourth film. The Star Trek: The Next Generation star reportedly mentioned that if a movie with such big names attached could not get developed, the future of the franchise lay in TV.
Jonathan Frakes Is Surprised Quentin Tarantino Could Not Make His Star Trek Film
Quentin Tarantino has maintained that he would be retiring as a director after helming his tenth film. The filmmaker has finished nine films and his farewell to Hollywood is still under development. However, while he was developing his ninth film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, the filmmaker had pitched a Star Trek film.
According to Deadline, the R-rated film would be set in the ‘80s and was pitched to J.J. Abrams. The Super 8 director reportedly set up a writer’s room which would develop the film with Tarantino set to direct. However, after the release of OUATIH, the filmmaker mentioned that he would not be helming the Star Trek film (via IndieWire).
The fourth film in J.J. Abrams’ reboot franchise has changed directors since Tarantino’s exit, with filmmakers such as Noah Hawley, S.J. Clarkson, and Matt Shakman being involved at different points. Jonathan Frakes, who plays Wiliam Riker mentioned that he had lost hope in the franchise working on the big screen. He said to SFX magazine (via Slash Film),
Movies are tough! Even JJ [Abrams] can’t get this fourth movie off the ground. All those wonderful rumors? Noah Hawley was attached to a ‘Star Trek’ movie, and Quentin was toying with people’s emotions about doing a movie. If those two names can’t get a f****** movie made, I don’t know. TV is the future, it seems to me.
The actor has also helmed multiple episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and other spinoff shows.
Jonathan Frakes Offered His Directorial Services To J.J. Abrams
Filmmaker and actor Jonathan Frakes has been associated with the Star Trek franchise ever since he was selected to play William Riker in The Next Generation. The actor then turned director with multiple episodes in the series and also helmed the feature films First Contact and Insurrection.
Hence, with years of experience behind him, Frakes reportedly offered his services to J.J. Abrams while the latter was developing the fourth film in the reboot franchise. However, the conversation never developed into something fruitful. Frakes said to TrekMovie,
I actually wrote to J.J. to say ‘If you need an experienced guy to take over Star Trek 4, I’m available.’ [laughs] He said, ‘You are certainly experienced.’ Well no, that’s not going to happen, but I was fascinated when Tarantino wanted to do a Star Trek movie. And Noah Hawley too, I am a huge Fargo fan. His brain with our characters in our world, and what would Tarantino do? Just the idea of it is wild.
The fourth film of the series still seems to be at the script stage and only has Abrams attached as a producer.
Star Trek (2009) and its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness are available to stream on Paramount+.
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