Star Trek 4 Actor Expresses Doubt The Movie Will Happen
Zachary Quinto doesn't seem to think Star Trek 4 is going to happen.
This article is more than 2 years old
Will there be another Kelvin Era Star Trek movie? Spock actor Zachary Quinto isn’t so sure, according to Trek Movie. Despite talk of planning for a fourth installment of the alternate timeline version of the story, Paramount Pictures removed Star Trek 4 from its slated December 2023 release date.
Perhaps channeling his character Spock, Quinto raised concerns in February when producer J.J. Abrams announced that Star Trek 4 was in the works, citing scheduling concerns as an obstacle. Now the movie has more obstacles thanks to the departure of director Matt Shakman from the project. In an interview, Zachary Quinto commented, “I’ve learnt to only get excited about things I know are actually real. And there’s nothing about a fourth Star Trek movie that feels real right now.”
It’s not that Zachary Quinto doesn’t want to be in a Star Trek 4 if it were to come to fruition, but that, without a concrete go-ahead, it makes no sense to simply wait. With other projects and offers to address, the cast is getting on with their lives and careers, rather than banking on the uncertainty of a production that has only been expressed as an intent.
“When the phone rings, and J.J. says, ‘Hey, we’re actually really going to do this,’ then I’ll show up,” he said in another interview. “But until then, I have a lot of other stuff going on and a lot of stuff to turn my attention to.”
The cast seems to be eager for Star Trek 4, including Chris Hemsworth, who wants to reprise his role as James Kirk’s father, George. However, Zachary Quinto isn’t the only one to express skepticism about production actually starting. Zoe Saldana indicated recently that although she, too, would like to do another Star Trek movie, the timing may not have been the only factor.
For example, although shooting was supposed to start this fall, Chris Pine still hasn’t seen a script yet. Matt Shakman’s departure was also an ominous sign for an autumn start to the production, and the shuffling of the release dates of Paramount Pictures’ movies is a final indicator that Trekkies will not see Star Trek 4 next year. This will mark the longest gap between Star Trek films since the first in 1979.
There is still hope that Star Trek 4 will be made eventually, however, as Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins has expressed interest in releasing more. Chris Pine is also actively pushing for a broader Star Trek experience, hoping the franchise can draw the kind of box office exemplified by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The studio airs all the Star Trek shows on its streaming service, Paramount Plus, including more recent additions to the franchise like Picard, Strange New Worlds, and Lower Decks.
The “Kelvin Timeline” refers to events in 2009’s Star Trek in which the starship the U.S.S. Kelvin is destroyed by the mining vessel Narada, creating an alternate timeline in which James Kirk is inspired not by his father George, but by Enterprise captain Christopher Pike to join Starfleet. This alternate timeline reinvented the adventures of the Enterprise crew, introducing new actors in classic roles such as Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and Dr. McCoy, leaving fans hoping for Star Trek 4 to add to the series.
It seems we will eventually get to see Star Trek 4 as soon as Paramount Pictures has it better organized and has commitments from the production staff. It’s good to know that the cast is enthusiastic because that makes it much more likely the movie will be made. Zachary Quinto may have his doubts for now, but hopefully, they will be laid to rest soon.
