When J.J. Abrams left the Star Trek franchise to direct a certain OTHER sci-fi movie, the director’s chair was quickly filled by screenwriter Roberto Orci, who had co-written both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. It seemed like an odd choice at the outset, since Orci had never directed a film before, and now it’s looking like the gamble didn’t pay off. Deadline is now reporting that Roberto Orci will no longer be in charge of the as yet untitled Star Trek 3.
What the heck happened? We don’t know, but we do expect rampant speculation. Deadline says that “there is smoke behind the fire” of Robert Orci’s departure, whatever the heck that means. The phrase “creative differences” are probably going to be bandied about at any moment. Was Orci’s inexperience an issue? Was he trying to take the franchise in a direction that made the stockholders nervous? Did he just have something better to do with his time? It’s going to be an enormous question mark for fans until someone goes on the record.
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However, Star Trek 3 appears to be moving forward, with the same script and – interestingly enough – Roberto Orci still on board as a producer. The 13th films in the ongoing franchise was being prepped for a 2016 release, just in time for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, so time is of the essence. And so the studio has put together a short list of potential Star Trek 3 directors, and according to Deadline, one of the names on it is… Edgar Wright.
Would Edgar Wright actually make the movie? It seems like a possibility. His good friend and frequent collaborator Simon Pegg is a member of the cast, and it’s the sort of geek-oriented material to which the Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World director frequently gravitates. Then again, if he was putting too personal a stamp on Ant-Man for Marvel Studios to handle, he may want more creative control over Star Trek 3 than the studio might be willing, or even have the time necessary, to give him.
In any case, certain fans who don’t care for Roberto Orci’s work are probably celebrating right now. CraveOnline is going to sit back and let the situation develop before we cast any serious opinions about whether this is a good sign or a terrible omen of things to come.
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
