'Star Trek 3' 2016 Movie Cast, Plot Rumors & News: Roberto Orci Removed Because of His Script?
Roberto Orci will no longer direct the third "Star Trek" film.
"Star Trek 3" would have been Orci's big screen directorial debut after separating from longtime screenwriting partner Alex Kurtzman in April 2014. The two teamed up on "Mission: Impossible III" and both the "Star Trek" and "Transformers" series, Rolling Stone reports. Orci and Kurtzman, however, still continue to be partners on TV projects.
Despite stepping off as the film's director, Orci will still serve as one of the producers for "Star Trek 3." Deadline reports that "Shaun of the Dead" director Edgar Wright and others on a short list are being considered to replace Orci as the director for the upcoming 2016 movie.
This wouldn't be the first time that Wright will be involved in "Star Trek." According to Variety, he is a longtime fan of the sci-fi franchise and even helmed a shot. He guest directed "one of the 2120 shots in 'Star Trek Into the Darkness' during a visit to the film's set," Rolling Stone adds.
As for the reason behind Orci's exit, Badass Digest claims that it was because of a disagreement regarding the script of the third installment. Screenrant reports that back in August, Orci announced that the first draft of the film's script was completed. But it seems like they might be starting from scratch.
"I've been in touch with some folks and it seems like the script was one of the problem factors. Paramount shut the production down last month, sending home all the design people while they battled over the direction of the screenplay," Devin Faraci of Badass Digest reports.
The news outlet adds that Orci was working on a script about "the Enterprise, the Vulcans and a new alien race competing to get a time travel device. The Vulcans want to go back and stop the destruction of their planet, and the time travel schtick is what would allow Chris Pine and William Shatner to share the screen."
There is no confirmation yet whether Shatner will reprise his iconic Captain Kirk role in the third "Star Trek" movie. Christian Today, on the other hand, reports that Karl Urban (Bones), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), and John Cho (Hikaru Sulu) will return for the sequel.
"Star Trek 3" is slated to hit theaters in 2016, which will coincide with the franchise's 50th anniversary.