Star Trek sequel scheduled for June 29, 2012 Release - Page 2

http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/can-star-trek-2-morph-from-70-page-outline-to-summer-tent-pole-in-13-months/

 

Paramount isn't confirming any of this, but I'm told that there soon should be good news and bad news on the Star Trek sequel front. The good news: With his film Super 8 set for release June 10, JJ Abrams is expected to announce shortly his return as director of Star Trek 2. The bad news: Even moving at warp speed, Abrams will be hard pressed to make the June 29, 2012 release date that the studio set for the film. I'm told that the move being considered right now is to push Trek back for a Holiday 2012 release. This comes after Paramount pushed back the other franchise film in its arsenal that has Chris Pine as its star. Pine's also playing Jack Ryan in the reboot of the Tom Clancy-created series. Pine was expected to shoot that film first, but the script wasn't ready. Paramount hired David Koepp to rewrite Adam Cozad's script. Koepp just began writing this week after completing his film Premium Rush.

 

Why is Star Trek in such precarious shape, just 13 months before its release date? The film has three top-flight writers in Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Like Abrams, all of them have been busy on other films. Kurtzman directed Welcome to People. Orci has been busy on Cowboys & Aliens and in prepping the Gavin Hood-directed sci-fi epic Ender's Game. Lindelof has been busy working on Prometheus, the Ridley Scott film for Fox that was conceived as a 3D prequel until Lindelof came on to do a rewrite and changed the concept so much that they consider it an original. The result? It doesn't sound like they are close to having a script that will live up to the high quality of the first film that revived a dead franchise. On the Trekkie fan site Trekmovie.com, Orci confessed this week that they have a 70-page outline, and are waiting for Abrams to commit so that they can really get going. Well, that is hardly an enviable position to be in, exactly 13 months before the release of the film. Orci suggested in the interview they could prep the film from an outline. That is hard, particularly for a sophisticated, futuristic science fiction film. This is basically what happened on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and director Michael Bay has been open about the fact that the rush to make a release date with a script that wasn't ready hurt the film. The cost of a Vfx-heavy film rushing like this raises the budget considerably.

 

Don't be surprised if Paramount and Abrams push back six months at least. While Paramount doesn't have the Marvel movies anymore, the studio could slot its G.I. Joe sequel for that early-summer release (I've heard other studios are now eyeing that date, too). Unless Koepp does an amazing job quickly and gives the studio a Jack Ryan movie that's ready to go, Pine is still expected to shoot Star Trek first. According to the studio, nothing falls into place until Abrams declares his intention for the Trek sequel.---Nikki Finke

 

There has been talk that the Star Trek sequel would be pushed back for a while now.  If this does happen, which is starting to look more and more likely, the best case scenario is (as the article says) the holiday season of 2012, while some are predicting that the movie will be pushed back as much as a year into the summer 2013 season. 

Yes, I saw this story on the trekmovie.com site. The first film would have been ready by the holidays, but Paramount wanted to hold it for the summer. This sequel appears it will miss this coming summer 2012.

A case of too much success for the Abrams "Committee". If I recall correctly, that's the jokey name the group gave themselves, Orci, Kurtzman, Lindelof, Abrams and someone else I think. They're so busy with so many projects, some fans are hoping the film would be later in release so they at least can do a decent job on the script.

One guy had a great comment on this in that forum. He hopes Abrams doesn't direct and another vision is involved that could give this film some soul and not just pander to the mainstream. Such as what The Empire Strikes Back did. A sentiment I agree with. So more time might allow this. But given the pressures Orci and Kurtzman are under, I think this next film could be doomed. The era of proper Star Trek with ideas may be over.

Perhaps they could get Nicolas Meyer but I suspect that's not in the cards.

This film was already delayed. Remember that back in 2009, it was said the next one would be in the summer of 2011. Then it was pushed to June 2012. Now, it seems it could be pushed to Dec. 2012 or (more likely) summer 2013. That's a bad idea. The people involved will say the usual things: "This gives us more time to do a great job," "Our people were in such demand after the last one...," "It just feels right to take our time with this..." 

 

The fact of the matter is that the longer the wait between the films (and four years is a long time), the more the general audience will lose interest. This summer would have been the best time to release it, especially given the huge franchise films up next summer. And playing in late 2012 would pit it against The Hobbit, which is also a bad idea. Everyone at Paramount should remember what happened when Nemesis opened five days before The Two Towers.

 

They should prep this and get rolling for next June. It's in the best interests of the longevity of the new movie series.

The biggest news to me in that deadline.com article is that they're finally moving ahead with an Ender's Game movie!  Coincidentally, I began re-reading the novel a couple of weeks ago and am nearly finished it.  There have been rumors of a movie adaptation for years, but I figured nothing would ever come of them.  

 

Okay, tangent over.

 

 

 

Nelson Au wrote (post #32):

 

 

Sam Favate wrote (post #33):
 

 

 

They're all grossly overpaid, overpraised Hollywood hacks, every one of them.

 

 

 

More pratfalls and "in-joke" references?  "Top-flight" writing? No, thanks!
 

 

 

  The extra time should give them just enough rope for them to hang themselves.

 

As far as Star Trek in the cinema is concerned, there has never been such an era.  Star Trek's exploration and innovativeness have always been confined to the small screen.

 

Am I the only one who thinks Rex's posts are jokes? It's like internet performance art with him acting as the Comic Book Guy.

Who can tell, when he uses light green, or worse YELLOW on his quotes. So hard to read i just skip most.

 

I have little hope for the next Trek movie. For that matter, most movies. It seems to be luck when we get a good movie, od any kind.

But i do like to keep up to date with all things Trek, even when i do not like it.

I suspect that summer 2012 date is impossible at this point, and 2012 holiday season is probably iffy too.  

 

The "Committee" apaprently agrees, saying 2012 is not set in stone. Here's Orci quoted at treknation.com:

 

"The worst thing we could possibly do would be to put something into production to make a release date instead of a great movie.

“I care much more that it be good than it be ready. I’m obviously doing everything I can to make sure that schedules don’t get screwed up. But I don’t think anyone wants a movie on time that’s not worth your time.”

 

Commendable sentiment. I thought ST 2001 was hugely entertaining, and if the next installment is anywhere near that, I'll be content. (BTW, I'm a TOS fan, saw the first one first air date way back when.) I doubt we'll see many big, commercial SF that are "ideas" movies - too much risk. Most idea driven SF will come from smaller, more personal films. It seems like Ender has been in pre-production hell for 20 years. It would be truly exciing if that project ever gets made right.
 

It sure seems like they are doing everything they can to push it off. Holiday 2012 likely won't happen, as it is already too crowded a season (the Hobbit, Bond 23, Superman), and the holiday season usually can only accommodate fewer blockbusters than the summer. I think that is a shame, because four years between films is a long time, and they risk losing the general audience.

Paramount is already looking at making the 'G.I. Joe' sequel/reboot their big summer 2012 tentpole film.

 

Disney's "The Lone Ranger" has also been added to the Holiday 2012 schedule and I think the more time goes by the more likely it seems that the Star Trek flick will be a summer 2013 release.

 

The Holiday 2012 season is just too packed right now, here is the current November-December 2012 schedule...

 

NOVEMBER

2^nd

-“Reboot Ralph” (Pixar/Disney)

-9^th

-Bond 23 (MGM/Sony)

-“Ouija” (Universal)

16^th

-“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II” (Summit)

21^st (Wednesday)

-“47 Ronin” (Universal)

-“Rise of the Guardians” (DreamWorks/Paramount)

 

DECEMBER

14^th

-“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (WB)

21^st

-“Hunter-Killer”(Relativity)

-“Life of Pi” (Fox)

-“The Lone Ranger” (Disney)

-Untitled Jud Apatow Film (Universal)

25^th (Christmas Day- Tuesday)

-“Man of Steel” (WB) (rumored release)

 

I think Paramount should lay claim to the July 4th holiday weekend slot for 2013.

I hope this is successful so the studios greenlight more board game movies. How great would it be finally see a live action Chutes And Ladders or a Monopoly movie? I hope Ian McKellen plays Uncle Moneybags.

Movies based on "Monopoly" and "Candyland" are in the planning stages.  Ridley Scott is still attached to helm the "Monopoly" flick if memory serves.

 

Let's also not forget that Universal's big budget adaptation of "Battleship" hits theaters next summer.

I thought Clue turned out well enough.

From that release list, December looks pretty open for at least two more big releases if Man of Steel isn't released.

Here's a couple of JJ Abrams quotes from Trekmovie.com which are quoted from other sources:

 

 

 

 

 

And another comment:

 

 

 

 

 

All I ask is that they have at least a completed second draft scripte done before prinicple photography starts.  No rush job script to meet a deadling and please don't dare start filming without a script a la Transformers 2.  I just hope they take there time to make a good movie to match the first one, even if that means pushing it back to summer 2013.

^^^

 

Agreed.  I'd wait several years in order to have a good-to-excellent film, rather than having a sub-par film which could be rushed.

Interesting video out with Nic Meyer at a Star Trek 2 screening this past Friday. Orci and Kurtzman were there too. 

 

http://trekmovie.com/2011/06/11/watch-nicholas-meyer-talks-about-his-gene-roddenberry-regret/

 

He was interviewed and expressed some regrets for how he dealt with Gene Roddenberry's objections to the script's prejudiced attitudes of our hero's towards the Klingons.

 

Additionally, a friend mentioned how he was very disappointed with Super 8. And while not conclusive, the film may not be able to hold an audience inspite of it being number 1 so far. I've not seen it, I was curious about it.

 

I only mention these 2 things because; 1. If Super 8 isn't as big a success as Paramount hopes, would that alter Paramount's plans for Star Trek and having Abrams direct it? And 2, would Nicolas Meyer be up for another directing gig on Star Trek?

 

After the Meyer interview, Orci, Kurtzm and and Lindelof spoke. They spoke quite a bit and reponded to certain issues we have been dicussing about Spock and Kirk:

 

http://trekmovie.com/2011/06/11/star-trek-sequel-writers-give-script-update-promise-no-remake-talk-vulcan-arcs-more/

 

 

Here are the quotes Trekmovie posted

 

Sorry for the goofy quote marks in the text, not sure why it's doing that.

 

 

 

 

Super 8 is doing more than well enough that Paramount won't want to drop Abrams from Star Trek 2. According to Box Office Mojo, Super 8 cost $50 million (not counting marketing, etc.) and it's made $37 million already so Paramount will do fine with Super 8.

Onto another possible bit of news, trekmovie reports that William Shatner says he will not be appearing in the new Star Trek film.

 

http://trekmovie.com/2011/06/18/william-shatner-im-not-in-star-trek-sequel/

 

This is a rather unusual statement for him. He's either got inside info, or it's a ploy to get interest in him to be in the film, or he's decided to hang it up and retire from the role.

 

Of course, like Sean Connery who doesn't actually have any ownership of the character, he's an actor who played James Bond and decided to no longer portray Bond. Shatner is a little different in that he originated the role on TV and owned the character for 3 years on TV and 7 films. He is Kirk and I think in the public's eyes and my generation, he'll always be Kirk. But perhaps he decided to let it go and move on. That's my guess. The character did die in Generations.

 

This is also odd in that the script is not done yet. Though they seem to know what the story is about. And JJ Abrams has discussed the problem of how to get his character into the last film in a way that made sense and fit in the story and was worthy of everyone's time.

 

My hope is someday the wrongs of Generations can be corrected and Kirk lives on.

 

So what do you guys think, would you like to see Shatner in the film?

No.  I don't want to see Shatner Kirk relegated to minor role, almost useless role.  I would rather see him and whoever else from the original cast wants to do it, in their own movie in their own time.  Sulu and possibly Chekov would also be retired captains so they could have a three captain, three ship movie saving the universe.  Of course now that we have Star Trek reboot they would never greenlight such a project but it sure would be nice.

I agree that Shatner, or anyone from TOS shouldn't be in the film just to be in it. I think everyone on the production team agrees there has to be a really good reason and that the inclusion could help propel the plot along. 

 

I thought the idea they had for a Shatner appearance in the 2009 film could have worked. Essentially a voice over at the end of the film. 

 

But this is the new Star Trek, not my Star Trek. So Shatner or Nimoy didn't need to be in the 2009 film. I guess we'll see what happens. 

I say no as well.

 

We've had the "orgin" story for the new actors in the roles and had Nimoy to "bridge the gap" so to speak.  No forced cameos from other Star Trek shows are need (no Kahn also IMO); lets let these new guys carry the film(s) on their own new adventures.

It's official, Star Trek sequel delayed with no release date announced yet. GI Joe sequel to take it's place.

It's looking more like it won't happen, but I'm being cynical. The writers are super spread out with so many projects, and JJ Abrams isn't bowing to pressure to move ahead. I keep hearing one of Rex Buchmann's posts, in reference to the writers.

So maybe 2013, I may not care by then.

http://trekmovie.com/2011/07/28/paramount-officially-moves-gi-joe-2-into-star-trek-sequel-summer-2012-spot-no-new-trek-date-yet/

It will definitely happen - Paramount has exercised the options on the cast, which means money is now involved. The question is whether they want it for the holiday season in 2012 or the summer of 2013.

 

 

According to Lindelof, Abrams just got back from vacation and has basically locked himself in a room with the other three writers in order to get the script finished. Looks like he's probably gonna be directing, too, given the level of intensity I'm getting from all this:

http://collider.com/damon-lindelof-star-wars-prometheus-star-trek-sequel-comic-con/105191/

There was a 90-page "scriptment" for Star Trek XII, but it wasn't necessarily 100% where Abrams wanted it to be, so now that Super 8's in the can, all they're focusing on is getting the screenplay polished to within an inch of its life, and working with Scott Chambliss and ILM on designing the sets and VFX to come. The opening sequence they're hinting at for the film sounds awesome.

Also (and I don't have the link right at hand), Orci just hinted that the lead villain might be female.

Chuck Anstey wrote (post #51):

Yes, I can see it now: all three captains rolling onto their respective bridges in their automated wheelchair-rockers. Ooops, Chekoff forgets his teeth. That'd be "the bomb"!

Nelson Au wrote (post #54):

{Ahem}, that'd be who, again?


joshEH wrote (post #56):

Oh,--{yawn!!!}---and I bet she'll be trying to avenge her dead lover, come hell or high water: Star Trek XII: The Wrath of Connie.


And for this they get paid millions?!?

New pics from the set -- Quinto, Saldana, and Cumberbatch:

http://screenrant.com/star-trek-sequel-set-photos-benedict-cumberbatch-sandy-156299

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
I have a feeling Cumberbatch is going to own this film. Could well be the best Trek villain since Ricardo Montalban. The guy has incredible acting chops and presence.

I have to admit, being a big TOS fan, I'm not too excited about the new film. I really want to be. The 2009 film turned me off to the idea of this alternate universe.

The best parts of that first film was Karl Urban and Bruce Greenwood as Pike.

I'll probably try to see it opening day though.

I don't know who this actor is playing the villain.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Get thee to thy local PBS station, tune into Sherlock, and correct that shit, stat.

Cumberbatch is also playing the role of Smaug in The Hobbit films (alongside his Sherlock co-star, Martin Freeman.)

Gary Mitchell would be among my top picks for the character too, except that the ongoing, Orci/Kurtzman-supervised Star Trek comic book series has already adapted "Where No Man Has Gone Before" into the new continuity, and the writers have special access to the current ST XII shooting drafts.

The comics are layering in hints and foreshadowings to the events and characters of the next movie as they progress, so we'll likely be getting some indicator as to Cumberbatch's character's role in the film in the coming months (if not sooner).