No Surprise: Star Trek 2's Release Date Could Change
Posted 05.27.11 by Ryan
Back in January of last year, Paramount Pictures set a June 29, 2012, release date for Star Trek 2 (working title), the sequel to their highly-profitable 2009 reboot of Star Trek. With no finalized script in place or confirmation that director J.J. Abrams would return, it was a bold announcement from the studio, and one that was bound to change.
Deadline reports that, now that Abrams' Super 8 is almost in theaters, the director will soon confirm his return for the sequel; however, Paramount will likely change the release date from June until sometime in December.
Neither report comes as a huge surprise, since Abrams just recently admitted he was "working hard" on the Star Trek 2 script, adding that "we are going to be able to make an announcement on that soon," while co-screenwriter Roberto Orci also recently admitted that he Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof had written a 70-page outline but were awaiting Abrams' approval before they wrote more.
So why is it taking so long for Paramount to face the inevitable? The studio obviously has marked Star Trek 2 as a high priority, slotting the sequel's production before a planned fifth Jack Ryan movie, which will also star Chris Pine. The untitled Jack Ryan movie was originally going to shoot first, but script issues delayed the project. David Koepp is currently re-writing the movie.
In the meantime, Paramount is waiting for Abrams to make his return to Star Trek official, so the studio can officially change the release date to something that gives the screenwriters time to finish the script and Abrams more time to complete the movie.