Paramount Planning Star Trek Prequel With X-Men's Simon Kinberg: Report

In a major development from Hollywood, Paramount Pictures is gearing up for the prequel to its celebrated Star Trek franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the production company is presently in talks with X-Men producer Simon Kinberg to bankroll the Star Trek feature film. Touted to be a prequel, it will be set decades before J.J. Abrams’ 2009 film, likely around the modern times when Starfleet was created and humankind’s first contact with alien life.

While Abrams still continues to remain involved as the producer for the new project, confirmation is yet to be received from Kinberg’s end. Besides, the studio has also hinted at a 2025 release date.

Developments so far in Star Trek’s new franchise

Paramount Pictures is looking forward to providing the opportunity for Simon Kinberg to take on active creative roles on the rest of the franchise’s film side. In addition to that, Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman have joined as the main creative producers. Toby Haynes, who directed the episodes of the Star Wars series Andor, is also on board to direct the new feature. Seth Grahame-Smith will write the script.

Talking about Kinberg, he is famously known for his work on Fox’s X-Men franchise, over which he took the creative control and also made his directorial debut with Dark Phoenix. If things go well, the upcoming project will mark his second collaboration with Grahame-Smith after Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

More about the Star Trek franchise

The Star Trek film Beyond was released in 2016, following which Trek has been primarily living on the small screen. A series of streaming shows have made their way to Paramount+, including Star Trek Discovery, Picard and Strange New Worlds.

While Abrams, known for overseeing all the Star Trek films, will return to produce the prequel, he is also bankrolling a separate film from the franchise. It is said to be the final mission of the Kelvin timeline cast, including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña.

On the other hand, Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are bringing an original series to Paramount+ with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It will be the fifth live-action series in the universe, featuring Holy Hunter as the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy. The storyline will be based on the students of the academy.