J.J. Abrams Says They Won't Recast Anton Yelchin’s Chekov in STAR TREK 4
A lot of fans have been wondering if Paramount Pictures would recast Anton Yelchin’s Pavel Chekov in the future Star Trek films that they plan on developing. I was really hoping that they wouldn't. Yelchin owned that role in these new films, and it would have been a shame to see him replaced.
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief now because according to producer J.J. Abrams, they will not be recasting the role. During an interview with the Toronto Sun, Abrams said:
“I would say there’s no replacing him. There’s no recasting. I can’t possibly imagine that, and I think Anton deserves better.”
I think Yelchin's fans will wholeheartedly agree. There's no information on how they will handle Chekov's departure from the franchise or how they will replace the character. When asked if they would kill off the character Abrams said:
“I have thought about it, we’re working on it, and it’s too early to talk about it."
Fair enough. I'm sure they will figure out a way to do it and to honor Yelchin and the character in the best possible way. Paramount Pictures is already in the process of developing the fourth Star Trek film in the rebooted franchise, and it will see James Kirk come face to face with his dad George.