Two New STAR TREK Movies in the Works and The Franchise is a High Priority For Paramount Pictures

Paramount and Skydance Media are making Star Trek a major part of their post-merger film strategy. According to a new report from Deadline, the studio has two Star Trek movies currently in development, each taking the franchise in a different direction.

One project is being directed by Toby Haynes (Star Wars: Andor) with a script from Seth Grahame-Smith. This film will introduce “brand new characters,” offering a completely fresh crew and story.

The other project is written by The Flight Attendant creator Steve Yockey and will center on the iconic team of Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise.

There are no release dates yet, and it’s unclear which film will go into production first. The only certainty from the report is that Star Trek is now a “high priority” for Paramount moving forward.

The last Star Trek film to hit theaters was 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, which was well-reviewed but underperformed financially, earning $343.3 million worldwide on a $185 million budget. Since then, multiple Star Trek movie concepts have been announced and scrapped, including Quentin Tarantino’s standalone idea and Noah Hawley’s version, which was abandoned partly because its plot involved a pandemic.

Interestingly, Hawley’s canceled film also planned to feature an all-new crew, which is an approach Haynes’ project is now picking up. While nostalgia-driven sequels remain the industry’s comfort zone, Star Trek has always thrived by creating new ensembles, from The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine. If the franchise wants to stay relevant for decades to come, introducing new characters is essential.

That said, the appeal of another Kelvin Timeline film with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the rest of the cast is undeniable. Yockey’s project could serve as a fitting send-off for this version of the Enterprise crew while Haynes’ film sets the stage for a new era.

If Paramount plays it right, fans might get both, a celebration of the past and a bold step into the future.