Replacing the original screenwriters for Star Trek, Simon Pegg has been signed by Paramount Pictures to co-write “Star Trek 3.” He will be assisted by Dong Jung, the co-creator of the TNT police drama “Dark Blue” in this task. Roberto Orci, the original director, has been replaced by “The Fast and The Furious” director Justin Lin as well.
Sans the most magical people behind the scene, will the sci-fi be able to leave the audiences spellbound this time too?
Peg has earlier acted in the first two movies of the rebooted Trek franchise. He played the role of the ship’s engineer Montgomery Scott, better known as Scotty to all the Trek fans. That apart, he does have some writing prowess to boast off too. Having co-written “Spaced,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz,” and “World’s End” with his long-time friend and co-collaborator Edgar Wright in the past, his writing bona fides should impress all those who are not too amused by Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, and Roberto Ocri not being among the writers.
With this new found role, Pegg joins an already long list of some of the star cast of the famous Star Trek assuming behind-the-scene mantle. “Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Jonathan Frakes all took turns directing past feature films. (Directing-wise, Spock > Riker > Kirk, although Riker made First Contact so it’s a close one.)”
So while Pegg’s choice might be justified, what about his co-writer Jung? Till date, he has worked mainly in television, having created the undercover cop series Dark Blue.
It is not yet known for sure whether the two will work on an entirely new script or work upon the material left behind by the previous writers.
Paramount Pictures has slated the Star Trek 3 for July 8, 2016 release. Eighteen more months to go!