Star Trek 4 remains trapped in development hell, and while the franchise has once again found success on television, it appears Paramount Pictures is still struggling to crack the property in theaters.
Those first few efforts were successful, earning mostly positive reviews and largely decent box office takings. Released during a period when blockbusters were expected to earn upwards of $1 billion to be deemed a true hit, it's hardly surprising Beyond's $344 million global haul saw it written off as a disappointment.
Since 2016's Star Trek Beyond, one popular idea included a reunion between Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and his father, played in 2009's Star Trek by Chris Hemsworth. Defenders director S.J. Clarkson was attached to helm that version, while Paramount has since considered movies from Noah Hawley (Fargo) and legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.
The latest version from WandaVision director Matt Shakman fell apart when he decided to instead helm Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios and Spock actor Zachary Quinto doesn't seem confident Star Trek 4 is at the top of Paramount's priority list.
"I think there’s a lot of other stuff, creative things. It’s complicated," the actor said during a recent convention appearance. "The fact that anything good gets made is kind of a miracle. I think it’s about different people having different agendas and ideas about what it will be."
"And I don’t know if and when it will happen. And if coalesces again, and we come back, and we’re able to do it, wonderful. If not, we had a great run."
Cast members such as Chris Pine and Zoe Saldaña have previously stated that they were ready and willing to reprise their roles, though neither of them got to see a script and everyone involved now seems ready to move on from this iconic sci-fi franchise.
It's a shame to see the franchise stall this way, particularly as many of those TV shows are beginning to wind down. On the plus side, we are getting a "special original movie event" on streaming which will see Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a character she first played in Star Trek: Discovery season 1.
Keep checking back here for the latest Star Trek updates as we have them.