News: S.J. Clarkson Front Runner To Direct Next Star Trek Film


Paramount Pictures dropped news yesterday at CinemaCon that they are working on two Star Trek films with Skydance Pictures. Now word is that S.J. Clarkson has emerged as a front runner to helm the fourth Star Trek film. The British director's credits include episodes of Marvel’s Jessica Jones and The Defenders for Netflix, Vinyl, Dig and Orange Is the New Black

This would continue a huge movement for women directors, with Victoria Clarkson bing named second unit director on Star Wars: Episode IX, and Cathy Yan recently being named director of the next Harley Quinn.

There have been multiple story treatments tossed around for another Star Trek film, ranging from a George Kirk story that would see Chris Hemsworth return to the role, as well as the Quentin Tarantino Trek story. It had appeared that Tarantino's film had taken over any other possibly trek projects, but that no longer is the case.

 
 Paramount's CEO Jim Gianopulos announced that the studio was developing two Star Trek films, but didn't provide any additional information for either of them, or when Paramount is planning to release of either them. We already knew that Tarantino had come up with a potential story for a Star Trek picture, leading to a writer's room meeting with Tarantino and screenwriters Mark L. Smith, Lindsey Beer, Drew Pearce, and Megan Amram. Paramount Pictures selected Mark L. Smith (The Revenant) to pen the script for the R-rated Star Trek film that was born out of an idea from Quentin Tarantino, who plans to direct it as well. Tarantino will also serve as a producer on the project along with J.J. Abrams. Paramount and Abrams became enamored by Smith after he wrote the screenplay for Overlord, the Bad Robot produced World War II film.

Paramount hopes to see the success that other R-rated franchises have had, most notably Deadpool and Alien. Smith will work on the script while Tarantino focuses on his next film, titled Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

It is believed by many that the second film will indeed be the George Kirk story, which would bring him and the main cast from Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Star Trek: Beyond together. It makes sense since its established characters and actors that fans already know, with many hoping to see a fourth film starring that group.