Progress towards making the next non-Tarantino Star Trek film reality has hit a minor snag, if not a massive iceberg. The Hollywood Reporter claims that negotiations among Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth with Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media have stalled completely, jeopardizing the very existence of the Untitled Star Trek Sequel. Talks with returning crew members Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, and John Cho appear to be going well, so as long as the two Chris’ come back to the table perhaps the film has a shot at living long and prospering.
If Chris Pine returns, he would head back to the captain’s chair of the USS Enterprise as James Tiberius Kirk, having starred in 2009’s Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Star Trek: Beyond. You may remember that Chris Hemsworth played Pine’s father, George Kirk, in a flashback that kickstarted the rebooted franchise in 2009. Reportedly, the next Trek sequel features a time-traveling storyline where both Kirks get to hang out, crack wise, and likely butt heads as they battle bad guys and triumph in the face of insurmountable odds. S.J. Clarkson (Netflix’s The Defenders and Jessica Jones) is set to direct.
It seems that the hold-up behind an amicable agreement boils down to the usual suspect: kittens. Just kidding; it’s money. Now that they are established A-Listers who star in Marvel and DC flicks, Hemsworth and Pine find themselves among Hollywood’s elite. Both actors insist that they have (lucrative) deals already in place, and that the studios are trying to renege on them, forcing the Chris’ to take pay cuts as Paramount tries to recover from Star Trek: Beyond, which underperformed at the box office (‘only’ tallying $343 million worldwide on a budget of $190 million).
Insiders at Paramount and Skydance Media claim that a deal remains a priority, and the film is not being put on hold. So far, Paramount and CAA (which represents both Pine and Hemsworth) have offered no comment, other than saying they are Givin’ Her All She’s Got, Captain! Let’s hope that Pine and Hemsworth can be beamed up soon, or they may be calling this film Star Trek 4: The Voyage Nowhere.
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