As sequel driven as Hollywood is, there is an asterisk for summer 2012. Don’t worry, you can still expect a new Spider-Man and Batman installment. But what about the crew that will boldly go where no man has gone before? That’s right: Star Trek. While it still has a tentative release date of June 29, 2012, director J.J. Abrams has not yet signed on. The script still needs work and everyone is in a holding pattern until Abrams, whose latest film Super 8 hits theaters on Friday, makes a decision. Some reports have said that the project could be pushed to a winter release. If that is the case, then Paramount would be losing one of its current four tentpole releases of summer (three of which are sequels – Sasha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator is the only original release on the docket).
On hand at a press event last Friday, The Playlist asked Abrams if the Star Trek sequel would make its June 2012 release date. His response, “I care much more about it being good than it be ready…we’re doing everything we can to make sure schedules don’t get screwed up. I don’t think anyone wants a movie on time that’s not worth your time.”
For those who saw X-Men: First Class and don’t know how quick it came together for director Matthew Vaughn and producer Bryan Singer, just know that they were able to complete it, post-prod effects and all, in a span of ten months. And it was a quick turnaround for Vaughn, having completed Kick-Ass a few months prior. Surely, Abrams could do the same, unless he needs a short break to get his second wind.
But reading between the lines, it looks more than likely that Captain Kirk, Spock, and probably another green alien chick, won’t be making it into theaters next summer. Early November is a possibility, if it wants to avoid the Twi-hards and later the hobbits.
