Paramount Chairman and CEO Brian Robbins has indicated that he and current “Star Trek” franchise creative lead Alex Kurtzman are considering a four-quadrant “Star Trek” animated family movie.
In addition, they are taking inspiration from the acclaimed “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” as to what they hope to achieve with the project.
The pair spoke with THR during promotion for the just-launched kids animated series “Star Trek: Prodigy” which would likely tie into said movie, and Kurtzman says:
“‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ is still one of the best movies over the past decade, animated or not. It’s just an unbelievable piece of artistry. I went with my whole family and another family and we all sat there with our jaws on the floor. Ultimately, ‘Star Trek’ is about family, it’s about these giant universal themes. Getting to tell a story like that, especially given the level of cinema we’ve already brought to the television show, is a wonderful opportunity. It would thrill me to do that.”
Neither Robbins nor Kurtzman commented specifically on any possible live-action “Trek” film in development. The franchise’s big-screen efforts have cooled with the last film opening back in 2016, but Robbins did talk about Trek’s big-screen future:
“Where we go with the franchise next theatrically is crucial to the health of the overall franchise. There’s no doubt that big theatrical movies are the beacon that ignites franchises. We’re in it and I don’t really have anything to say because I’m waiting for the development to be delivered. I can’t wait to get going on it; we’re not there yet, but we need to get there soon.”
He then confirmed he was talking about what could be the next live-action movie and was subsequently asked if Alex or J.J. Abrams would be involved to which he said:
“We don’t know enough yet. We’re working on several fronts and obviously, Alex is the key for the franchise [on Paramount+]. J.J. has been the keeper of the franchise on the film side. We hope that as a company that we do what’s right for the franchise altogether… There’s a lot going on and I’m just going to leave it at that.
The idea is what do we do next for the franchise that’s going to work for the next five and ten years, not just one movie at a time like Alex has talked about. That’s what we really have to figure out.”
While the film side is still assembling its pieces, the TV side of the franchise is going full steam ahead with two live-action series and two animated series currently on the air and a third live-action series on the way.
