March 31, 2009–Paramount will release on May 8 the eagerly awaited new “Star Trek,” but meanwhile, the studio is moving forward with a sequel, and has hired Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof to write the script.
J.J. Abrams, who directed and produced the latest chapter, will produce the follow-up alongside his Bad Robot partner Bryan Burk, but it’s not clear whether he’ll direct it. Orci, Kurtzman and Lindelof also are receiving producing credit on the sequel.
The writers aim to deliver their script to the Melrose studio by Christmas for what would likely be a summer 2011 release. But they want to wait and see the fans reaction about which direction to go.
Though Orci and Kurtzman have worked together as a writing team for more than 12 years, the duo has worked with Lindelof on one screenplay: DreamWorks' “Cowboys and Aliens,” which they are writing together.
Paramount has high hopes for the “Star Trek” relaunch, and has invested big money and effort in marketing the film, with a full-scale campaign six months before the May bow.
