Star Trek fans have been eagerly awaiting any news about the Kelvin Universe cast returning to the iconic franchise, and now one of its stars has spoken up about the possibility. Despite being over eight years old since the last voyage aboard the USS Enterprise, the actor remains optimistic and believes there are still limitless opportunities for future adventures.
Paramount previously confirmed that, alongside other projects, it’s still working on another Star Trek film set in the Kelvin Universe, continuing the story from the 2009-2016 Star Trek trilogy. While multiple attempts have been made to bring Star Trek 4 to life, the latest effort saw Steve Yockey hired in March to tackle the script. However, the film remains on Paramount’s later schedule, indicating that Star Trek 4 is still a few years away, likely releasing over a decade after 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. Despite the long gap, Star Trek star Zachary Quinto doesn’t see the delay as a problem, recently reflecting on his role and what the future holds for the franchise.
Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto isn’t fazed by the fourth Kelvin Timeline movie being stuck in development limbo. Although Quinto is currently focused on his new NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, he remains optimistic about reprising his iconic role as Spock in another Star Trek film. In an interview with Variety promoting his latest show, Quinto shared his enthusiasm for the Star Trek franchise, stating, “The great thing is Star Trek is a limitless universe. Look at all the television shows, look at all the stories, look at all the characters and timelines. Anything is possible. That’s the joy of the franchise. That’s why it’s lasted for 55, 60 years. I’m open to it. I would love it. I would absolutely love it.” Despite staying busy with other projects over the years and not actively campaigning for more Star Trek content, Quinto remains passionate about the Star Trek franchise and believes there will always be opportunities to reprise his role as Spock when the right concept comes along.
It’s been nearly a decade since Zachary Quinto last portrayed Spock in Star Trek Beyond, so it’s amazing that the actor remains open to reprising the iconic role. Quinto, who played the half-Vulcan, half-human science officer in three Star Trek Kelvin Timeline films from 2009 to 2016, doesn’t see a problem returning to Spock later in his career. Interestingly, this contrasts with his decision to turn down a reprisal of his early role in Heroes, a show that failed to find success with its sequel, Heroes Reborn. However, Quinto seems confident Star Trek won’t face the same fate. Last year, he addressed the delays surrounding Star Trek 4, attributing the stall to creative differences and the complexities of filmmaking. While he’s unsure if the project will move forward, Quinto remains optimistic, stating that if it happens, it would be great—but if not, he’s proud of the journey so far.
Paramount announced a fourth Kelvin Timeline Star Trek movie in July 2016, but the project has faced numerous setbacks, cycling through various creative teams without making much progress. At different points, Quentin Tarantino, S.J. Clarkson, Noah Hawley, and Matt Shakman were all linked to the project as writers or directors. Since Shakman left in 2022, the film remains without a director, although Steve Yockey is reportedly working on the latest script draft. Alongside Star Trek 4, Paramount has two additional Star Trek films in the works, including Star Trek: Section 31, a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery starring Michelle Yeoh, which is currently in post-production and slated to premiere on Paramount+ in early 2025. Another upcoming project is a prequel to the bashed J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot, listed as an untitled Star Trek Origin Story, set decades before the events of the original movie, with Toby Haynes directing and Seth Grahame-Smith penning the script. Whether Star Trek 4 will leave development limbo remains uncertain after years of stalled progress.
