
Relative newcomers
J.D. Payne and
Patrick McKay have been hired to join
Roberto Orci in co-writing the next installment in the
Star Trek film franchise for Skydance and Paramount Pictures.
Orci and his writing partner
Alex Kurtzman are
Trek veterans as they've written the last two
Star Trek movies along with
Damon Lindelof in Paramount's rebooted series that were directed by
J.J. Abrams.
JJ, who admitted earlier this week that he harbored some regrets about trying to keep the
Benedict Cumberbatch character's identity under wraps, is currently set to direct 2015s
Star Wars: Episode VII and is now writing the screenplay with Lawrence Kasdan.
Previously, Abrams' production company Bad Robot set Payne and McKay to pen the adaptation of the graphic novel-picture book ‘
Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel‘, which is still in development.
J.J. Abrams will co-produce the third installment and the studios are hoping to get it into theaters in time for
Star Trek's 50th anniversary in 2016.
Attack the Block director
Joe Cornish was at one point rumored to take over on
Star Trek 3, but he's reportedly no longer involved.
Star Trek Into Darkness stars
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and
Zoe Saldana are all expected to return for a third Trek movie.
We'll keep you updated, so stay tuned.