Report: Noah Hawley’s ‘Star Trek’ Movie On Ice At Paramount
Paramount has hit the brakes on Noah Hawley’s Star Trek film, as a new report reveals that the project has been indefinitely postponed.
This latest report appears to at least partially confirm a set of rumors previously reported by Bounding into Comics in February, which claimed that Hawley’s film was rejected by Paramount and that Hawley intended to leave the project if he could not retain creative control.
According to a report from Variety’s Dave McNary, “Paramount Pictures has decided to pause on making another “Star Trek” movie, nine months after hiring “Fargo” and “Legion” creator Noah Hawley to write and direct the next installment of franchise.”
McNary added, “Sources indicated that Watts has put the brakes on the Hawley project in order to get more clarity on how to handle the next “Star Trek” movie, but added that the project has not been ditched.”
Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. also reported the project was on pause. He reported, “New film chief Emma Watts, who managed many a franchise at Fox, is in the process of figuring out which way to go.”
Like McNary, Fleming wrote, “The pause on the Hawley project, which had been in soft prep, prompted rumors this week that the filmmaker might exit, but that has not happened yet, sources said.”
While Hawley’s film is reportedly on pause, Fleming indicates there is another possibility with a script written by The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith that was supposed to be directed by Quentin Tarantino.
According to Deadline the script is “based on an episode of the classic Star Trek series that takes place largely earthbound in a 30s gangster setting.”
Related: Quentin Tarantino: “I Think I’m Steering Away From Star Trek”
Tarantino made it clear he was “steering away from Star Trek, but I haven’t had an official conversation with those guys yet.” Those comments came back in December 2019 and he hasn’t really commented on Star Trek since.
As for details on what Hawley’s film looked like, Fleming indicated it called “for a new cast and might be about a deadly virus which might feel awkward given current circumstance.”
Interestingly, McNary and Variety detailed that Hawley’s film would include the former cast of the Star Trek films, which included Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana.
However, Simon Pegg repeatedly stated that he had no idea what was going on with Hawley’s film.
Related: Simon Pegg on Star Trek 4: “I Don’t Know Anything About It”
In January, Pegg stated, “No, I don’t know anything about it. I think Noah Hawley’s been hired to write something for Star Trek, which is very exciting because he’s a brilliant writer and always creates interesting stuff.”
He then detailed that he did not think he or the rest of the cast would be involved with Hawley’s project saying, “Whether or not we are involved in that, I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
Related: Simon Pegg On Star Trek: “We’ve Lost Momentum”
In March, Pegg also indicated he had no idea what was happening with a fourth Star Trek film. He stated, “I don’t know. The fact is, Star Trek movies don’t make Marvel money. They make maybe $500m at the most, and to make one now, on the scale they’ve set themselves, is $200m. You have to make three times that to make a profit.”
As for what Hawley had envisioned he told Deadline back in January, “I have my own take on Star Trek.”
He then elaborated, “Going back to what I loved about the series Next Generation, when a lot of franchises focus on ‘might makes right’, Star Trek is about exploration and humanity at its best, and diversity and creative problem solving.”
Related: Star Trek: Picard Producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin Address “Toxic Fandom”
“There’s nothing better than that moment when William Shatner puts on his reading glasses and lowers Khan’s shields. It doesn’t cost anything. But it’s that triumphant feeling about smarting your enemy. For me it’s about to getting to those elements of the show. I don’t necessarily find action in and of itself interesting unless it’s story,” Hawley detailed.
What do you think of Hawley’s Star Trek movie being put in the icebox? Is the franchise really in chaos? Let me know your thoughts!
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