Edgar Wright Directed Shot Of Star Trek Into Darkness – Could He Direct Next Trek?

cardsDuring the production of the last two Star Trek movies a number of luminaries have visited the set, but one of them actually got the chance to direct a scene. Today Edgar Wright revealed his connection to Into Darkness, which some might think puts him on the short list to direct the next Trek feature. 

 

Edgar Wright Directed Into Darkness Shot

This morning writer/director Edgar Wright sent out a tweet revealing that he directed one of the scenes in Star Trek Into Darkness. He also showed a behind the scenes image.

Wright may be the first to direct a shot, but he is not the first director to talk about giving JJ Abrams a hand with Star Trek. Steven Spielberg is said to have assisted in one of the action scenes on the USS Enterprise for the 2009 Star Trek movie. Other directors have visited the set of JJ Abrams Star Trek as well, including Jonathan Frakes.

Could Wright Helm Next Star Trek?

While JJ Abrams is set to produce the next Trek, it seems he will not be able to direct due to his commitment to deliver a Star Wars movie in 2015. The fact that Abrams let Wright direct a scene of Star Trek Into Darkness shows that he is part of the circle of trust and could put him on the short list for possible directors for the next Star Trek feature. Abrams offered Wright the job of directing Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (which he turned down), but last summer it was announced that Wright was going to direct a new sci-fi movie called Collider produced by Abrams and Bad Robot (for Paramount).

Currently Wright is finalizing post-production on The World’s End (the third film of his Cornetto trilogy and collaboration with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) which is due i theaters July 19th. However, Wright may have his own scheduling conflict. The director is set helm Ant Man for Disney/Marvel, targeting a 2015 release date.

POLL

[poll id=”717″]

 

108 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I think it would be cool if Frakes directed, but I know he’s probably considered old-guard.

I, personally am not a fan of Edgar Wright’s work, and yes that includes the movies he made with Simon Pegg. Frankly, the only movie (apart from his 2 Trek films) that I liked Simon Pegg in was “Paul”.

I really hope Wright isn’t a contender for Star Trek XIII.

He did one shot of something like 2100.. It was not for anything serious or meaningful.

It’s my understanding Wright is in preproduction on a film for Marvel scheduled to be released in 2015. If that’s true it’ll be tough to get a Trek film done in time for a 2016 release, which MUST happen.

Who the heck is Edgar Wright?

@1
I trust Frakes’ instincts when it comes to Trek, but CBS/Paramount would NEVER approve him. He took a serious hit in the eyes of studios in the years following First Contact (remember “Clockstoppers” or “Thunderbirds?”). Unfortunately, he pretty much only does T.V. directing these days. Such are the unfair and narrow minds of studio execs.

IMDB tells me, in effect – Meh.

He’s doing Ant Man for late 2015. Abrams is actually more likely.

It would be insane not to have a 50th film. Director had better love Trek! On another topic, The MTV interview, JJ didn’t know Luke skywalkers home planet! And he’s my age! Seriously? That’s not even trivia. My husband, who hates sci fi, knew that.

OH GOD NO! Please not him! His resume does not fill me with confidence.

Much as I admire Edgar Wright as a director, I don’t think he would be the most stylistically appropriate choice for Trek 3. Not to say I doubt his range, but his films thus far have a very specific touch.

I’d actually like to see someone new step up to the plate. I’m not sure if Damon Lindeloff has any directorial aspirations, but his touch was certainly appreciated on Into Darkness. (Saw it last night.)

Nick Meyer??
Why not? The guy had scope and knows characters…

Stewart Baird guys, come on!!

Steven Spielberg directed a shot??? =0 Can he do that next movie??!1!

Nicholas Meyer would be PERFECT! The guy is a writer and director genius.

James Cameron is a trekker and has hinted at taking a shot of writing/directing a Trek movie but he has fallen so in love with his real-world science explorations i think his last films of his career will be Avatar 2 and 3 which will be released maybe 50 years from now.

David Fincher could fit since he has always flirted with idea of sci-fi with Rendezvous with Rama before walking away from the project at the last second. I get the sense Into Darkness is a set up for Khan in the next film which fits a Fincher style of directing thriller type.

I also wouldn’t mind Zack Snyder as director but writing would definitely have to be someone else.

@Glez (post #13) … +1,000!

I also watched an interview with Meyers (on YT) and he seems to still have a fire to write more high quality material for Trek. He mentioned he was a bit surprised (and you felt he was a tad disappoitned) they didn’t call him for tips for the 2009 film though.

I am thinking Into Darkness isn’t about Khan but is a prelude to the next film which is about Khan (played by Benicio Del Toro?) so you’d think they’d very much want Meyer’s input since he was the one who made the character iconic in American culture by writing and directing one of the best sci-fis in history.

God what i wouldn’t give to see Meyer write another Trek script and jump aboard directing it. Well one assured outcome is it will get universal critical acclaim by reviewers….Meyers and his love for character storytelling.

Can we just get a director who plays a scene as a reason in itself rather than JJ who plays it only as a reason to get to the next.

New writers too please.

Edgar Wright directed Hot Fuzz with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. This movie would have to be my all time favourite comedy movie. Whether or not he could do the next Star Trek film installment, I don’t know. However, if Hot Fuzz is anything to go by, he is no slouch as a director.

I don’t want Nick Meyers directing the next Star Trek. TWOK was good, but I did not like where he took Star Trek with TUC. Some of TUC was horrendous.

We all know the same thing was said a few years ago, then JJ DID make it to the chair again. I believe JJ will helm the chair for the 3rd movie. I bet a White Russian cocktail!

@17 BoingBoin

I won’t spoil anything for you except to say that your feeling about Into Darkness is… Well, off base.

Nick Meyer, I think, honestly makes the most sense for the 50th. He’s a respected and well established writer/director, and he’s given us two of the better Star Trek outings (one considered to be, arguably, the best.)

It would also, I think, allow for the adult elements to return to the big screen if he were to do it. He likes big things and developing very rich layers of themes into his stories. He’d be my ideal choice. The writing staff can remain the same, but you bring in Nick, and I think he’d shake things up in a good way. Everything old will be new again by this point, and he could perhaps cap this trilogy in such a way that the door opens for Trek to return to TV.

Maybe Shatner can direct.

Wright on his worst day (i.e., SCOTT PILGRIM) would be tons better than any of the AbramsBunch. Except for recent fascination with unnecessary lens flares, Wright really has the goods, in spades. You wouldn’t even need to have Seth Rogen for Harry Mudd to get good character comedy.

16, Fincher did not walk away from RAMA, it never came together. It is still being developed, 13 years later, and he still has not ruled out directing it, assuming they ever get the script right plus financing. Can’t imagine why he would bother with TREK though.

I can’t believe the people who continually suggest trodding out former Trek directors like Frakes or Meyer… Nick is a great guy (met him in Hollywood a couple of years ago), and loved his two installments (and his book). But seriously, he hasn’t helmed a big-budget Hollywood tentpole film–ever. Whomever is the next direct (assuming JJ doesn’t helm the project) will be from a younger crop of Hollywood “up-and-comers” as was JJ when he was picked to do the 2009 film. A theme in all of the recent reviews is the brilliance behind injecting new blood into a “tired” franchise. More new blood to come. Not one review has said, “this needed to be paced much slower, like ST: Undiscovered Country” or “what this film lacks is the Run Silent, Run Deep touch of Wrath of Khan”… for those of you who long to see a Nick Meyer directed film, I suggest breaking out your DVDs (or VHS tapes) of WOK & Undiscovered Country, and continue your enjoyment of living in the past.

i think a lot of people are unaware of how many scenes of a film are made up of the teamwork of the crew. First Assistant Director’s, Second Units and even DP’s (Director of Photography’s) contribute a tremendous amount in varying degrees to getting scenes in.
every film production is different and then there are also sometimes guest appearances on set and special circumstances; like Bryan Singer on set of Star Trek Nemesis and taking over a weeks direction of Lord of the Rings while Peter Jackson was violently ill. Singer Did Not go on to direct The Hobbit or Star Trek ’09

@24 Good catch, While I agree with new directors I never thought about the whole ‘new directors upcoming’ thing. Great point.

@25 Been saying that this whole time. Being in the video industry I appreciate all the behind the scenes stuff that happens to make a video segment (check out my latest project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YivJpZPJejw). I can only imagine the work it takes for a movie.

How can I find out info where Singer helped direct LOTR?

These films need a younger person directing them. Producing and directing STID was something of a learning curve for JJ Abrams because he preferred to make 2D movies, but the studio said they wanted the 3D version as well. I have no doubt that Paramount will demand the same quality and style for the next one.

Nick Meyer turned Starfleet into more of a military organization than I wanted. I didn’t like then or now. At the end of STID, Starfleet was not about militarization…

@27

What exactly did Nick do that added “militarism” into Star Trek that wasn’t already present in any of the original series episodes that dealt with war? Errand of Mercy, Kirk actually says “I’m a soldier, not a diplomat.”

In fact, aside from giving them a hint more of professionalism, Nick Meyer didn’t do anything that added more militarism into the series. It was the same old Star Trek it had been since the 60s. There are elements of the high seas and navy, but that was already there in large part thanks to Gene Roddenberry himself.

They’re on a space ship armed with weapons, patrolling the frontier of the federation, employing a navy like military structure with subordinates and superiors. What did Nick add to that, that wasn’t already in place to begin with? The answer, is nothing.

Nick Meyer would add considerable weight to a script and a story. They need to be calling him. Today. Right now in fact.
He can be on set at least, to advise, if not to Direct.
The last time Trek was in a mess he saved it. I’m sorry to say he’s needed again.

29, You can’t be on-set advising a director, no matter how badly he needs it. It doesn’t work that way.

Not only that, but no director worth his salt would inflict himself on somebody else’s show – and it would probably violate all tenets of the DGA agreements too (SUPERMAN 1 being the exception that proves the rule, and also shows how stupid the idea is.)

I don’t know that Meyer could be effective in this era … I don’t love what he did with TUC either. By way of comparison, however, Meyer’s stuff, even when he is not terribly cinematic, make Abrams look like a kid who hasn’t learned to use a tripod yet.

I guess the real test goes back to what Meyer said during TWOK: it wasn’t his job to give the audience what they wanted. It was to make them like what he gave them. Somehow Abrams passed that test with most of you (I’m guessing a lot of BOURNE and STAR WARS fans), so the rest of us are now stuck with what went before, since we find this seriously unpalatable.

I would like to see Nick Meyer.

Not sure how anyone can think the studio execs are just too narrow minded to give Frakes a chance when they also acknowledge his two total bombs.

Personally I think the writers should sit down with Nimoy and Shatner for a brainstorm then go to Nick Meyer and bring him in for story development with the current team.

Please don’t do The Wrath of Khans Mum for the next one though.

I would LOOOOVE to see that happen.

Edgar Wright is the shiznit.

Hot Fuzz is my favorite movie of the past 10 years and Shawn of the Dead is the best zombie movie…Scott Pilgrim proved he can direct special-effects heavy films and it too is a good film.

Does the slate show the movie’s production code name?

2009’s was “Corporate Headquarters.” Wright’s hand is covering it, but it looks like it might be “Project (something)” or “(something) Project.”

7) Clockstopers actually got pretty good reviews and did pretty good business at the box office.
As for Thunderbirds, universal exerterd a lot l of control over the movie, which is not Frakes fault

I guess I got the greater sense of militarism from the style and colour of the uniforms which became part of those TOS movies from TWOK onwards.

So now JJ Abrams get kicked for actually giving as many people as possible what they want and would like to see. Holy moly. That guy is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Let someone younger handle the directing if JJ abrams can’t make it back for the 2016 Star Trek film – Brad Bird, Edgar Wright, whoever…Nick Meyer didn’t necessarily “get” Star Trek anymore than JJ and co. or perhaps, the Supreme Court do “get” it?

I thought Thunderbirds was a good movie, based on the 1960s’ British *CHILDREN’s television series Thunderbirds, which used supermarionation puppetry. Great series!

*Why should adult viewers expect it to suddenly become anything other than a movie aimed at children any more than they should expect if of a Transformer movie?

@1: try to remember that the set of three Trek movies have to be consistent in tone, style, methodology, etc. Frakes can be a wonderful director, but his is a totally different directorial style. Therefore, the set of 3 movies would be grossly incongruous.

Now, if the reboot was rebooted, we can talk about changing styles.

@26. Snugglepuff:
Excellent video. did you put it all together as a producer i mean? or are you the creative talent? Fantastic either way.

The Bryan Singer info i watched on a monthly video blog leading up to Superman Returns 2006 release. All those video journals are found on the Special Edition DVD and Superman Box sets that includes all the films made from 1951 to 2006.
my guess is AICN or Superhero Hype may have Archives dating back to when Singer aided Jackson. Google may be your best friend in locating that story.

With you Chris Fawkes (@31)

Nick Meyer to direct and bring back Shatner (one last time)

On a side note, whoever gets to direct the next movie (hopefully in 2016) please, please, please any chance of seeing a vertical intermix chamber in a properly designed engineering set!

Whilst you are at it give Andy Probert a call (see above note about engineering)

One shot? Ok. Cool I guess.

But I have to admit, I love Edgar Wright. He’s such a good director and I think his style would suit JJ’s Trek. Both are fast paced directors. If Wright was involved, I’d be happy :)

Leonard Nimoy!

#33

The production title was “Project HH”. No idea what it means tho! Lol.

Since seeing Star Trek Into Darkness at the midnight premiere two days ago here in London, I’ve been a bit pre-occupied with worrying with what’s going to happen to Trek XIII (because I so loved STID!), as Abrams will not be directing it…

My biggest fear is that they get an “ok” director, not a great one who understands the Reboot material and the old universe as Abrams and his creative team, I’m convinced, really do. And if we have an ok director (like, say, Chris Columbus, who is good at kiddie-action flicks like HP but not space opera), it could really turn the third movie into mediocrity… And that would be *such* a disappointment after the creative and box office success of these first two Reboots… I would HATE that and be so disappointed, as I think we all would be!

So I’ve been thinking a lot about who I’d want to direct and have gone through a haphazard list in my head over the last few days of Hollywood’s successful directors: first realizing that I think it should be a young-ish director or someone at least with a ‘youthful’ style (meanings 40s or under), which throws out old hands like Speilberg, and *not* someone who’s an ‘auteur’ director in the sense that they bring too much of their own artistic sensibility to the thing, though these people can be amazing, so that throws out otherwise wonderful people like Baz Luhrmann, Tarantino, Ang Lee, Guillermo del Toro, etc., and finally, I don’t want it to be someone who can clunkily (but efficiently) direct a Hollywood franchise summer blockbuster, as it would be a mistake to understand Trek as just another superhero/action adventure flick, so that throws out people like Gore Verbinski (PotC) and James Cameron…

…this leaves, I just realized, someone wonderful who I would LOVE to direct the third Reboot film: Bryan Singer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Singer

Singer directed that first wonderful, subtle X-Men movie in 2000, as well as the much-acclaimed The Usual Suspects, which is brilliant, as well as Superman Returns, among other things. And he’s a self-proclaimed Trek fan to boot, so much so that they let him suit up as an extra for Nemesis several years ago… So he ticks a lot of boxes for what I think is required to replace JJ: young, dynamic up-and-coming director, understands the material but also how it needs to be made ’21st century’ (a la X-Men), places dynamics between characters and their development front and center (both X-Men and Usual Suspects), and understands science fiction/space operas and the action adventure genre.

What do people here think???

Peter Jackson gets my vote.

If Edgar Wright does direct, then I say we have Nick Frost as Harry Mudd ;-)

10, JJ did not know what NCC stands for in the comments with the 2009 DVD. Neither did Orci. Really? Then again, which of us Trek nerds could make a movie? I still think Abrams is a better fit for Star Wars, and he probably would admit that.

Who ever did iron man 3 could be a good fit

45. Timncc1701 – May 10, 2013

Oh COME ON!!!! HE didn’t know what NCC stood for?!?!?!?

Uhm….so what does NCC stand for?

#47. LogicalLeopard – May 10, 2013

According to old startrek.com article:

http://web.archive.org/web/20100621024418/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/120394.html

”Jefferies also elaborated on how he decided to use “NCC” as the prefix for the registry numbers of Starfleet ships. He said that American civil aircraft have their registry numbers preceded by “NC,” and Soviet craft used a prefix of “CCCC,” so he more-or-less combined the two. His philosophy was, “If we do anything in space, we (Americans and Russians) have to do it together.” ” – ‘Report: Visual Effects Magic Not Always High-Tech’, 07.06.2001, startrek.com

It stands fot US and USSR having to work together in space.

#48. Disinvited – May 10, 2013

“fot” should be “for”

27. Keachick

“At the end of STID, Starfleet was not about militarization”. Why then does almost every poster and clip from STID feature weaponry? lol.