Simon Pegg: JJ Abrams Voice Will Be ‘All Over’ Next Star Trek Movie

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Today has another update on the next Star Trek movie from one of the stars. This time Simon Pegg is talking about JJ Abrams involvement in the film.

Pegg Talks Abrams and Next Star Trek Movie

Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness director JJ Abrams is currently busy shooting Star Wars: Episode VII, however he will still be producing the next Star Trek film (with writer Roberto Orci stepping in to the director’s chair). And in a new interview with ComingSoon.net, Simon Pegg (who was promoting Hector and the Search for Happiness at the Toronto International Film Festival last week) is sure that JJ will still be very much involved with Trek, saying:

I was worried [about Abrams moving from Star Trek to Star Wars] at first. I was in a movie theater and I got an Email that he was doing it and I immediately called him and said, ‘You’re not doing Star Wars now? You’re going to abandon us like the older slightly less-cool sibling?’ and he was like, ‘Of course not.’ That was just sort of the knee-jerk reaction, because we all felt like, ‘Oh, no! Daddy!’ but J.J.’s incapable of doing that. He will be very present even if he’s not directing ‘Star Trek,’ his voice and his stamp will be all over it.

Pegg was also asked about when he thinks the next film will begin shooting, saying something similar to what Quinto said yesterday on the Today show.

[We will start shooting Star Trek] next year…That is what I have been told. Please don’t take this as Paramount’s official line, but if we do make it next year and it goes by the usual standard of post-production, we should get it out for the 50th anniversary.

You can watch Pegg talk about Star Trek, Star Wars (and mostly Hector and the Search for Happiness) at ComingSoon.net or below.

Thanks to John for the tip.

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Nice to hear Pegg acknowledge the 50th anniversary.

I think the movie would be better with less input from Abrams. Orci’s scripts always look better before J.J. adds all the stuff he thinks would be neat that has no place in a Star Trek movie.

Orci is a trekkie. Abrams isn’t.

Orci should get his shot.

“Orci’s scripts always look better before J.J. adds all the stuff he thinks would be neat that has no place in a Star Trek movie.”

And you know this because…?

Orci had STID ready to go WITHOUT Khan. Orci did not insist it be Khan after Bardem wasn’t available. He was perfectly prepared to go forward with Ericsson or one of the other Botanists. (We should have called them Botanists all those years ago… rather than Augments.) We know this, because Bob told us he was not the member of the Supreme Court pushing for Khan. He was outvoted. Yet, like Cassandra, he was correct in retrospect. Had Cumberbatch not been Khan, the movie might have held up under scrutiny just a bit more. Although, there’s always the chance Orci has an ace up his sleeve in retconning quite a few things in Movie Three.

“his voice and his stamp will be all over it.”

Is JJ going to sing in the next movie ? :)

“his voice and his stamp will be all over it.”

No, no singing…just more biologically deranged alien creatures…sigh… William Bell has a great big zoo full of them…one or two get trotted out per movie…:( …:)

I wouldn’t cry if he were to abandon Trek entirely. Many of the things JJ has pushed for have unfortunately been to the detriment of the spirit of social justice so integral to Trek. He’ll do fine with Star Wars, which has a pulpier and more old-fashioned aesthetic and is what he should have been doing from the beginning.

Star Trek was his demo-reel for getting the Star Wars gig. I really like JJ’s work and I can’t wait for Star Wars VI, but this is Orci’s baby now so I hope JJ lets Bob do his own thing.

I read all of that and all I could think was how annoying it is when ***holes keep their phone on in the cinema. For shame, Simon. :-)

#9 – “Many of the things JJ has pushed for have unfortunately been to the detriment of the spirit of social justice so integral to Trek.”

What on earth are you talking about? How has anything that JJ has supposedly pushed for been to the detriment of the spirit of social justice?

I know you guys have to do these “actor answers question he doesn’t know the answer to by talking out of his behind” stories because they’re out there, but they drive me a little nuts.

# 5. BatlethInTheGroin – September 16, 2014

Most likely because JJ’s 2009 effort script was nominated for a WGA for the screenwriters and there was a writer’s strike during shooting which prevented JJ from actually changing the script itself which the WGA put up for its voting members to consider, and copies of that are readily found on the internet? Thus all one has to do is compare the script versus what JJ shot and cut. Anything in the film but not in the script would be all JJ.

They should involve Many Coto within.
He made some of the beste Trek episodes.
I think his creativity will help to make it as an origin Star Trek movie, not an Enterprise in Star Wars unierse…

” He will be very present even if he’s not directing ‘Star Trek,’ his voice and his stamp will be all over it.”

You say that, Mr. Pegg, like it’s a good thing.

I’d be the last to deny that Abrams has talent, but on the evidence if the two films he’s made so far it’s difficult for me believe he understands Trek at all, even down to the way things (e.g. the Enterprise) should look. Nick Meyer didn’t much get it either, but at least he saw how the show’s template could be used to construct a larger narrative about friendship, coming to grips with one’s mortality, and rebirth. All Abrams seems to want to do is play with his mystery box and amuse audiences with pretty sleight-of-hand. His choice, of course, but from where I’m sitting it seems like just another way to make his employers even richer, and an enormous waste of time and energy.

Orci being a trekkie director will be great for Star Trek 3. Abrams being involved is a good thing so that theres balance. I personally dont want the next feel to appeal only to trekkies, or the film will fail. Pure fact. Trekkies alone cant hold up a big budget film.

I like old Trek and I like new Trek.
The only Trek I have a problem with is the latter-day Berman years.

The Next Gen movies lost the way after FC and I could never really fully get into Enterprise, even though I thought the actors were great.

The reboot was just what Trek needed and I agree with the direction JJ and co. have gone in. I actually came out of the cinema from seeing STID and said to my wife that I had day-dreams of seeing a Star Trek film with that level of action, emotion and drama when I was a kid. Yeah, I disagreed with Spock shouting ‘KHAN’ but everything else was 100% awesome.

Was it a perfect film? Maybe not. Was it a perfect Trek film? Damn near perfect for me.

One of the best things in the new films, as far as I’m concerned, is the almost complete removal of that bloody awful techno-babble that Next Gen had. I can’t stand it. So glad these new films have removed that.

I’m looking forward to seeing the third film and seeing what they come up with.

TS

Please take the script of new star trek far far far away from JJ. Enough of JJ screwing up star trek, he could be better and good director but certainly not for star trek.

He is good at gimmicks and lens flare that could augur well for Star wars not for Trek….
Star Trek is “science” and Star wars is “Fun” ride..don’t mix up the two…

As always, hoping for the best. And waiting…

it had be read as they had the time

So, JJ will be working on Wars and Trek at the same time? I just hope he doesn’t get them confused. I wouldn’t want to see Spock use the force to grab a light-bat’leth so that he could defeat Darth Mudd. Oh, who am I kidding-of course I’d love to see that.

I am not Worried at all! Orci will do a Great One. Even the Reduced Budget doesn’t worry me, at all!

@Keachick

I am hurrying and don’t have time to answer properly, but I will be back later. ‘Til then, let me say this: Star Trek had its issues but was progressive for the 1960s in the areas of feminism and race. It took up American social justice causes for women and people of colour of the time, in both blatant and subtle ways and with varying degrees of success, and broadcast those ideas into the living rooms of America. Those conversations are still at the forefront of our social consciousness today, and JJ has in general refused to engage in them with his Trek movies (note that I’m not talking about the political/war element of STID, which is a different matter), and has contributed some ideas and made some decisions that have been downright archaic and even actively offensive to many people.

Does it mean that JJ will be the voice of the computer on The Enterprise? :P

Abrams famously left LOST to Lindelof as MI:3 stole him away. I also remember, whilst working on LOST, expressing regret he was unable to maintain presence in ALIAS. I

You say that, like it’s a good thing, mr. Pegg.

In my opinion Star Trek needs more soul, which means less Abrams.

I would really like to see Shatner in the new movie. Maybe even as his evil parallel universe Kirk.

Great. Now, can we lose the Apple Store bridge & the ‘overweight’ nacelles?

I am really excited about this movie! This will be the last film involving this production and writing team. It may be the last one with this cast. I hope it will be as big as a send off as James Bond’s Skyfall was for their anniversary.

Lets all warm the Vaseline this time and hope it don’t hurt as much.

Sorry folks, while some of you newbies look forward to the next money making train wreck,it just saddens me that Paramount continues having this collection of hacks in charge of the once great franchise.

Something turely intelligent and completely original would still be a pleasent surprise for us all…but I wouldn’t count on that.

Yay! More lens flares!

Star Trek hadn’t had anything to say for years. The later spinoffs were among the most vapid and empty television being made at that time.

33-That is arguably true for Voyager, but DS9 and Enterprise both had plenty to say. More about war and politics than about social issues, but they touched on pretty much everything.

Enterprise taught us that if ratings are bad, have a war. But just having a war is not the same as commenting on war. STID was very clear about what it was commenting on and it did not take the safe and already resolved issues that the spinoffs were known for doing.

Don’t hate that gender neutral, everybody. That would be wrong.

yeah, yeah, talk is cheap… it’s all meaningless assumption / promotion…

JJ / boborci need to be producing for Disney’s theme park rides…

THAT is what they are good at: “exciting moments” (barf) =P

# 35. Leon – September 17, 2014

” Enterprise taught us that if ratings are bad, have a war.” — Leon

Actually, I believe history shows a little Corsican named Napoleon taught the fascists, and the producers learned from that.

#31 “Sorry folks, while some of you newbies look forward to the next money making train wreck,it just saddens me that Paramount continues having this collection of hacks in charge of the once great franchise. ”

Oh well, sucks to be you! lol Can’t wait for the next movie…going to be a great 50th anniversary!

33 “Star Trek hadn’t had anything to say for years. The later spinoffs were among the most vapid and empty television being made at that time.”

Truth!! In fact, I’d toss the majority of TNG on top of that sorry lot as well!

As long as we get more of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2cdXv93cRY

Star Trek 3.0: The Search for Tranya

#35

Then you must not have watched DS9 or Enterprise all the way through. They had wars and they commented on them. Plenty, especially with the former.

I’ll agree though Voyager wasted a lot of opportunities on cheap theatrics, much like the last… four or five Trek movies.

Still nothing to see here. Move along.

Oh, and a correction: Star Trek is science FICTION. Not science. Try not to confuse the two.

“One of the best things in the new films, as far as I’m concerned, is the almost complete removal of that bloody awful techno-babble that Next Gen had. I can’t stand it. So glad these new films have removed that.”

Agreed! And despite my negativity, I’m looking forward to it too. STID wasn’t terrible — but it felt like it had a by-committee (even the best reviews pointed out that some story elements didn’t make sense and that it depended heavily on past Trek).

Everybody likes to blame Lindelof but I’m not so sure. His rewrite of World War Z replaced the standard CGI epic big bad final battle with a pretty awesome, intimate, suspenseful scene. And The Leftovers is decent so far.

I’m watching TOS from start to finish this month and I haven’t seen a single episode yet that was specifically about peaceful exploration, which everybody on here always says Trek is about. There were threats and conflicts and fired weapons and explosions. Heck, if the show had been about peaceful exploration, where would the whole doomed redshirt meme have come from.

Please JJ, just go get your kicks with Star Wars and leave Trek alone.

I hope Pegg gets minimal screentime he was annoying in STID & the weakest cast member in both movies to me. OTT hysterical acting which does not work.

Orci is not confimed as director either so there is still hope that Paramount can hire a real director.

Happy to have J.J. on board. Happier to get the next movie for 2016!

#24 – “and JJ has in general refused to engage in them with his Trek movies”

Once again, someone speaking about what another apparently refused to do. ‘Refused’ has a premeditated quality about it. No one here can know that.

There are only so many themes that a two hour movie can relate, discuss, intimate. Yes, unfortunately, the main theme of STID was one of revenge seeking and warmongering – both topical in today’s world.

Certainly, I would prefer that these Star Treks focus on other topics and themes but given the power and influence of the industrial/military corporate complex, especially within the US, it is difficult for Hollywood to get past making some film that does not involve outright war or threat of such. This is more so when the movies have bigger budgets. Even fan films can’t/won’t do stories that don’t involve war…
(Alec Peters – don’t bs me, you can get away with it with others, it seems, but not with me)

I did not see anything that was anti-woman and/or racially prejudiced in either of these two films. Despite GR’s supposed idea of bringing to the public’s attention issues like sexual discrimination etc., of the seven main characters of TOS, only one was a woman. This is the reality that the BR makers have to contend with, as do we.

Because Lt Uhura was a communications officer (with xenolinguistic knowledge), it was easy/natural to have this alt. Uhura play a more prominent position than she was given in the TOS series. Knowledge of xenolinguistics and communications are very important, especially where the Enterprise is going into completely uncharted territory or areas where only the most basic exploration and contact has taken place…

This is a big step forward when it comes to acknowledging Lt Uhura as a woman of intellect, ability and courage, but where she is still allowed to be woman and all that can mean in the most positive of ways.
Lt Uhura had no reason to ask Kirk how he was, as in was he alright, as they were walking down the corridor to the lift. That was Uhura showing kindness and concern from one human being for another who had just lost his captain and mentor, someone who had become like a father to Kirk in the absence of his own deceased father (George Kirk). She knew that things were especially hard for Jim Kirk then and wanted to know and to let him know as well…

Loving it guys. Keep it coming…

#14 Disinvited. Good point you raise about the WGA script issue. Some folks might want to see it, particularly for the original Spock birth scene that originally started the film. Honestly, going full Kelvin as a prologue was better. F***ing better, in the words the script uses way too often. F888ing exciting! F888ing this, f888ing that.

I never doubted JJ’s Hands-on involvement in the next movie. He’s a master at multi-tasking and the world is a much smaller place these days. He also has much invested. Technology will make it very easy to interact with everyone involved on Trek, including Bob and we will all be better for it.

@2. Mr Mike

Agreed.

My prediction is that we will ALL be very please with bob orci’s Trek production.