Last week Paramount finally acknowledged that the sequel to the 2009 Star Trek movie has been delayed. Paramount did not set a new release date and now co-writer/producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman say the schedule is still up in the air, but they are already working as fast as they can.
Orci & Kurtzman: Star Trek schedule still being developed
Star Trek sequel co-writer/producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman did an interview with AICN’s Mr. Beaks about Cowboys & Aliens (in theaters now), but of course talk also turned to Trek. Last week the pair said they were hoping to see the film start shooting in January, but in this new interview they noted that the production start date (and the release date) aren’t set yet. Here is an excerpt:
Beaks: So you guys are gunning for a January production start date?
Kurtzman: We’re still in open conversation.
Orci: I’ve heard so many things mentioned, but we have so much… it’s a matter of someone putting the date on paper and saying, "We’re starting."
Kurtzman: We’re in the process already. A date at this point wouldn’t make us move any faster. We’re already in it.…
Beaks: Rushing for a date always feels like a bad idea.
Kurtzman: It can be a very bad idea. Especially on TREK…
Orci: It’s just so effects-heavy. You go, "Oh, we only need so many weeks for ILM to [finish] that." Then you get there, and you’re like, "Oh, maybe we didn’t give them enough time…"
Kurtzman: You just don’t want to do that, especially on a movie that we all love so much and has high expectations.
Orci: Rushing means more expensive, and that’s a question for our benefactors, who have to decide how bad they want it in terms of that kind of stuff. You can finish stuff [quickly], but it means more people working simultaneously. So those are, in a way, production things that aren’t just based on time.
As noted previously on TrekMovie.com, Paramount are mulling two options to release the Star Trek sequel: holiday 2012 or summer 2013. Typically this kind of film would have around a year or more for production and post-production, but other tentpole films have sufficed with less.
Star Trek team still working out when the sequel will pull out of space dock
More from Orci & Kurtzman at AICN
Starting to think they’ll miss 2013 at this rate….
I have just resigned myself to the fact it will be here when it gets here, good or bad.
No need to rush. Just do a stellar job. “Stellar” — get it? ;-)
i would rather have a good film so more will be made
The more I read of these updates on this sequel, the more I feel this thing is going to be put off until mid or late 2013. These on-going delays, uncertainty to the script, and no real commitment to getting this film out in a reasonable time frame (2-3 years) makes me feel as if this team is not really focused on ST but rather it’s a second tier (or third tier) project to them…real shame they have now lost the momentum of the their first film. Very disappointing to say the least.
I think the time has come to just put James Cawley in charge of the damn thing, instead of these prima donnas.
Why are writers worried about studio release schedules and effect-house turntime, and marketing concerns? Are they wearing their Writer hats? Or their Producer hats? Or their Friends of JJ hats? Or their “Supreme Court” hats? This is why the Bad Robot projects are so mediocre. All Chiefs, no Indians. Jacks of All Trades, Masters of None.
Act like WRITERS, close the door, and get typing, boys!
It’s nice for me to hear there in the thick of it,makes me feel better about the whole thing. I want it to be good,I want ’em to take the time they need,i just kinda wish they had taken that time before now so we could all be talking about when it was coming out and getting ready for that. But,oh well;I have loved Super 8 and Cowboys & Aliens,so,I know they are doing their best at this,I’ll be waiting with a :) !
I’m no longer expecting great things from them.
#7 & 9 – totally agree!
I wouldn’t count on it being finished in this decade.
Disappointing really.
:(
They should slow down. If they wait long enough, it can be set in the 23rd century and be a topical current events movie.
Rushing? Rushing? Rushing?
You’ve got to be fracking kidding me?
This is the worst “in your face” insult to the fans yet?
Rushing?????????
How is it 2 years after the first movie with only an outline ready is RUSHING a danger for this group?
“Kurtzman: We’re in the process already. A date at this point wouldn’t make us move any faster. We’re already in it.”
I disagree completely. This is an insult to our intelligence as fans. A date is exactly what is needed to get these procrastinators off the dime.
Memo to Orci and Kurtzman — I don’t want to he any more whining every about RUSHING. You are already a year behind schedule.
“Orci: I’ve heard so many things mentioned, but we have so much… it’s a matter of someone putting the date on paper and saying, “We’re starting.”
We’re starting??? Bob, you told us August that the script would be done by December, then you told us in January it would be done by March, and then you mentioned in February that you were having off-site hotel sessions to work on the script……will all due respect, What The F*ck??? Bro, this strains all matter of credibility at this point — I am really losing in faith in the sequel now.
Memo to Paramount Exec: Please open up a can of the old-school exec can of whoop-ass that we used to hate, but now appreciate. These guys absolutely need a deadline to work from at this point.
Rushing indeed….sheesh, I’ve heard it all now. And what really gets me is the arrogance to come our and complain about rushing at this point? Scotty, please beam me out of this post….
You know, there’s the whole ‘not wanting to rush it’ thing but the longer this gets batted around and delayed the less confident I feel about it. It makes me think that they keep pushing it to the side in favor of other things. It also makes me think that maybe they’re not as confident about the story as they make it seem and really dont know what to do with it. I mean, by the time the cast gets to actually filming this thing, they’ll all be older than it was originally planned. I wonder if thats being taken into consideration. Plus a lot of them are all involved in other projects which they cant forever put on hold to wait for Trek to come back. Must be nice. In my job we’d get in serious trouble if we missed our deadlines and delayed a project that long…
Hire Hans Zimmer for the sequels Music Score.
I am quite content to wait.
Ok…. Tired of this. They blew it we all know it. Any good press and momentum for Star Trek has been killed. I am a die hard Trek fan and pretty much have had it. Who cares… Abrams you suck and glad to see you spent all the time on a crappy movie and stalled out a franchise. Someone at Paramount should kick your ___!!!
@15. Sure, Lazarus, whatever you say.
Give’r all you got, Orci!!
@18 “All (he’s) got isn’t good enough. What else have you got?”
Paramount should just come out and announce that the sequel will be hitting theatres in summer 2013. And make it the FINAL deadline. At some point, it has to get done, and the next year and a half will be ample time, unless they can’t come up with a plot, in which case the sequel will be scrapped with the franchise put back into hibernation.
The writers don’t have to “rush” the script. They just need to make progress quicker than a snail’s pace.
I think it’s pretty clear though, that Chris Pine will be filming the Jack Ryan movie before returning as Captain Kirk, and that film has gone through a major rewrite!
Do you smell what the L-O-K is cooking?
You know what, I don’t really want to hear any more “updates” from Orci & Kurtzman until they actually start shooting the movie.
22 I am with you on that, If they stop with the “Updates” ill stop with my complaining about the postponement.
keep bringing it up every other day/week though and of course its going to make me/others complain.
rather than “UPDATE”, just work on the thing and give an update when you really have an update.
then you dont have to back peddle through comments made previously about “well announce news soon etc”
6 as much as i dislike his vision of Trek, Cawley atleast can get his vision on paper and infront of a camera alot faster than 2 and half years.
and on a shoestring budget at that.
How come the people who keep announcing they’re leaving never actually leave? I am very, very disappointed in you. Talk about getting our hopes up for nothing.
I agree with #12 MJ. Seriously, over 2 years since first movie, and they haven’t even started the script. Just keep pushing the date back.
I mean, come on! What are they all doing?! Just get started!!
Wow. What’s the big deal? They’ll get it done eventually. I don’t understand why people get so upset over it. I wouldn’t mind waiting another year or two or three as long as its good.
Chill, people. For reallsies.
Get cracking boys! We’re rapidly approaching the 23 century, you dont want this movie to wind up being a documentary do ya? :]
Hmmm . I would get working on this ASAP. Otherwise, I am really afraid this “Supreme Court” will be renamed “The people who killed Star Trek”.
There’s that word ‘rushing’ again!
Bob, rushing it would have been if you’d started on the second one two days after the first one opened. What you’ve done is ‘taken your time’.
“As noted previously on TrekMovie.com, Paramount are mulling two options to release the Star Trek sequel: holiday 2012 or summer 2013.”
I really doubt, that Paramount is seriously mulling the first option. The movie will never be ready by then and don’t forget time for promotion. I bet we won’t get the movie sooner than summer 2013. I won’t be surprise, if it will be even holiday 2013.
I hope that the producers/writers are 100 % committed on bringing the third movie in the cinemas in 2015, and if not that Paramount will get new people for the third movie. I don’t want another 4 years pause!
#12. “Scotty, please beam me out of this post….”
..no Scotty, please beam him out of this thread! lol MJ has, without a doubt, supplanted Captain Neil…whom I must say, has shown respectable restraint of late, for posting the same things over and over and over…and over. yes, you hate Shatner…we know…and yes, you’re pissed about JJ and the writers for having a career outside of the Trek franchise. We get it! ok? WE GET IT. Give it a rest, man. we know you’re passionate about the sequel and it’s delays, but good Lord, don’t you have anything ELSE to say?? the sequel is a long LONG time away…that’s painful enough without your endless speculative commentary as to why things are dragging.
There’s only one good response to these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCc-RWIp7XU
#14 – On the contrary, please keep Zimmer and Remote Control as far as possible from these films!
it will be out when it is out. to try and get them to move faster would be illogicle.
Given a choice of getting it done fast or done right, I’d pick done right any day.
I am kind of disappointed that the Trek appears to be a low priority in the grand scheme of things.
At least Leo Roberts and the fan production Star Trek Phoenix are hard at work putting together a new fan episode (Their first episode was amazing). At this rate, I bet Phoenix will be ready and beat out JJ by a light year!
@32. Well, fine, I get you as well, Jonboc. You have made a habbit of posting complaints about me before. I plead guilty about being very passionate about Trek isssues that I care about. In contrast though, let me make an objective assessment here about where you are coming from — you seem more passionate about taking me down a peg or embarrassing me on these boards then you do about discussing Trek topics?
Jonboc, please address the issue at hand — I would like to hear what you think about this? Doesn’t it bother you in the slightest that the latest interview from these guys has them complaining about RUSHING? Don’t you find that utterly ridiculous? It is upsetting to me and to many fans…so sue me I guess…I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone who may perhaps sensitive my opinion on this topic.
I will grant you that I am a bit nuts on the Shat issue (which I will not be addressing anymore per Anthony’s warning to me), but on this issue of the continued delays, and now the whining and excuses from the writing team — well, it looks here from these posts that at least 2/3 of the people here agree with me on this. I do think that I have valid points on this issue!
Seems to me Paramount is trying to hedge their bets – hoping against hope they can hit Christmas 2012, but realistically betting on Summer 2013.
First time I’ve heard from any of the new Trek Supreme Court that sounds like they’re *truly* starting to feel some heat about getting things moving.
Don’t get me wrong, folks. I still love Trek 09, and I love the creativity and talent that the Supreme Court brings to Trek. But I think we all realize now that time management skills, multitasking, decisiveness in decision-making, and communications with us fans are not exactly their strong points. :-)
#6 – “Why are writers worried about studio release schedules and effect-house turntime, and marketing concerns? Are they wearing their Writer hats? Or their Producer hats? Or their Friends of JJ hats? Or their “Supreme Court” hats? This is why the Bad Robot projects are so mediocre. All Chiefs, no Indians. Jacks of All Trades, Masters of None.”
Really? Well, these guys are also the producers and they are writing. They said so. Some people are never satisfied, it seems. They are giving us an overview, in basic terms, of what needs to be considered when writing for a movie. How is that wrong?
This is how I understand it…This is an example only.
– In the story there is a battle between the Enterprise and other ships, shall we say Klingons. How do they tell or show this?
One way is to write a script that shows the entire battle scene – lots of explosions and casualties and Kirk being seen actually making important command decisions which could cause the Enterprise and crew to either win or lose the battle. Some very intense and dramatic scenes would be shown to us as the audience on the big cinema screen, possibly in 3D.
Another way is for the audience to shown a little of the aftermath (Enterprise wins, of course) with a scene showing Kirk talking to Admiral Pike in his “ready” room or private quarters, reporting what had just happened, giving casualty figures and present status of the Enterprise – like whether it has warp drive or not, how much damage…stuff like that.
It is a no-brainer to work which would be the easier and cheaper option – clearly the second. The first option would require more time and money to do – in terms of acting, models, CGI, FX, post-production, all that fancy technical stuff that ILM etc are right into.
However, the question has to be asked as to how important the battle is to the overall plot/story line, ie, can skilful writing, where the entire battle scene is done, show good character development and interaction as they face an enemy? Could the audience learn a lot more about who are on those other ships, eg Klingons, that might be essential to a better understanding of the overall story?
Or would showing the entire battle just be scenes to gratify people who get off on seeing big explosions, injury and death, ships being damaged and destroyed, with, not least, lots of noise and loud menacing music, with little or nothing more learned of significance by the audience at large?
I am not saying that a battle scene or fight should not be in the film. It is really a question of (dramatic) relevance. The same could also be said of a romantic liaison or showing Kirk shooting hoops in the Rec. room.
Curiously, a good romantic love scene would require far less money and post-production time, but perhaps may require greater genuine acting skills by those playing the characters involved. If done well, it could be a beautiful, inspiring and uplifting scene.
@ 12, 32
I think it’s okay for MJ or Captain Neil to repeat their arguments if it’s relevant to the conversation. Not everyone here is a regular. And if you read MJ’s complaints, he uses the multiple stories that have been told about the progress of Star Trek (2013) to support his argument.. I mean I remember that the script was going to be done in March. Then we were told the writers were hunkering down in a hotel to finish it. Now we know there is no complete script but an extensive outline. I’m not a filmmaker but I ‘m going to guess that it’s hard to make a movie with just an outline.
MJ is staunch supporter of the Supreme Court. And frankly I think he has a right to be unhappy about the delay. I think we’re all gratefull for Bob Orci. He’s been very kind to listen to our complaints, compliments and jokes. However, it’s logical that the delay would disappoint Trekkers. And the worse thing that could happen to any franchise, entertainment or sport is apathy. Paramount should announce the new date for Star Trek asap. And let’s face it, summer 2013 is the logical choice. It’s a completely open period for a tentpole film.
Meanwhile, I’m catching up with Star Trek: Enterprise. Hey the Xindi have some non-humanoid aliens. Cool. Strange new life forms.
I’ve decided these two writers aren’t as talented as one would be led to believe….
The truth is, they have NO CLUE how to write the sequel, and that’s why they keep stalling over and over again.
Some of the garbage they’ve churned out in the past 4 years w Transformers , Cowboys and Aliens, etc, doesn’t qualify them as GREAT writers… but they’ve figured out a good formula to make studios happy..
These guys could have had a draft written a year ago if they knew what the heck they were doing… but they don’t! Paramount needs to start asking questions and decide on replacements…
Heck, even I’ve now lost interest in the sequel because it’s been so long, and I do consider myself a die-hard fan.. instead I’m finding that revisiting the original movies is a lot more fun than waiting on these two clowns to come up with something “original” on their own…
@42 “MJ is staunch supporter of the Supreme Court. And frankly I think he has a right to be unhappy about the delay. I think we’re all gratefull for Bob Orci. He’s been very kind to listen to our complaints, compliments and jokes. However, it’s logical that the delay would disappoint Trekkers. And the worse thing that could happen to any franchise, entertainment or sport is apathy. Paramount should announce the new date for Star Trek asap. And let’s face it, summer 2013 is the logical choice. It’s a completely open period for a tentpole film.”
Thanks BB! I do think thought that it is time I took a few days off from this topic as some folks seem to be getting upset in my opinions in a way that was not intended by me. To me, Trek fans should be upset with the content of this article today, but obviously that is not the case…IDIC.
43. And we’ll all still be catching the damned thing in theatres (or downloading it illegally to prove a point – “I’ll show you guys for taking your time!”)
I get the being frustrated — but all this ‘they’re not talented, they don’t respect Trek, they’ve let us down, how hard could it be to write a script, I hope their other projects tank’ stuff is, well, lame.
And, alas, Keachick, I’m still hoping for minimal romance in this thing… but that just may be a reflection of my cold, dead heart.
Oh, and just to fit in here with a nasty comment — I’m hoping for more imaginative art direction than seen in Cowboys and Aliens.
(ps. Adam Beach for Trek sequel)
I would have loved to see the sequel next summer but at least we have the dark knight rises, the avengers and the amazing spiderman to hold us until the star trek sequel. The comics and the upcoming video game will have to hold us until whenever ST2 Destroyer of Worlds comes out in 2013, you can have that title boborci as long as you invite tremovie.com regular posters positive or negative to see a sneak peak showing of ST2 in 2013
Btw I do feel jealous that harry potter films comes out every year or two
@43 “These guys could have had a draft written a year ago if they knew what the heck they were doing… but they don’t! Paramount needs to start asking questions and decide on replacements…”
One easy solution might be to turn what Orci/Kurtzman have so far over to Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, and let them move forward with completing the script. (Yes I know Lindelof is part of the current writing team, but notice how we don’t hear from him much — perhaps the hold-up and perhaps the writers block is coming from central main writers, Orci and Kurtzman — yes, this in conjecture — I admit freely it is conjecture — therefore please don’t say I am claiming this as a fact).
Damon and Carlton have a history of more sophisticated scifi screenplay writing in my opinion, versus the Orci/Kurtzman team, and it might bring a fresh perspective and improved productivity to this long delayed activity.
there’s a harsh orci bashing over at aicn for his cowboys vs aliens and about his writing skills in general. i guess it’s normal at aicn, right?