As the talk about the possible 4th installment of the Star Trek Reboot series continued, Paramount pictures and Skydance Media have run into a huge asteroid possibly blocking their path. Negotiations with their two Captains Kirks have stalled. Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth at this time are no longer “boldly going where no person has gone before.”
The two actors were in talks with the companies about making the new installment but their possible agreements have fallen apart, with both sides walking away from the table.
With the two box office draws not signed, possible deals with other returning castmembers — including Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg and John Cho — may be put on hold as well while cast decisions are made.
Pine was expected to reprise his role as the iconic Captain Kirk while Hemsworth was to have played his father in a time-traveling adventure just like he did in the 2009 movie that started this series
The issues that have delayed the agreement are consistent with most contract negotiations: money. Pine and Hemsworth are said to be asking the studios to stick to their existing deals. Paramount contends that Trek has not performed at the box office like a Marvel or Star Wars movie thus has to hold to their designated budget.
The actors insist they have deals in place and that the studios are reneging on them. They see Paramount as forcing them to take pay cuts as they try to budget a movie that is following a previous movie that under performed.
The studio, however, is basing its budget tough talk on the films past performance numbers. Star Trek Beyond, for example, only grossed $343 million worldwide on a budget of $190 million.
So where do they go from here? They could recast Kirk and his father which fans would probably object to or the two sides could come back to the bargaining table.
Either way, Paramount and Skydance insiders say the movie remains a priority and will not be put on hold. The project would be the first time in the franchise history, that a female director, S. J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones, Succession), is sitting in the captain’s chair.
Would the loss of Pine and Hemsworth be a deal breaker in your acceptance of the next Star Trek film? Let us know at GVNation.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
