The creative team behind Star Trek – this year’s standout hit and a reinvention of the beloved science fiction franchise – are actively discussing aspects of the next film in the series, and considering the possibility of doing it in 3D.
Speaking to SciFiNow, director JJ Abrams said that the studio initially pushed for the first film to be made in the new format, which appears to be in vogue with filmmakers at the moment, but he was hesitant to do so. “Paramount talked to me about doing the first one in 3D and, having it only be my second film, I was petrified just at the additional… I thought it would be another dimension of pain-in-the-ass. I was just like, ‘I want to make a decent 2D movie.’ I was so worried that instead of being a decent 2D movie, it would have been a bad 3D one.” Now that Star Trek has been a success, Abrams is more disposed towards the format. “I’m open to looking at it because now I feel a little bit more comfortable. And if I, in fact, direct the sequel of our Star Trek film, 3D could be really fun, so I’m open to it. What I’ve seen of Avatar makes me want to do it because it’s so crazy-cool looking.”
With so much buzz and excitement surrounding the sequel to the new and modernised Star Trek, particularly given the DVD’s imminent release, it’s not surprising to hear that plans are already being formulated for its content. Abrams is aware of what made his film successful, however, and is wary of treading over ground that may seem too familiar. “In going forward, the fun of this movie series is that we will have the opportunity, given its alternate timeline, to cross paths with any of the experiences, places and characters that existed in the original series, but we have to be really careful, doing that. I don’t want to do something that is so inside that only die-hard fans will appreciate,” he said. “We’re just now working on the script and just beginning the process of story breaking, but I guarantee you, whatever the final movie ends up being, I know it will be something that will work on its own terms and be something that you don’t need to know and study Star Trek to get, but if you are a fan, there will hopefully be gift after gift of connections, references and characters that you as a fan hold near and dear. At least, that’s the intent.”
Next: Spock, sociology and sequels.
