Screenwriter-director Joe Cornish’s CV is outstanding. Not only did he co-write The Adventures of Tintin and the upcoming Ant-Man with none other than Edgar Wright, but he also penned and directed the critically acclaimed British sci-fi flick Attack the Block. In other words, it’d be pretty darn cool if he directed Star Trek 3. Can you picture it?
Well, it’s just not going to happen.
As it turns out, Variety (via /Film) reports that Cornish is out of the running for the job. It was rumored last month that he was one of few directors considered to take on the third entry in the rebooted franchise. Even J.J. Abrams — who directed the previous two Star Trek films and will serve as producer on the third one — reportedly gave the helmer his blessing in an interview with MTV, by stating that he hoped Cornish’s next film turned out to be Star Trek 3.
In more positive news, the same Variety article mentions that two relatively unknown writers — Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne — will help Roberto Orci pen the script, acting as replacement for Alex Kurtzman, who chose not to return. There’s no word yet on whether they’re re-writing, co-writing or merely polishing Orci’s screenplay, but we’ll keep you posted when and if we hear more.
As Cornish’s name disappears into a wormhole, Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation) have become strong contenders for the coveted directing job. There’s no word yet on who’s the frontrunner, but I’m sure the producers will pick the most appropriate candidate, be it a seasoned director or a relative newcomer.
Who do you think should helm Star Trek 3? Are you disappointed that you won’t get to see Cornish’s take on the reboot? And what do you think about McKay and Payne working with Orci on the script? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.