Everybody try to catch a breath, but Paramount may have just poured fuel straight from the Enterprise onto a smoldering fire. The man who created the hit series Alias, who then followed that up by creating the hit series LOST, who then followed that up by supposedly creating the best Mission: Impossible installment to date -- that's right -- JJ Abrams is coming off his directorial debut in a big way.
Paramount may have just won the lottery by selecting Abrams to be the golden ticket.
Golden ticket for what you ask? JJ Abrams has been picked up to helm the 11th feature installment for Star Trek!
JJ Abrams to Direct Star Trek
According to Variety, Paramount has picked up Mission: Impossible III director J.J. Abrams to produce and direct the 11th Star Trek feature with hopes of getting the Enterprise back out of the docking station by 2008.
Abrams will bring along some talent from the ABC series LOST including producers Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk.
The latest installment of Star Trek does not yet have a working title.
The story will be penned by Abrams and MI3 scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. After conflicting rumors that mentioned a return to Starfleet Academy with new characters, it has now been confirmed that the story will center on the early days of seminal Star Trek characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.
What this most likely means is we will be able to see Captain Kirk pass the infamous Kobayashi Maru, a test that stumped every cadet before and after James T. Kirk's go with the program.
Star Trek has been Hollywood's most durable performer other than James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1 billion and 726 TV episodes from six series.
Considering that not only has JJ Abrams set up a strong relationship with Paramount Pictures thanks to Mission: Impossible III, the director has also proven time and time again that he can handle any project from behind the lens. If Paramount had been looking for a director to take the reigns of the Enterprise, JJ Abrams was obviously a no-brainer.
Congrats to the freshman director and Trekkies everywhere!
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