Paramount is taking steps to bring Star Trek back to the big screen after years of inconsistent releases. Seth Grahame-Smith will write the screenplay for a new film directed by Toby Haynes, who previously worked on episodes of the Star Wars series Andor.

The plot is expected to take place decades before the events of J.J. Abrams’ 2009 picture Star Trek. Bad Robot, Abrams’ production company, will produce the film, which the studio characterises as an expansion of the Star Trek world.

Star Trek has recently shifted its focus to television and streaming, with Strange New Worlds, Discovery, Lower Decks, and Picard all available on Paramount+. The final Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond, was released in 2016. The cast of Star Trek Beyond is presently working on the fourth and final film.

After Beyond underperformed at the film office, Paramount has spent years looking for a new big-screen approach to Star Trek.

Chris Hemsworth was supposed to join Pine’s crew for Star Trek 4 in 2016. However, following attempts by other filmmakers failed to reach the big screen.

Producer Abrams just confirmed that Pine will direct a new Star Trek film, which will be released before the end of this year. Matt Shakman was originally supposed to direct, however he quit in August 2022 to work on Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios.

Smith, who has written screenplays for films such as The Lego Batman Movie and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is represented by WME and lawyers PJ Shapiro and Wendy Kirk.

The news was first reported by Deadline.