Variety is reporting that screenwriters and producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have decided to go their separate ways, having spent the best part of the last decade collaborating on the likes of Mission: Impossible III, Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Edge of Tomorrow and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
The duo still have several projects in development, including a reboot of The Mummy, The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and its spin-off Venom, the latter of which Kurtzman is set to direct. In fact, it’s said that the split is amicable and designed to allow the duo to concentrate on directing, with Orci apparently keen to make his debut by taking over from J.J. Abrams on Star Trek 3.
Orci reportedly has support from the film’s co-producers Bad Robot and Skydance, but Paramount are said to be cautious about his appointment. Presumably that’s down to his inexperience in the director’s chair, rather than his knack of upsetting fans via social media…
Star Trek 3 is currently without a release date, but it’s thought that Paramount is keen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise by releasing the film in 2016. The script for the threequel has been written by Kurtzman and Orci alongside J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
Originally published April 22, 2014. Updated April 16, 2018.
