Chris Pine tells Paramount’s ‘Star Trek’ bosses to ‘have fun’ and ‘good luck’ with the franchise

Chris Pine has insisted he doesn’t know anything about a new Star Trek film.

Following the acquisition of Paramount by Skydance, the studio announced it was developing a new Star Trek reboot film that will serve as a completely fresh start for the franchise and one that is not connected to the Chris Pine-led “Kelvin Timeline” or any previous television series. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (the duo behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Game Night) have been tapped to write, produce, and direct.

This announcement by Paramount to go in a completely different direction came shortly after reports from late 2025 that indicated that the long-delayed Star Trek 4, Kelvin Timeline adventures, had been officially shelved.

Fans have been expressing significant disappointment and mixed emotions on social media following reports that the studio has moved on, with many fans upset that the Kelvin crew, who felt they were just beginning to hit their stride with Star Trek Beyond (2016), will not be getting the conclusion they deserve. Despite the Kelvin timeline, some fans have held out hope that they would find a way to work them into future plans, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least for now.

Asked by Variety Studio at the recent Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, Pine mentioned that he has not been approached for any upcoming Star Trek projects.

“You probably know more than I do.” Pine said.

The actor showed visible frustration regarding the whole ordeal, most likely because it has been ten years since the last movie, Star Trek Beyond, during which Paramount has experienced creative shifts, a studio pivot toward streaming (Paramount+), various script ideas that have failed, and multiple directors and writers attached to the project, bringing different visions, leading to a long period of uncertainty and ultimately no produced film. Obviously, the most difficult part for him and the other actors was being left to play an indefinite waiting game. Recently, as early as March of 2025, it seemed as if they were making progress, and Pine even appeared much more optimistic about a return to the “human adventure.”

“I honestly don’t know,” Pine told Business Insider when asked about “Star Trek 4” updates. “There was something in the news of a new writer coming on board. I thought there was already a script, but I guess I was wrong, or they decided to pivot. As it’s always been with ‘Trek,’ I just wait and see.”

At this point, though, the actor seems to have finally moved on, even wishing the people involved in steering the new Star Trek project well, saying,

“Have fun, good luck, live long and prosper.”

Earlier this year, Simon Pegg admitted he would be “so happy” if he got to play Scotty again after portraying the role in three movies. He told fans at a STLV: Trek event in 2025 that it was time for it to actually happen.

“J.J. [Abrams] has always said that there are scripts being developed and this and that. I think it’s about time. It would be great to see us 10 years after the five-year mission, where we are.” Pegg said. “If we make another Star Trek, I’ll be so happy because I just want to see my friends again. I see them occasionally.” Pegg concluded.

Pegg has long hoped that a fourth Star Trek movie would finally happen with the Skydance Media and Paramount mergers, but that never seemed to materialize.

There’s good news, though, for Trekkie hopefuls, because time travel has always been an intricate part of Star Trek lore, first appearing in the Original Series and through its modern iterations, most notably my personal favorite, Star Trek: The Voyage Home, often used to explore, alter, or protect established timelines.

Recently, the hit Paramount+ series Strange New Worlds has utilized that same time travel mechanism, exploring character backstories and alternate realities, with the most recent episodes attempting to clarify the rules of temporal mechanics within the universe.

Will Pine or one of the crew show up in an episode of Starfleet Academy? Or another big-screen movie? Remember, an old Dr. McCoy appeared in an episode of Star Trek Generations years ago, so you just never know.

Despite the studio’s moving on from The Kelvin Timeline, by employing new producers in Goldstein and Daley for the reboot, it still remains a part of the overall Star Trek canon. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chris Pine and his crew return in some capacity in the future, but that appears to be a long way off.

For now, the franchise’s direction is heavily influenced by David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance Media, who took control of Paramount in August 2025. Ellison, a self-described fan of the series, has prioritized restoring Star Trek to the big screen glory days by bringing in high-profile talent to the mix.

I’ll keep you updated as more details become available.

“Live long and prosper.” – Spock