The Fast & Furious director has been chosen to replace Roberto Orci.
The story of Star Trek 3's production problems have unfortunately overtaken the actual shooting and planned release of the film, leaving Trekkers to worry about the future for this divisive reboot franchise. One big question was answered on Monday, as Paramount announced that Justin Lin was signed to direct, taking over the center chair for the departed Roberto Orci (whose stays on to produce).The question of whether Lin was the right choice certainly is a valuable one. Known for directing four of the successful Fast & Furious films, Lin brings a fast-car style of excitement that Star Trek has never had. He's a proven commodity on big budget productions, essentially breathing in new life to a franchise that had honestly gotten stale - you can only show so many hot women, fast cars, and actors who can't act before audiences ask for more.Perhaps it's time for Star Trek to return to its action roots - that's in fact what allowed it to survive during the 1960's before it finally caught on after its cancellation in 1969. Fans came for the action and the women (sound familiar) but stayed later for the story. Script quality has always been a question mark for the crew of the USS Enterprise, and we've seen some great ones (The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek XI) and some duds (Insurrection, Nemesis, and The Motion Picture). If Lin can increase the stakes, pitting Kirk against a first-class enemy that truly threatens Starfleet and the universe as a whole, then audiences will flock to the theaters when it's released on July 8th, 2016. At the same time, a certain aesthetic has been established in this rebooted universe, one that favors Apple Computers and lens flare over the used environment. Lin will have to find a middle ground that celebrates the iPhone-like Bridge of JJ Abrams (who departed to shoot Star Wars: The Force Awakens) with his more grounded reality of the action/heist genre. For now, fans will have to hope that Paramount sees in Lin the chance to move the franchise forward while preparing it for future incarnations. Stayed tuned as production ramps up around April 2015. Photograph: Al Powers/Invision/AP Discuss this story with fellow SJF fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms, and follow author Matt Cummings at @mfc90125.
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