J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII: Roberto Orci And Zachary Quinto Sound Off

By Rudie Obias | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

Zachary Quinto as Spock

These days you can’t mention Star Trek Into Darkness without mentioning Star Wars: Episode VII. J.J. Abrams and Disney have effectively made the upcoming Star Trek sequel a preface in the Star Wars book. Both franchises are great, and truthfully, the Star Wars franchise needs the facelift more than Star Trek.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Star Trek Into Darkness co-writer Roberto Orci and lead Zachary Quinto opened up about J.J. Abrams landing the Episode VII directing job, and what it means for the future of Star Trek. Orci says:

“For J.J., this is achieving a childhood dream,” he said. “Star Wars is what got him in the business. So watching him go to his Super Bowl like this? It’s genuinely joyful for me. [But] as a guy who is in love with Star Trek and in love with this version of it? It puts a scared lump in my throat. It’s like hearing one of the band members is going to do a solo album. I know Star Wars is going to be better for it, and I suspect Star Trek will be fine with the rest of us still here.”

As for Quinto, he’s very happy for his director. The concern is for the next person who will direct Star Trek 3. After two Star Trek films, perhaps the franchise could use a fresh start. Quinto explains:

“I don’t think anybody feels like he’s going,” he stated. “We feel like he’s growing. J.J. surrounds himself with talented people, and if the day is coming where he has to hand off the director’s chair to someone, then we will all embrace that person and trust that [the new director is] the next best choice. We’re excited that [he] is being so bold and so declarative about what he wants to do and sees ways to bring his talent to a classic franchise — like Star Trek four years ago — that can use a fresh injection of new perspective. And we all benefit as moviegoers. And he’ll be around. He’ll still produce our movie even if he doesn’t direct it. And maybe there’s some version of this where [an upcoming Trek film] fits in [to the release calendar] in a way where he can come back around as director for us as well.”

Both Orci and Quinto sound very gracious for what J.J. Abrams has done with the Star Trek series of films, but it almost sounds like they’re both a little ambivalent in context. Chris Pine was also happy for Abrams, but at the same time uncertain about the future of Star Trek.

The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly features a cover story about Star Trek Into Darkness. It features new images and interviews for the upcoming Star Trek sequel. Yesterday, word got out that Entertainment Weekly may have spoiled who Benedict Cumberbatch would be playing in the feature film, although nothing has been confirmed at this point.

As for who should direct Star Trek 3 if Abrams doesn’t, well, we have a few ideas

Star Trek Into Darkness opens in theaters everywhere on May 17th in 3D IMAX.