Things are heating up with the next Star Trek movie (also referred to by the entertainment media as "Star Trek 3" for being the third movie produced by JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot and to be set in the rebooted Trek universe). TrekMovie has an exclusive update on the status of the next Trek feature along with some (very minor) spoilers about the plot. Get the details below .

Orci Set To Star Shooting Next Star Trek Mid February 2015

Last month we reported exclusively that the first draft of the script for the next Star Trek feature film was completed. While they are not yet making any official announcements about the project, it appears that the script has met with a warm welcome at Paramount. TrekMovie has been told that the studio is moving forward with the project and have set production to start in mid February, 2015 (currently penciled in for February 15). Also, while there was some question about it earlier this summer, all indications are that Roberto Orci has been tapped to direct the film.



Roberto Orci on the set of "Into Darkness" – now getting ready to direct his first feature film

Targeting Summer 2016 Release – Date Announcement Coming Soon

Earlier in the summer Paramount announced that the next Star Trek film will be released in 2016 (which happens to be the 50th anniversary year for the franchise), but they have yet to set a specific date. Sources are now telling TrekMovie that Paramount and Orci are now discussing various Summer 2016 dates, and that an official announcement will be coming soon.

The schedule for the Orci’s Star Trek movie is closely tracking the one for Into Darkness three years ago. JJ Abrams confirmation as director and pre-production being underway was reported in mid September, 2011. That film began shooting on January 12th, 2012. While February is a month later, it would still be possible for the next Trek to get into theaters by May 2016 (both previous Star Trek films had May releases).

Pre-production already underway

While the movie is still not ‘technically’ greenlit until a detailed budget is finalized, TrekMovie is told that Orci and the production team have already started pre-production, including "pre-vis," early effects tests, set and wardrobe design and even some casting discussions for new characters.

Setting Is Out On The Five Year Mission

As per usual, plot details are not forthcoming at this early stage. But it has already been established (at the end of Star Trek Into Darkness) that the crew were headed off into their five year mission. One tidbit that TrekMovie has picked up is that the film is set "well into" the five year mission (so it doesn’t pick up right after Star Trek Into Darkness). A source also tells TrekMovie that Earth will not play a significant role in the movie, unlike the previous two films. This is consistent with previous on-the-record comments from Orci, specifically how the film will delve into "uncharted territories" of "deep space" and deal with "new discoveries," also hinting it will include new alien species.



The (refit) USS Enterprise set to warp away on its five year mission at the end of "Star Trek Into Darkness"

As always, TrekMovie will be tracking this project very closely and reporting on any updates.