Star Trek Sequel Update

Producer Damon Lindelof recently stated that The Dark Knight will serve as inspiration to JJ Abrams Star Trek sequel, meaning that the story will go one step beyond the first movie, however, the tone will remain the same.

Lindelof: The bar is very very high for the sequel. We are looking at a movie like 'The Dark Knight' which actually went one step beyond 'Batman Begins.' It was really about something and at the same time was a superhero movie. We don’t want to abandon all the things that made the first movie work - have it be fun and emotional, but we also want the movie to thematically resonate, so we are putting on our highfalutin hats.

When Star Trek producer Bryan Burk talked to TrekMovie about the Trek/Batman comparison he had this to say:

…our aspirations are for the [Star Trek sequel] to be even bigger and better than the first one. I don’t mean that just in scope, I mean content and characters and emotionally.

Now UK’s SFX magazine's 200th issue features an article about the Star Trek sequel that includes interviews with JJ Abrams, and co-writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Both Orci and Kurtzman contribute to the debate about who the villain or villains shall be for the sequel and that the choice will be based on what is right for the story and what the characters need.

The following are statements from SFX’s feature…

Abrams: The universe that Roddenberry created was so vast. And so it’s hard to say there’s one particular thing that stands out as what the sequel must be. Which is on the one hand, a great opportunity. On the other hand it’s the greatest challenge – where do you go? What do you focus on? But I’m incredibly excited about the prospects.

Kurtzman: Starting at a premise of what you want to see and then working a story around it is not how we do it. You have to start with what is the right story. And that if you can say "That’s a story that Khan fits into", that’s how you get to that. Not deciding on a menu list of items and then seeing if you can’t string them all together.

Orci also pointed out that any villain will "reflect" the "new universe" they set up in the first movie. Orci also specifically discusses the Klingons as villains in SFX’s feature.

Orci: Introducing a new villain in the sequel is tempting because we now have this incredible new sandbox to play in. On the other hand, some fans really want to see Klingons and it’s hard not to listen to that. The trick is not to do something that’s been seen before just because you think it will be a short cut to likeability.

Trekweb.com also quotes Orci from SFX’s Star Trek feature:
The audience is no longer asking 'Is everything going to be the same?' They know that it isn't, and our villain, be it a person or a sci-fi concept should reflect this new universe."

So far, it has been indicated that Captain Pike (or rather Ambassador Pike) will be featured in the sequel. Roberto Orci has confirmed that Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) will also return and will have a larger role in the sequel. Humour will still form a vital component of the sequel.

The full Star Trek feature can be found in SFX magazine, which is available in the UK. The untitled sequel to JJ Abram's Star Trek is set to beam into cinemas on June 29th, 2012.