Zachary Quinto is still interested in making Star Trek 4, and he has a pretty optimistic outlook on its prospects. Quinto starred as Spock alongside Chris Pine, Zoe Saldaña, Karl Urban, and others in three Star Trek movies, taking over the iconic role from original actor Leonard Nimoy. Though there have been rumblings of a fourth movie ever since Star Trek Beyond was released in 2016, nothing has come to fruition. In March of this year, Star Trek 4 took another step forward by adding Steve Yockey as its screenwriter.
While speaking to Variety for the premiere of his new NBC drama Brilliant Minds, Quinto has again contemplated the chances of him returning as Spock once more in Star Trek 4. Like several of his cast members, he is still open to the idea of another movie, describing the Star Trek world as a “limitless universe.” Even though some might think the window of opportunity is closing on the movie’s chances, Quinto has a more positive outlook and points out that there isn’t really a deadline. He says:
The great thing is ‘Star Trek’ is a limitless universe. Look at all the television shows, look at all the stories, look at all the characters and timelines. Anything is possible. That’s the joy of the franchise. That’s why it’s lasted for 55, 60 years. I’m open to it. I would love it. I would absolutely love it.
There’s no cutoff. The original cast did movies for decades, well into their 50s, 60s. The stories might be different. We might not be running as fast on the other planets, but I think anything’s possible, and I think there’s nothing more fulfilling as an artist then to come back to something after time has passed, and cultivate a relationship with it from a completely different perspective, and a completely new point of view.
It Isn’t Over Until Paramount Actually Says So
Unlike other major franchises, which often find numerous ways to continue onscreen, Star Trek has ground to a halt when it comes to movies, though its television side has only flourished in the years since Beyond‘s release. Despite enthusiasm from fans and the cast members themselves, a fourth movie involving the Kelvin timeline cast has struggled to get off the ground, and it’s easy to feel discouraged about its prospects. This is especially true considering Paramount formally announced the cast’s return in 2022, yet still couldn’t make it work.
The “Kelvin timeline” refers to the timeline established by the 2009 reboot movie, which features the same characters as The Original Series but tells a new story in an alternate universe.
However, Quinto’s comments prove that the door isn’t shut on Star Trek 4 just yet, and that it likely won’t be until Paramount says so. Pine, Saldaña, and Simon Pegg are among those who have expressed their desire to return for one more movie, demonstrating that the enthusiasm is there. Quinto’s own point that, following in the steps of the first Star Trek movies, the cast could still make another film decades after their last appearance shows that the only thing standing in the way of a fourth movie is Paramount’s ability to make it happen.
Our Take On Quinto’s Star Trek 4 Hopes
The Kelvin Cast Deserves One More Adventure
As a big fan of the Kelvin movies, the back-and-forth over Star Trek 4 has been disheartening for me, but Quinto’s perspective gives me hope. It’s true that the most recent movies have been somewhat divisive, particularly in the eyes of fans who have loved the franchise since the beginning, but the cast has earned plenty of praise and approval from audiences.
They deserve the opportunity to properly close out their arcs and say goodbye to their characters. A fourth movie can also provide another opportunity to pay tribute to Chekov actor Anton Yelchin, who tragically passed away in 2016. With Quinto and others still on board, and the franchise still telling new stories (albeit mostly on television), Star Trek 4 remains a very real possibility, and I can only hope it finally happens in the next few years.
Source: Variety
