It's only speculation at this point about what Abrams will do with StarTrek, but it is obvious he is not happy with his take from the franchise.
He could continue on as he is with the franchise, Or He could continue to produce the series but let a different director take over, Or He could dump Star Trek completely and focus all his energy on Star Wars.
In the latter two cases (which seem more probable, but that's just me), what director do you think might do the Star Trek franchise justice?????
As much as I get on JJ for his crappy productions, (Though I actually enjoyed MI3, so don't say I never said anything nice about the guy!) another director or producer won't fundamentally change the way Hollywood makes films nowadays.
We have reached the ultimate in mindless entertainment. Mindless scrips, mindless action, plus the needless spectacle that is 3D, pretty much cements the way films will be produced for the next several generations. If anything film and music will become more and more detached from the human experience.
Today's productions leave me as bewildered and dumbfounded as the alien time warp scene at the end of 2001. Except there, it was a novel and unique trip.
As far as directors, I'll hitch my star to Brad Bird and Edgar Wright's wagons. But having said that, maybe they could hire someone who isn't necessarily a member of the "Geek Elite."* I still think they should've gotten someone like Tom Hooper or Nicolas Winding Refn for the new Star Wars.
As for writers, I'd love to see them give one of the Trek novelists a shot, specifically Christopher L. Bennett (no relation to Harve Bennett) - he excels at world-building, knows his science, and can write for established characters.
*Not to sound cynical but it seems like every major genre movie shares the same dozen writers nowadays. Today, someone like Nicholas Meyer would be dabbling in TV instead.
It would be nice if they got some new screenwriters to go with the new director. We've been introduced to the new iterations of the characters; now let's get a writer who can construct a story that plays to those characters instead of revisiting the same character dynamics we've gotten twice now.
As far as director, how about Dean Parisot? He's made the best Trek film yet, after all. . . Or someone like Neil Marshall, who's very very good at paying homage to his genre influences without getting too bogged down in them.
Leaving aside the JJ question, the two directors I would most like to see helm a Star Trek movie are Martin Campbell, and a man whose name I am susprised has not come up yet since he directed one of the best Star Trek movies of all - Dean Parisot.
"Jim Wynorski is just what this tired franchise needs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bruce, that's your most interesting idea in the last five years. James Kirk meets DINOSAUR ISLAND--the mind boggles! I'm sure the man who produced PRETTY MAIDS IN A ROW would smile.
Jim, what are your thoughts?--an R rated version of "Mudd's Women?"
