Time to start a new captain’s log: Justin Lin is set to direct the third film in Paramount Pictures’ rebooted “Star Trek” series, The Times has confirmed.
Deadline Hollywood first reported the news that Lin, a veteran of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, is stepping in to replace Roberto Orci, who was originally to make his directing debut on “Star Trek 3” but recently vacated the job.
Orci co-wrote the previous two “Star Trek” films directed by J.J. Abrams, who himself jumped (star)ship to helm “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Lin, 43, broke out in 2002 with his Sundance hit “Better Luck Tomorrow,” a crime drama that upended the “model minority” stereotype of Asian American youth with its tale of drug dealing, thievery, murder and suburban boredom.
Though he comes from indie roots, Lin is no stranger to big-budget studio tent-poles. Universal Pictures tossed him the keys to the “Fast & Furious” franchise beginning with the third installment, “Tokyo Drift,” and he steered the series to massive global success with the fourth, fifth and sixth films.
Although Lin has yet to direct a proper sci-fi movie, he does fit in to the recent trend of studios tapping youngish directors with vision to tackle some of their major franchise.
Orci and Abrams will stay on as producers on the project. A release date has not yet been announced for Star Trek 3, but Paramount had been aiming for a 2016 release, to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the original series’ debut.
