#50th anniversary

Just weeks after the announcement of Robert Orci being chosen to replace JJ Abrams as director to the upcoming Star Trek 3, Orci opens up in an interview with Geoff Boucher of the Nerdist Podcast "Humans From Earth" and drops a few hints on the upcoming film.

“In Into Darkness they set out finally where the original series started. The first two films – especially the 2009 ‘Star Trek’ was an origin story. It was about them coming together. So they weren't the characters they were in the original series. They were growing into them and that continues on in the second movie,” explains Orci.

“So in this movie they are closer than they are to the original series characters that you have ever seen. They have set off on their five-year mission. So their adventure is going to be in deep space.”

NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS

On the subject of aliens, when asked about the need to go back to the Klingons or Romulans for new fans, Orci countered “why do you have to go back to them?”

“Because this is an alternative universe I think we can choose,” he continued. “I don’t feel the pressure to revisit anyone or not. We are lucky that way, but we have the ability to cherry pick what has become before. It will depend on what serves the story best.”

As for new alien races, Orci revealed “We have discussed [the challenges of creature design]. The advantage we have is there is new technology available. Even though I am a fan and I know JJ is a fan of as much practical sets and creature design you can do, we can also augment it with the technology that exists today, CGI. So in a way we have a freedom that is a little bit unexplored. I hope to do that in the next Star Trek.”

REGAINING PROGRESSIVENESS WITH GAY CHARACTER

Along with the story taking place in deep space, Orci spoke the progressiveness of the franchise and his desire to see a gay character in Star Trek.

“It can be part of a character and not be the whole shebang. It doesn’t have to be like South Park, like ‘what have we learned today.’ It can be so normalized that it just exists. I agree it can’t be shoe-horned in. And it is not necessary for it to be the whole point of the thing. It is an ensemble and there is lots of people to represent so no one point of view should hog it.”

CAPTAIN JAMES KIRK HAS GROWN UP

As for Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk, he is now “an adult.”

“In the first film, Kirk is like a college guy might do (or a cadet) – finds himself in a dorm, lights come on and she’s green! In the second film he finds himself with humanoid felines. In the third film he is a little bit more of an adult.”

HE’S A FAN OF THE NEXT GENERATION

It was no secret that Abrams was “more of a Star Wars fan” but Orci has always professed of being a lifelong Star Trek fan and during the interview he touches on his introduction to 'Star Trek’ through The Next Generation and  finding favorite and the most familiarity with TNG characters. 

Will we see other cast from past Star Trek in the new film?

“It’s possible,” Orci teases. “Whatever serves the story….that’s my version of ‘no comment’." 

This is not the first time The Next Generation has been teased. During press tours for Into Darkness, the British entertainment site HeyUGuys.com interviewed both Orci and Alex Kurtzman who mentioned their desire to bring in two iconic adversaries characters from TNG into the new universe. And in December 2013, HeyUGuys.com caught up with co-screenwriter and producer Damon Lindelof who affirmed Abrams departure from Star Trek 3 would not derail plans for the next film. 

"Very early on, I think the fundamental ‘this is what the plot is going to be’, ‘this is who the bad guy is’, ‘this is what they’re up against’, that came very, very early. Even while we were working on the first movie,” informed Lindelof. “You should always know where you've been, you should always know where you are, but most importantly, and I learned this from Lost, you should know where you’re going.”

“You can’t talk about Trek and not talk about the BORG, and certainly about Q,”he taunted.

“Very iconic adversaries from The Next Generation which is, outside of the original cast films, was my entry way into Star Trek, so I wouldn't mind getting – towards the end of our run on Star Trek, maybe baby Picard could be born. There has to be some sort of crossover we’re not thinking of.”]

NEW PRODUCERS TO SET ITS OWN COURSE

Since announcing Orci’s new role in the next movie, fans have been heavy in their criticism of Orci, his ability to direct the film and the assumption his film being much of the same of what Abrams delivered. However, one significant difference might come in the form of transparency and avoiding Abrams’ penchant for secrecy, which largely backfired with Into Darkness and the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan.

"I think it is going to be more of a mix. On the one hand you want the story to have surprises. Otherwise why even go to the movie? On the other hand you want to share enough of it to let people know what they are going to get and what they can expect and what the experience is going to feel like. In terms of behind the scenes, audiences are now so savvy, I think it is kind of fun to be more transparent. And let people into the process of how you are doing things and let them watch you do the movie. You can see behind the scenes without knowing what the context of the scene is or what the story is,” he lamented.

“The Horta is actually the villain in the next one,” Orci can be heard saying at one point.

Star Trek 3 is scheduled for a 2016 release, coinciding with Star Trek’s 50th anniversary.