Chris Pine Shuts Down Potential Captain Kirk Return For Star Trek 4

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J.J. Abrams revitalized the Star Trek franchise in 2009 with a new film that resonated with a whole generation of fans. The movie starred Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, and John Cho, along with Leonard Nimoy reprising his iconic role. Two sequels followed: Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek: Beyond (2016). While a fourth movie was initially intended, it faced numerous delays and remained stuck in development for nearly ten years.

At the Sundance Film Festival, Chris Pine didn’t seem hopeful about returning as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek 4. He jokingly told reporters, “You probably know more than I do,” according to Comic Book Resources. When asked what advice he’d give to the next crew of the Enterprise, Pine simply said, “Have fun, good luck, and live long and prosper.”

This is a significant change from what Chris Pine previously said about Star Trek 4. Just last year, he was excited about returning as Captain Kirk, emphasizing that the cast enjoys working together and genuinely likes each other.

William Shatner was interested in revisiting the role of Captain Kirk later in life, thinking it could add a new layer to the character’s journey. He mentioned, “I’ve aged a lot, and I’d be curious to see where a new story would take us, especially considering everything we’ve already discussed publicly.”

Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the recent films, has expressed interest in returning to the role, even if it’s further down the line. He pointed out that while their initial films focused on younger versions of the characters, there’s no age restriction when it comes to Star Trek. Quinto noted the original cast continued making movies well into their 50s and 60s, and he believes they could find new stories, even if the adventures are a bit different and less physically demanding.

He finished by saying that as an artist, there’s nothing more satisfying than revisiting old work with fresh eyes and a new perspective. However, despite the actors’ interest in returning, a fourth Star Trek movie seems increasingly unlikely as time passes.

A new Star Trek movie was announced in November 2025, but it won’t be a continuation of the films directed by J.J. Abrams. Instead, it will be a fresh start with a new storyline. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley – who previously worked with Chris Pine on Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – are writing the script, though details about when it will be released haven’t been announced. While Star Trek 4 has been cancelled, the Star Trek universe is vast, so Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto could still reprise their roles in future movies, animated projects, or one of the many Star Trek TV series.

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2026-01-26 03:09