Simon Pegg has confirmed that he will co-writer of the third entry in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, set for release in 2016.
Pegg, who plays miracle-working, Enterprise-anthropomorphising chief engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the films, will pen the script alongside Doug Jung, whose past work includes crime caper Confidence.
Pegg’s only solo cinematic writing credit to date is Run, Fatboy, Run, which received lukewarm reviews, although he co-scripted the Cornetto trilogy — Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End — with Edgar Wright. Following the departure of JJ Abrams, who helmed 2009’s Star Trek and its sequel, Into Darkness, Roberto Orci (who co-wrote the first two films) was set to write and direct the third. Orci, who has no previous directorial experience, then stepped down in December last year, reportedly over studio concerns with his script, although he will stay on as producer. Wright was then tipped to replace him before Fast and Furious’s Justin Lin was eventually offered the director’s chair.
