When it was announced that J.J. Abrams was chosen to helm the next entry in the still sprawling Star Wars franchise, it was largely assumed he would be too busy to continue on with the Star Trek franchise he'd successfully rebooted. However, Star Trek into Darkness's Mr. Spock says we shouldn't count Abrams out just yet. While making a public appearance at the leading Irish film festival Galway Film Fleadh, Quinto spoke about his career and Star Trek in particular. According to Buzzhub, Quinto says Abrams is looking to helm Star Trek 3, thought the site didn't share a direct quote, only noting the actor didn't elaborate on the surprising statement.
However, a direct quote their reported did snag makes Abrams' involvement seem less likely. Quinto offers, "Star Trek 3 should be filming, I suppose, next year. It’s going to be made a lot quicker than the last one. That’s the plan, although nothing is confirmed yet."
With Star Wars: Episode VII slated to hit theaters in 2015, it is expected to lens next year. And with all the high expectations placed on this latest incarnation of the George Lucas-created universe, it's highly unlikely Abrams could juggle it with Star Trek 3. Currently, it's thought that Episode VII will shoot early next year; then post production will likely be a lengthy and involved process, utilizing cutting edge technology to make this the most spectacular Star Wars. Whether or not it succeeds there hardly even matters as the sequel is already projected to make $1.2 billion dollars.
But let's say Abrams thinks he can pull a Whedon x100, and squeeze in a movie between production and post on a big budget blockbuster. In this scenario, Star Wars: Episode VII is The Avengers, and Star Trek 3 is Much Ado About Nothing. This too is insane. Whedon's delightful passion project was shot in his own home with his friends in just 12 days. By comparison, Star Trek Into Darkness shot all over California and in Iceland, and took five months to complete production. Even if ST3 shoots faster—as Quinto predicts—there doesn't seem to be any likelihood that Abrams could handle helming two tent pole sci-fi epics with big casts, sprawling worlds, huge budgets, extensive CGI, and very high expectations in the same year. Star Wars: Episode III was in production for three months, but its extensive special effects meant the post production process began in mid 2004 and ended just weeks before its May 2005 release date. And frankly, I'd be shocked if there wasn't something in his contract with Disney that doesn't essentially force him to focus up on—well—the Force.
That's not to say Abrams is definitely out of helming Star Trek 3. Last April, he said it was still a possibility. But we'd be totally shocked if both Quinto's prediction that the sequel will shoot next year and Abrams returning as director turn out to be true. Honestly, if that happened, I'd expect it would hurt the buzz on both movies as fans of Trek and Wars warred online over what a distraction the other franchise would be to the helmer of their preferred film series.
