Call it an enterprising move: Simon Pegg, the actor who plays Scotty in Paramount Pictures’ revamped “Star Trek” film franchise, will also co-write “Star Trek 3” with Doug Jung.
Deadline Hollywood first reported that Pegg would be working on both sides of the camera, with Jung joining him in scripting the sequel to 2013’s “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
The news comes a week after “The Fast and the Furious” veteran Justin Lin beamed aboard to direct “Star Trek 3,” filling a void left by one time helmer Roberto Orci. (A co-writer on the previous two “Star Trek” movies, Orci had been working on a script for the third instalment with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay and was originally to make his directing debut on the film.)
As genre fans well know, Pegg is not only an actor but a veteran screenwriter who penned the Cornetto Trilogy (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz” and “The World’s End”) with Edgar Wright, the sci-fi comedy “Paul” with Nick Frost and the British sitcom “Spaced” with Jessica Stevenson.
Jung co-created the TNT crime drama “Dark Blue” and has also written for TV’s “Banshee” and “Big Love.” He made his feature screenwriting debut on 2003’s “Confidence.”
The previous two “Star Trek” films — which starred Pegg, Chris Pine (Capt. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Mr. Spock) and Zoe Saldana (Uhura) — both prospered at the box office, grossing $385 million and $467 million worldwide.
“Star Trek 3” will try to continue that mission when it hits theaters July 8, 2016.
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