Star Trek has momentum on TV and a cautious reboot on film. After years of stops and starts, Paramount now has two feature tracks in play. One expands the universe with a pre-Enterprise origin story. The other would close the Kelvin timeline arc if it moves forward. Here is the current state of play with clear signals on timing and continuity.
The new-character “origin” film
Toby Haynes
Paramount hired Toby Haynes to direct an untitled Star Trek movie written by Seth Grahame-Smith. Reporting describes it as an origin story, set decades before the 2009 film, with new characters rather than the Enterprise crew audiences know from the Pine films. Bad Robot (J.J. Abrams' production company) remains involved.
Studio priority pieces this summer reiterated that Paramount still wants this Haynes film as part of a refreshed slate after the Skydance merger. Trade coverage groups it with a small set of near-term bets, which suggests it is the likeliest Trek feature to shoot first. No cast or date yet.
What that means for continuity
Because it is set well before Kirk and Spock, this movie is not a direct sequel to the Pine films and does not require Kelvin-timeline continuity. This means new faces, a different corner of Federation history, and potential hand-offs to future projects rather than callbacks to the 2009–2016 trilogy.
“Star Trek 4” with the Pine cast
Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine in Star Trek
Paramount kept a separate Kelvin-timeline movie in development in 2024 with a fresh script from Steve Yockey, described in trade summaries as a potential “final chapter” for the Pine ensemble. That effort stalled, resumed, and remains unannounced, but the studio has not killed it.
Zachary Quinto said this month that a return could still happen, while also framing it as a likely last outing for that crew if it moves forward. Simon Pegg added that new Paramount leadership after the Skydance deal is enthusiastic about Trek and could prioritize the sequel. Neither comment equals a greenlight.
How TV shows affects the film lane
Paramount+ keeps the brand in front of fans, which gives the studio breathing room to pick a film path.
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Section 31 premiered as a Paramount+ movie in January 2025 with Michelle Yeoh and later hit home release, proving Trek can live as streaming films while theatrical plans firm up.
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Starfleet Academy debuts in early 2026 and positions a new generation of characters during the franchise’s 60th anniversary year.
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Strange New Worlds continues, with season 4 set for 2026 after wrapping production. The series keeps classic-era Enterprise stories active regardless of which film goes first.
Practical timeline
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Most likely to shoot next: the Haynes and Grahame-Smith origin film, given director, writer, and post-merger priority signals.
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Still possible: a Kelvin-timeline farewell if Paramount locks schedules and budgets for Pine, Quinto, Pegg, Saldana, Urban, and Cho. Recent remarks show interest, not a schedule.
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Earliest realistic release: late 2026 or 2027 if a film enters production soon. Current public materials do not list a dated Star Trek feature on the 2026 slate.
Bottom line
Two film tracks exist. The new-character origin movie looks like the front-runner and does not tie to the Chris Pine timeline. A Kelvin finale remains in development, with cast and leadership voicing support but no greenlight. TV will carry the brand into 2026 with Starfleet Academy and more Strange New Worlds while Paramount decides which big-screen course to set.
