UPDATE: It seems Duncan Jones chimed in with his two cents. Check below for his Tweet!
While Jonathan Frakes seems eager to direct the next Trek movie now that Roberto Orci is not in the running, it doesn't appear he is sitting anywhere near Paramount's shortlist of directors. Word on the street is that both the studio and J.J. Abrams have 5 names in mind regarding who they'd like to take over the reigns of the Enterprise and Co. The directors being looked at are as follows: Rupert Wyatt (THE GAMBLER, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), Morten Tyldum (THE IMITATION GAME), Daniel Espinosa (CHILD 44, SAFE HOUSE), Justin Lin (FAST AND FURIOUS 6, FAST FIVE), and Duncan Jones (WARCRAFT, SOURCE CODE, MOON).
Duncan Jones had this to say:
Very flattering being on short list for Star Trek, but won't be doing it. Absolutely MUST make my own thing next, or I'll die of old age!
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 15, 2014
There are some very interesting names on that list, to say the least. If anything, it seems clear that Paramount and Abrams want a director with a vision that pushes Trek into some new territory. While some die-hard fans do have their qualms with the Abrams pictures (especially INTO DARKNESS), there's no denying that Abrams imbued the series with some much needed adrenaline. Lens flares aside, he's relaunched Star Trek into what I hope turns out to be a saga as lengthy as what Shatner and Co. had. The cast is there and the concepts are there. Hopefully one of these five (or four, if Jones is adamant he wont take the position) can take the third film and deliver something that pleases fans and non-fans a like. With Trek's 50th anniversary in 2016, we'll undoubtedly know by then.
Well . . . at least he knows!
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