Paramount's “Star Trek” future has always been a game of tug-of-war. Reboots, spin-offs, streaming experiments—pick your poison. Yet the heart of the modern big-screen franchise, the so-called Kelvin Timeline that began in 2009, has sat frozen in stasis since Star Trek Beyond hit theaters in July 2016. Nearly a decade later, Zachary Quinto, the series' Spock, is making noise again—and this time, the studio shuffle may finally tilt the odds in his favor.
Speaking with Collider, Quinto was candid: “I would absolutely love to do another Star Trek movie. I don't understand why we haven't done one yet… I think fans would be really open to it and really welcome a final movie.” That's not just casual chatter. He revealed he even reached out to J.J. Abrams directly, suggesting the door isn't closed on a reunion film for Chris Pine's Kirk, Karl Urban's Bones, and the rest of the Kelvin-era crew.
The timing matters. Paramount's merger with Skydance—approved in 2025—creates the kind of consolidated control that could finally untangle this franchise's long-snarled future. Skydance has been a financial partner on all three Kelvin movies, making their deeper involvement a practical step rather than just another pipe dream. Paramount had even hired The Flight Attendant creator Steve Yockey to pen a fourth installment back in early 2024. Whether that script survived the merger is anyone's guess, but Quinto's optimism suggests the project isn't dead.
Meanwhile, Star Trek hasn't exactly been dormant. Strange New Worlds just wrapped its third season in 2025, with a fourth and fifth already ordered. The brand thrives on Paramount+, but there's still a gaping absence on the theatrical calendar. For longtime fans, the Kelvin crew never got closure. That's a dangerous gap in a franchise built on longevity and legacy.
I've covered these cycles for years, and what's striking here is the shift in tone. Quinto isn't selling hype for a paycheck—he sounds genuinely restless, maybe even frustrated. That rawness reflects a broader truth: Hollywood is in the business of endings now. Audiences want closure, not dangling threads. From Avengers: Endgame to Logan, the films that resonate give their characters a finish line. The Kelvin films, love them or not, deserve that courtesy.
What worries me? The risk of corporate optimism fading into another round of development hell. It's been nine years since the last film's release. At some point, goodwill curdles into apathy. But for now, with a merger reshaping the studio and Quinto publicly raising his hand, the possibility of a final Kelvin voyage feels closer than it has in years.
Why Quinto's Call Matters for ‘Star Trek' Fans
A Decade Without Closure
The last Kelvin Timeline film, Star Trek Beyond, came out in July 2016. Fans have waited nine years for follow-up news.
Merger Momentum
The Paramount–Skydance deal finalized in 2025 gives the franchise new stability, potentially smoothing the path for a film decision.
A Cast Ready to Return
Quinto revealed he reached out to J.J. Abrams directly, and he believes Chris Pine and others would also be on board.
Competing Trek Futures
With Strange New Worlds thriving on Paramount+, the theatrical branch risks being left behind unless a new film moves forward.
Endings Matter
In today's franchise-driven Hollywood, audiences expect character arcs to conclude—without closure, the Kelvin era feels incomplete.
Would you welcome one more Kelvin Timeline film as a proper farewell, or should Star Trek chart a completely new course?
