Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek Plans are “Bananas”

The idea of Quentin Tarantino making a Star Trek movie sounds innately ludicrous, but as with all innately ludicrous ideas it might be so innately ludicrous, that if it actually happens, the franchise will boldly go where no Star Trek movie has gone before, and that is quite simply tantalising.

Karl Urban of course plays the latest Doctor McCoy in J.J. Abrams’ rebooted film series, which is currently going through the wringer at Paramount, and he did not hide his excitement over the Pulp Fiction director’s burgeoning Trek project at last weekend’s Trekonderoga convention:

“Quentin Tarantino went in to [producer] J.J. [Abrams]’s offices and pitched him an idea for a Star Trek movie. I know a little bit about what that is, and it’s bananas,” Urban teased the gathered crowd. “So, they are writing that as well. He is currently making a film with Brad Pitt and and [Leonardo] DiCaprio [Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]. So, it is going to be a year away from finishing that. So, it would be really rad to get to make a film with him. That would be a dream come true, he is definitely an auteur. Whether you like his films or not, he is a good filmmaker. And he makes interesting stuff. So, to me, that is when you get the best results.”

And it looks like Tarantino plans to shoot his Star Trek movie with the established Kelvin crew, too:

“I was personally delighted he was not only a Star Trek fan, but also interested in working with our cast. It’s not only a new story, but he is just one of those filmmakers that has a very unique and specific vision. And he totally utilises the camera to tell the story. I think he would make a great Star Trek movie, I really do.”

The actor thinks that, despite the current salary negotiation issues, Star Trek 4 will still go ahead, but if Tarantino’s film ends up being the one that actually gets made, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world:

“I think that Tarantino would be able to do something quite unique. So, fingers crossed that will happen. It is in the hands of Paramount. If we don’t get to make [Star Trek 4] next year with Chris Hemsworth, then that’s ok, let’s make a really good Quentin Tarantino Star Trek movie. You will have to wait longer, but it will be well worth it.”

Though Tarantino has hinted in the past that he’ll be shooting for an adults-only affair with his Star Trek outing, Urban quelled notions of Kirk and Spock trading C-words on the bridge of the Enterprise:

“You shouldn’t worry that it is going to be full of obscenity and stuff. He wants an R-rating to really make those beats of consequence land. If it’s not PG, if someone gets sucked out into space, which we have all seen before, we might see them get disemboweled first…It allows some some breadth…gives him some leeway to do that. To me, that was always one of the things I loved about what DeForest Kelley did. He would actually capture the horror of space. That look in his eyes of sheer terror always struck me when I was a kid.”

There is no release date set for either of these upcoming Star Trek projects, but we’ll update you when we know more.

All quotes via the wonderful Trek Movie.