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Paramount taps Goldstein & Daley for a fresh Star Trek
Paramount has quietly launched a bold new chapter for Star Trek, hiring writers-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley to write, produce and direct a completely standalone feature. The duo, known for reinvigorating established properties, will develop the movie under their GoldDay banner. Sources say the project will not connect to previous films or ongoing TV projects, signaling a deliberate reset for one of sci-fi cinema's most enduring franchises.
A clean slate for the franchise
Details about plot and casting remain under wraps, but insiders confirm the film will introduce new characters rather than extend the Chris Pine era. That approach aligns with recent comments from Skydance founder David Ellison, who indicated the next theatrical Trek won’t be a direct sequel. For fans, that means a chance to meet a fresh crew and explore uncharted corners of the Star Trek universe without being constrained by existing timelines or continuity.
What this could look like remains open-ended. Paramount is betting on a creative reboot that borrows the spirit of classic Trek — curiosity, moral dilemmas and speculative worldbuilding — while delivering modern pacing and accessible humor.
Why Goldstein and Daley?
Goldstein and Daley earned mainstream recognition with their screenplay work on Spider-Man: Homecoming and then proved they can helm blockbuster comedy-adventures with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a surprise 2023 hit praised by critics and audiences alike. Their films blend character-driven humor, brisk plotting and respectful fandom-minded touches — qualities that seem well suited to translating Star Trek for a wide contemporary audience.
Their next film, Mayday, an action-comedy set against Cold War tensions and starring Ryan Reynolds, reportedly tested very well and is slated for release next year. That track record of reinvention and crowd-pleasing tone explains Paramount's confidence in giving them stewardship of the Trek brand.
Context: Reboots, IP stewardship and fan expectations
Studios increasingly favor fresh entry points for legacy franchises to attract new viewers while keeping long-time fans invested. Star Trek faces the same challenge as other big-name properties: balancing reverence for canon with the need to feel new. Recent successful reboots in sci-fi and superhero cinema show that a character-driven, standalone story can revive interest and create a pathway for future sequels or spin-offs.
At the same time, some fans worry about franchise fragmentation. A totally new cast and story may invigorate the series for general audiences but could prompt debate among hardcore enthusiasts about continuity and the preservation of Star Trek's philosophical core.
Trivia and behind-the-scenes note: GoldDay, the filmmakers' production banner, has been instrumental in packaging their recent projects with studios like Paramount and Skydance, helping them shepherd ideas from script to screen while keeping a signature tonal mix of humor and heart.
Film critic Anna Kovacs, who has followed Treks and reboots for over a decade, offers this take: 'Giving Goldstein and Daley a clean canvas is a smart move. They understand how to deliver crowd-pleasing adventure without losing emotional stakes, which Star Trek needs to thrive in theaters again.'
Expect a patient rollout of casting and story details, but also a spotlight: any new Star Trek movie will attract headlines and intense fan scrutiny. For now, the promise of a standalone, contemporary Trek from creators who know how to refresh big IPs is an intriguing invitation — one that could reshape how the franchise lives on the big screen.
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