Comic Book Resources (via Deadline) is reporting that Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, and JJ Abrams' Bad Robot just inked Justin Lin to direct "Star Trek 3," filling the biggest open directing assignment in Hollywood with the filmmaker who is credited with resuscitating the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Lin directed four of the "F&F" films that grossed close to $2 billion in worldwide box office receipts.
The 43-year-old Lin replaces Roberto Orci, who got that job after being involved as co-writer of the revamped "Star Trek" film series. The first two flicks were helmed by Abrams, who then left to direct the revival of the "Star Wars" franchise with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." It was reported that several top-ranked filmmakers were in contention, but Lin was the only one offered the job.
Lin became available because he was set to direct the sequel to "The Bourne Legacy" spinoff with Jeremy Renner, but that film got waylaid when Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass agreed to do another installment of "The Bourne Identity," which Universal wanted to do first. Lin was also wooed in hopes of return to the "Fast & Furious" franchise to do a multi-part finale, but that doesn't seem plausible now with the "Star Trek" gig. Orci remains a producer on the "Star Trek" film. The first film, a reboot of the franchise, grossed $380 million worldwide in 2009, and the sequel, "Star Trek: Into Darkness," grossed more than $460 million worldwide after opening in May 2013.
