The Star Trek reboot may get another producer after hiring writer Seth Grahame-Smith and Andor director Toby Haynes for the project. Simon Kinberg, who produced the X-Men films, is reportedly in talks with Paramount Pictures to serve as a producer in the new iteration of the franchise. However, fans are not happy with Kinberg’s involvement in the project as his recent portfolio has been largely lackluster.
Fans shared that Kinberg ruined the X-Men franchise with his involvement and would repeat the same with the new reboot. The sci-fi space series received some recent love with the streaming series, Star Trek Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds.
Fans Say Simon Kinberg’s Involvement Will Ruin Star Trek
According to The Hollywood Reporter, X-Men producer Simon Kinberg met with Paramount Pictures to join the new Star Trek reboot. The report first came from Matthew Belloni’s Puck News. Kinberg would take on active roles in the new projects, which would involve both films and television series. Kinberg would reportedly first produce a Star Trek series already in development.
The project has already hired Seth Grahame-Smith to write the script and Toby Haynes to direct the episodes. J.J. Abrams, who helmed the Chris Pine-led films, is also confirmed as a producer in this series. The series is reportedly set hundreds of years before the humans met the Vulcans and involves the creation of the Starfleet.
Fans were not too thrilled to hear Kinberg’s name associated with the project. He was the writer of X-Men: The Last Stand, the weakest among the first three X-Men films. He served as the writer and producer of both Days of the Future Past and Apocalypse. He debuted as a director with the box office disaster, Dark Phoenix. Insider Daniel Richtman pointed out the sorry state of these X-Men films.
Another fan shared that the franchise should stop depending on the same Hollywood inner circle of screenwriters like Kinberg, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. One fan didn’t understand the need for the series as he explained that the premise mentioned was already explored in Star Trek: Enterprise. One fan mentioned Star Wars Rebels as one project Kinberg didn’t ruin, but still wanted to keep him away from Star Trek. Some fan reactions read:
He ruined X-Men, now he wants to ruin Star Trek https://t.co/2jDM1QkbnZ
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) May 21, 2024
There’s like a million creatives out there who could take a crack at the Star Trek franchise and they keep circling around this weird inner Hollywood clique of awful screenwriters like Kurtzman/Orci/Kinberg. It’s so bizarre.
— Doug McCausland (@DouglasJMcCaus) May 21, 2024
I also don't get the premise. Set "hundreds of years ago when humanity first met contact with Vulcans and achieved space travel", isn't that basically the premise of "Star Trek: Enterprise"? Are they decanonizing the series?
— Avash Ihteyaz (@Avash_Ihteyaz) May 21, 2024
He worked on starwars rebels he didn’t ruin that but everything else yes. No keep him away
— Drunk (@Drunksaiyans) May 21, 2024
Many Trek fans would say it's already ruined.
— Chillin in the Basement (@hetch75) May 21, 2024
Apart from the X-Men films, Kinberg produced the Academy Award-nominated film The Martian. He produced Robert Downey Jr.‘s Sherlock Holmes and Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express. In television, he served as executive producer on Designated Survivor, Legion, and The Gifted.
Simon Kinberg May Not Be The Worst Thing To Happen To Star Trek
Some fans are of the opinion that the franchise was ruined long before Kinberg even joined the project. J. J. Abrams’ reboot of Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner’s legendary run failed to match up to its predecessor. Even with a stellar cast, the films fell short in telling great space stories on the Starfleet.
Fans earlier also shared their frustration at the new reboot, retaining many of the old creatives like Kurtzman. It would hinder the project’s capability to approach the famous IP from a different perspective. Captain Kirk and Spock still have a dedicated fan base, and the new reboot should avoid its earlier mistakes to utilize these famous characters.
The Star Trek films and other projects are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
