Justin Lin is the best director choice for Star Trek 4, and the pairing is now possible once again. In the six years since Star Trek Beyond hit theaters, Paramount has struggled to get a sequel off the ground. It seemed the studio found its path forward by announcing Star Trek 4 was happening with WandaVision director Matt Shakman for a 2023 release. The news came with the reveal that Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the recent cast members were returning. However, the sequel hit another roadblock with the news that Shakman left Star Trek 4, leaving the director’s chair open.
Paramount’s multiple attempts to make a fourth Star Trek movie featuring the cast from JJ Abrams’ Kelvin timeline have repeatedly failed. Quentin Tarantino was originally courted to direct Star Trek 4 and make a very different entry in the franchise. Once it was clear that he was not going to make the movie, Jessica Jones‘ SJ Clarkson and Legion‘s Noah Hawley took cracks at developing entries in the franchise. Shakman’s exit directly conflicts with Paramount’s clear hopes of making Star Trek 4 in the near future. While he was an exciting choice, the studio can now bring back someone already tied to the franchise.
Now that Matt Shakman is directing Marvel’s Fantastic 4 instead of Star Trek 4, Paramount’s best director option is Justin Lin. He previously helmed Star Trek Beyond for the studio, which disappointed at the box office but earned positive reviews. Despite his time with Star Trek, Lin opted to return to the Fast & Furious franchise to make F9 next. He was even attached to direct Fast X for Universal until creative differences emerged over the sequel. Since he already left that major franchise, Justin Lin can now return for Star Trek 4. He is the perfect choice due to his established connection to the franchise, experience making massive sequels, and ability to deliver a crowd-pleasing blockbuster in a timely manner – allowing Paramount to avoid another Star Trek 4 delay.
Justin Lin’s Star Trek 4 Return Can Prove Star Trek Beyond’s Critics Wrong
While Star Trek Beyond might have been well-received by critics and audiences, the narrative around the film has become more critical in recent years. This is primarily the result of Star Trek Beyond‘s poor box office performance. After Star Trek Into Darkness made almost half a billion worldwide, Justin Lin’s sequel only made $343 million, a low point for the trilogy. This was not Justin Lin’s fault, though, as Star Trek Beyond has plenty of supporters who were excited to see what would come next.
It only makes sense for Justin Lin to direct Star Trek 4 now. There are no reports linking Justin Lin to the sequel, but it would not be surprising if he had an interest in returning. Star Trek 4 would give him another chance to play in the sci-fi franchise’s sandbox and advance the timeline well after Star Trek Beyond. He might also be eager to tackle another big blockbuster after walking away from Fast X, as Lin would not have to deal with a demanding star on Star Trek 4. Only time will tell who ultimately gets the job next, but hopefully Paramount realizes Justin Lin is Star Trek 4‘s best director.
