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​Quentin Tarantino Ropes In 'The Revenant' Writer For 'Star Trek'

​Quentin Tarantino Ropes In 'The Revenant' Writer For 'Star Trek'

For Quentin Tarantino's 'Star Trek' project, the screenplay has gone to Mark L. Smith - the writer behind 2015 film The Revenant.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

When it turned out that Quentin Tarantino had been working on a new idea for the Star Trek franchise, there was a fairly universal agreeing nod of 'Yep, this should be good. I'm into this'.

With Tarantino overseeing the project, he's managed to get producer - and fellow Hollywood big shot - JJ Abrams on board. However, unlike many of his previous films, for the latest Trek outing he's not on writing duties. Now it's been announced that, for that, the screenplay has gone to Mark L. Smith.

Smith's biggest gig to date is The Revenant, the epic 2015 western epic directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu' that he adapted from Michael Punke's novel. He also got in Paramount's good books when he scripted Overlord, the WWII thriller about two American soldiers who found themselves stuck behind enemy lines on D-Day.

Credit: The Revenant / 20th Century Fox

So if the writing's all covered, what about the acting? In particular, what about iconic character Jean-Luc Picard? Well, Patrick Stewart has said the prospect of him returning to the role isn't completely out of the question.

The Yorkshire-born actor told The Hollywood Reporter: "People are always saying to me, 'Will you be Jean-Luc Picard again?' And I cannot think that would be possible, but there are ways in which something like that might come about.

"But one of my dreams is to work with Tarantino. I admire his work so much, and to be in a Tarantino film would give me so much satisfaction. So, if he is going to direct something to do with Star Trek and there was the possibility of dear old Jean-Luc showing up again and doing that for Mr Tarantino, I would embrace it.

"The one thing that characterizes all of his movies is that frame by frame, it always challenges, always demands your attention, always demands a very kind of open and generous response to what he does," he said. "I also love his sense of humour as a filmmaker. So yes, he would be my first choice."

via GIPHY

The last Star Trek film Stewart featured in was Nemesis, which marked the end of the Next Generation era of films. It was a bit of a box-office flop, earning just $67.3 million worldwide, but after the popular franchise was rebooted by Abrams in 2009, Star Trek managed to become both a critical and commercial success once again. And with this new direction, it'll probably only get better? Here's hoping.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Film, Entertainment, TV and Film, US Entertainment, Quentin Tarantino