Filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have confirmed that their upcoming Star Trek feature film will represent a definitive departure from the franchise’s recent theatrical history. The project is moving forward without the “legacy” safety net of established characters like Captain Kirk or Spock and will not take place within the alternate Kelvin Timeline established by J.J. Abrams in 2009.
According to the directors, the film is set further into the future than any previous Star Trek project. This placement puts the narrative beyond even the 32nd-century setting established in the later seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, allowing the production to operate with a completely fresh slate. The goal, as Goldstein told Inverse, is to create a story that requires zero prior knowledge of the decades-long franchise lore, serving as a standalone entry point for new audiences.
A Shift Toward Institutional Thriller
While Goldstein and Daley are largely known for comedic hits like Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, they are reportedly pivoting toward a much darker tone for this installment. The filmmakers have described the project as an “institutional thriller,” citing grounded, high-stakes dramas such as Training Day and Crimson Tide as primary creative touchstones.
The narrative is expected to examine the internal mechanics of Starfleet as an organization. Specifically, the story aims to explore how “bad apples” or systemic issues can develop within a long-standing, powerful institution. By moving centuries past the familiar eras of The Original Series or The Next Generation, the filmmakers can analyze the evolution of Starfleet without being tethered to existing continuity constraints.
The End of the Kelvin Era
The confirmation that this film will feature an entirely new cast and crew effectively marks a new era for Paramount’s film strategy. Following the 2025 merger with Skydance, led by David Ellison, several long-stalled projects—including the direct continuation of the Chris Pine-led Star Trek 4—have been scrapped. This new direction prioritizes original storytelling over the “legacy” branding that has defined the film side of the franchise for the last fifteen years.
Regarding the specific timeline, Goldstein and Daley explained to Radio Times that while the movie is not a “different timeline per se,” it functions as a total reset. By removing iconic species or specific historical figures from the immediate plot, the production avoids the “reboot” label while still distancing itself from the continuity of the Prime and Kelvin universes.
The script for the untitled project is currently in progress. As the first major theatrical Trek project under the new Skydance-led Paramount leadership, it signals a move away from the “origin story” prequels that had been previously discussed in favor of a forward-looking, tonally distinct future for the Federation.
