If you’ve been following this story over the last couple of weeks, you’ll recall the surprising news that Quentin Tarantino has had an idea for a Star Trek movie enthusiastically accepted by Trek studio Paramount and producer JJ Abrams. QT is overseeing the project’s development, but not actually writing it himself. It’s now been revealed that the job of knocking out the screenplay has gone to Mark L. Smith.
Smith’s principle qualification for the gig would seem to be The Revenant, which he freely adapted from Michael Punke’s novel for Alejandro G. Iñárritu‘s astonishing 2015 film. But he’s also got a slightly more Grindhouse history, having written both the stalk-and-slash Vacancy films and the US remake of Martyrs. Those sensibilities should fit well with Tarantino’s intention to make this particular Star Trek a more, “adult” (presumably meaning violent and sweary) R-rated affair.
Lester’s name had been mentioned as a possibility previously along with the likes of Drew Pearce (Iron Man 3) and Lindsey Beer (Chaos Walking). He is not to be confused with Mark E. Smith, whose Star Trek would be very different.
Work on the script will continue as Tarantino shoots his next film, an as-yet untitled Charles Manson-era American crime drama. QT will no doubt have his own input into the writing process as it progresses. He’s also said he’s “open to the idea” of directing the eventual film… but we’ll believe that when we see it.