The starship Enterprise is going to boldly go in a different, belated direction because a female director is in talks to helm Star Trek 4. Finally. Via Variety, S.J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones, The Defenders, Orange is the New Black) will be the first female director in the Star Trek film franchise. Meanwhile The Hollywood Reporter reports Paramount is focused on finding a female director for the upcoming movie and is only in the “in talks” phase with Clarkson.
Star Trek 4 is the next film in the rebooted series that launched in 2009 (not the Quentin Tarantino Trek movie that’s in development). J.J. Abrams is on board as producer, and the script is being handled by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
Considering that there have been 13 Star Trek films, it’s about time for a woman to have a chance to tell a story set within the beloved sci-fi universe. This is a time when studios need to take steps towards equality behind the scenes in the world of film and television. Progress still needs to be made, but with recent high-profile movie releases from the likes of Patty Jenkins and Ava DuVernay, and a franchise like Star Trek getting a female director, the future is looking a little more optimistic. So, hey, Lucasfilm, maybe you could be the next franchise to take the long overdue step of hiring a female director.
Who else do you want to see direct a Star Trek film? Share your choices in the comments.
Images: Paramount
Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter.
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