Star Trek movies are now seemingly back in limbo after Star Trek: Section 31, which is a huge disappointment after nearly a decade of waiting for more Star Trek cinematic adventures. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny, Star Trek: Section 31 premiered on January 24, 2025, on Paramount+. Section 31 was headlined by Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, and it was the first Star Trek movie made for streaming and the first Star Trek movie since Star Trek Beyond in 2016.
Star Trek began and continues as a juggernaut TV franchise, first on NBC, then syndication, and today, on Paramount+ and Netflix’s streaming services. In 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture brought the Starship Enterprise to the big screen and launched a highly successful franchise of Star Trek movies. Fans have enjoyed Star Trek movies every decade since 1979, from the adventures of Star Trek: The Original Series to the voyages of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek reboot movies produced by J.J. Abrams.
However, Star Trek movies came to a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ stop after the Justin Lin-directed Star Trek Beyond underperformed in 2016 relative to the J.J. Abrams-directed blockbusters Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness. “Creative differences” led to multiple directors, including Quentin Tarantino, departing Star Trek 4. Star Trek: Section 31 and the advent of Star Trek streaming movies appeared to open up a hopeful new future, but now all of it remains a frustrating question without encouraging answers.
Section 31 May Have Ended Paramount Plus’ Star Trek Streaming Movie Plan
Star Trek Hoped For A New Streaming Movie Every 2 Years
Star Trek: Section 31 was met with poor reviews and an online backlash from Star Trek fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, Star Trek: Section 31‘s performance is devastating, coming in at 17% Rotten with critics and a 16% audience score. Star Trek: Section 31 did rank as the #2 movie on Paramount+ (behind Gladiator II) the week it premiered, but it soon vanished from the streamer’s top 10 altogether. Star Trek: Section 31‘s dim reception casts a pall over future Star Trek streaming movies on Paramount+.
When Paramount+ announced Star Trek: Section 31 as Star Trek‘s first made-for-streaming movie, there was a hopeful plan that a new movie would follow every two years. This would have potentially included a sequel to Star Trek: Section 31, which was originally planned as a TV series, and streaming movies about other Star Trek characters and concepts. The most prevalent hope by fans is a movie about Star Trek: Legacy, the unrealized spinoff of Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Netflix also has the potential to order Star Trek: Prodigy streaming movies as well as season 3.
Star Trek: Section 31‘s dismal returns seem to be a pH๏τon torpedo to more Star Trek streaming movies. Had Section 31 been the hit it was intended to be, it’s likely Paramount+ would have quickly announced more Star Trek streaming movies. Now, it appears the streamer is licking its wounds and pondering what to do next (which is, hopefully, not ‘nothing.’) Perhaps doubling down on a new movie about a Star Trek idea fans are clamoring for, like Star Trek: Legacy, would turn the franchise’s fortunes around.
Star Trek’s Origin Prequel Movie Has No Update Since Last Year
Will A Star Trek Movie Hit Theaters In 2026?
In March 2024, a Variety article about the Star Trek franchise included details about a potential Star Trek Origin prequel movie directed by Toby Haynes and written by Seth Grahame-Smith. According to Variety a year ago, Haynes’ Star Trek Origins prequel was “on track to start preproduction by the end of the year.” In April, Paramount officially announced Toby Haynes’ Star Trek prequel movie at Cinemacon, projecting a potential 2025 or 2026 release date. Since then, there has been no update on Star Trek Origin‘s status.
Toby Haynes’ Star Trek prequel movie is said to be set “decades before” J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek and involves the beginnings of the United Federation of Planets and a new alien enemy for Starfleet to face. However, Haynes, who directed the Star Trek spoof “USS Callister” for Black Mirror, reportedly returned to direct the “USS Callister” sequel episode for Black Mirror season 7, which perhaps delayed his Star Trek Origins movie.
J.J. Abrams is also a producer of Toby Haynes’ Star Trek Origins movie.
Star Trek‘s 60th anniversary in 2026 would have been ideal to feature a new Star Trek movie premiering in theaters, which would also mark 10 years since Star Trek Beyond. It’s possible Toby Haynes’ Star Trek Origins movie could still make a 2026 release date and mark 60 years of Star Trek. However, the absence of news about the next Star Trek theatrical movie is discouraging.
Star Trek 4 Is Still In Development Hell
There’s No Sign Chris Pine’s Starship Enterprise Will Warp Back Into Theaters
Star Trek 4 continues to be mired in frustrating development hell. After an internal study from Paramount Pictures found that audiences were still interested in seeing the Star Trek movie cast led by Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, multiple attempts to get a fourth J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movie off the ground have continually failed. This is despite Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and Sofia Boutella publicly stating their eagerness to reunite on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
Star Trek 4 is veritably ᴀssured to miss the 60th anniversary of Star Trek in 2026.
Like Toby Haynes’ Star Trek Origins movie, the last update about Star Trek 4 was in Variety, which reported that Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant) was hired to write a new draft of Star Trek 4. Nothing has been reported about the progress of Star Trek 4 since. Considering how long it takes to produce and film a Star Trek movie, Star Trek 4 is veritably ᴀssured to miss the 60th anniversary of Star Trek in 2026, with no end in sight to the long wait for Chris Pine’s Kirk and the USS Enterprise’s return.
Why Star Trek Movies Are Still Important
Many Of Star Trek’s Greatest Moments Happened In Movies
Star Trek is generally best on television, the medium of the franchise’s inception. Episodic and serialized TV allows Star Trek to delve into complex characters, moral and ethical conundrums, and fosters a deeper relationship between audiences and their beloved Starfleet heroes. Yet Star Trek movies have delivered some of the most memorable and iconic moments of the franchise.
From Admiral Kirk’s (William Shatner) and the dying Spock’s (Leonard Nimoy) tearful goodbye and declaration of eternal friendship in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) seething, “The line must be drawn here!” in Star Trek: First Contact, to Chris Pine’s Kirk becoming Captain of the Enterprise at breakneck speed in Star Trek (2009), Star Trek movies have greatly enriched the franchise. What’s more, Star Trek movies can be a bridge to encourage new audiences to become fans.
Hopefully, Paramount+ and Paramount Pictures have plans in place to restore the Star Trek movie franchise to its former glory.
Both as theatrical events and streaming spectacles, Star Trek movies have proven to be invaluable for nearly the entire existence of Star Trek. Star Trek: Section 31 may not have been the movie event fans hoped for, but Star Trek movies are too important to jettison. Hopefully, Paramount+ and Paramount Pictures have plans in place to restore the Star Trek movie franchise to its former glory.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Variety
