The panel, which was hosted by Collider's Steven Weintraub, included Resident Evil director Zach Cregger as well as writing duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Goldstein and Daley (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) were announced as the writers behind Paramount Skydance's next Star Trek film last November, but details on the project have been scarce. Weintraub almost immediately asked for an update on the project.
Goldstein and Daley said the script is in progress and shared that fans shouldn't expect to see any familiar faces from the franchise in their reboot. Past Star Trek films have either seen the cast of shows like The Original Series and The Next Generation return to reprise their roles, or have recast iconic characters with new actors, such as in J.J. Abrams' Kelvin timeline. However, what's most interesting is what the duo said about the film's setting. Goldstein revealed that the next Star Trek film will take place "further in the future than we've been before."
Star Trek is itself set in our own future, but has been pushed further and further depending on what series or film we are talking about. If Goldstein includes the recent shows Discovery and Starfleet Academy, the furthest Star Trek has ever gone into the future is the 32nd Century. Reaching that distant time period involved time-travel shenanigans. If Goldstein and Daley ignore that, then Star Trek has only reached the 24th Century.
Whichever definition the writing duo decides upon, it sets the stage for a reinvention of the series that could honor the past while still allowing for a fresh start. Hopefully, tomorrow's Hall H panel will give even more insight into what the future of Star Trek holds.