Let’s take a trip back to 2013, a simpler time when the world didn’t seem like it was crumbling around us and we were actually super excited about the prospect of a “Star Trek 3.” Back then, it was assumed that J.J. Abrams would helm the third film, but all that changed, when he decided to tackle “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” At that point, it was reported that Joe Cornish was stepping up to fill the director’s shoes. But that never came to be. Now, years later, Cornish is explaining why he decided to pass up the big-budget film.
Speaking to EW, the director of the upcoming “The Kid Who Would Be King” explains why he passed up the chance to tackle the famous franchise after his 2011 indie hit, “Attack the Block.”
“I talked to J.J. [Abrams] about [‘Star Trek 3’] pretty early on, but then decided I wasn’t ready for it,” says Cornish. “Because it’s a big old franchise, and I’ve had friends who’ve gone straight from indie movies into big blockbusters, and have come out the other end a little bit bruised and battered, and not necessarily feeling it’s their film. I love the idea, but then eventually I thought that if I had the opportunity to do something of scale, that it would be cooler to do my own thing.”
It appears that Cornish probably did the right thing. While fans have been waiting anxiously for the filmmaker to direct again after “Attack the Block,” Cornish wasn’t about to do something that could jeopardize his future. Instead, he took his time and it appears that it’s paying off as “The Kid Who Would Be King” is getting pretty great reviews.
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“Star Trek 3” would eventually turn into “Star Trek Beyond” and become the lowest grosser of the three reboot films. Now, with the film franchise seemingly on the shelf, with the focus on the TV side of things, Cornish probably thinks he made the right choice. That being said, it would have been awesome to see what his take on the sci-fi franchise would have been like. Perhaps not as “dumb fun” as the Justin Lin sequel turned out to be.
“The Kid Who Would Be King” hits theaters on January 25. We’ll have to see what Cornish tackles next, because it would appear that the director is going to be courted by the big studios yet again.