Karl Urban calls Quentin Tarantino’s R-rated Star Trek idea “bananas”

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The future of the Star Trek franchise is perhaps looking more interesting than it has in years, with several movies in development as well as a number of new TV shows which will join Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access. Although the fate of STAR TREK 4 isn't looking particularly rosy at the moment due to negotiations breaking down with Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth, there's also another project in development based upon a story by Quentin Tarantino. While speaking at Trekonderoga, Karl Urban dropped a few details about the Tarantino project (via TrekMovie), which he called "bananas."

Quentin Tarantino went in to [producer] J.J. [Abrams]’s offices and pitched him an idea for a Star Trek movie. I know a little bit about what that is, and it’s bananas. So, they are writing that as well. He is currently making a film with Brad Pitt and and [Leonardo] DiCaprio [Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]. So, it is going to be a year away from finishing that. So, it would be really rad to get to make a film with him. That would be a dream come true, he is definitely an auteur. Whether you like his films or not, he is a good filmmaker. And he makes interesting stuff. So, to me, that is when you get the best results.

Karl Urban confirmed that the Quentin Tarantino project would be using the Kelvin universe cast (here's hoping that they're able to reach a deal with Chris Pine), and he'd be fine if that project, as opposed to STAR TREK 4, is the one to move forward. "I think that Tarantino would be able to do something quite unique. So, fingers crossed that will happen," Urban said. "It is in the hands of Paramount. If we don’t get to make [Star Trek 4] next year with Chris Hemsworth, then that’s ok, let’s make a really good Quentin Tarantino Star Trek movie. You will have to wait longer, but it will be well worth it."

Karl Urban also touched upon what the R-rating would mean for Star Trek and assured fans that it doesn't mean that the script is suddenly full of vulgarity; instead, the actor said that it will allow Tarantino to more fully explore the horrors of space.

You shouldn’t worry that it is going to be full of obscenity and stuff. He wants an R-rating to really make those beats of consequence land. If it’s not PG, if someone gets sucked out into space, which we have all seen before, we might see them get disemboweled first…It allows some some breadth…gives him some leeway to do that. To me, that was always one of the things I loved about what DeForest Kelley did. He would actually capture the horror of space. That look in his eyes of sheer terror always struck me when I was a kid.

As for STAR TREK 4, details on the project are sparse, but we do know that Chris Hemsworth was to reprise the role of George Kirk, the man who sacrificed his life so that his crew and family could escape safely from Nero in STAR TREK. This would allow Chris Pine's Captain Kirk to "cross paths with a man he never had a chance to meet, but whose legacy has haunted him since the day he was born: his father." However, until contract negotiations with Pine and Hemsworth are resolved, the future of STAR TREK on the big-screen is still up in the air.