...and return as Scotty

Simon Pegg is to co-write the next Star Trek film, it has been revealed.

Hollywood website Deadline has revealed that the Shaun Of The Dead star has just started work on the third instalment of the revived franchise - news confirmed on the Twitter account run on his behalf.

Pegg will write the script with Doug Jung, creator of the US cop series series Dark Blue.

The pair stepped in when Roberto Orci, who had been due to write and direct the follow-up to Star Trek Into Darkness, unexpectedly beamed off the project last month. There had been rumours that Pegg’s long-time collaborator Edgar Wright would take over as director, but now Justin Lin, who has worked on The Fast and the Furious franchise, will be doing the job.

Pegg also will reprise his role as chief engineer Scotty in the blockbuster, which is set to hit cinemas in July 2016.

This will be the first non-comedy Pegg has scripted. His other credits include Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, Run Fatboy Fun, Spaced and Big Train.

Published: 22 Jan 2015