Chris Pine Says He Knows Little About the Future of ‘Star Trek’

Chris Pine says he’s just as much in the dark as fans when it comes to the future of the Star Trek franchise.

Speaking during a Sundance interview at the Variety Studio presented by Audible, Pine was asked about Paramount’s new leadership and what direction the long-running sci-fi series might take next. His response was blunt and humorous: “You probably know more than I do.”

Pine famously played Captain James T. Kirk in three Star Trek films released between 2009 and 2016, all part of the rebooted movie series led by director J.J. Abrams. However, as Variety reported last year, the next Star Trek movie will move in a different direction.

The upcoming film is being written, produced, and directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the filmmaking duo behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The new project is meant to revitalize the franchise and will not continue the Abrams-era storyline. Pine will not be involved.

When asked if he had any advice for Paramount’s new leadership regarding Star Trek, Pine kept it simple and in the spirit of the franchise: “Have fun, good luck, live long and prosper.”

New Film Debuts at Sundance

Pine was at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival to premiere his new movie, Carousel, which opened the festival. The romantic drama is directed by Rachel Lambert and co-stars Jenny Slate.

In Carousel, Pine plays a single father whose life is disrupted when his high school ex-girlfriend returns. He described his character as emotionally blocked, reflecting a broader issue he sees in many male roles — and real life.

“Many male characters, in film and in life, struggle to communicate their feelings clearly,” Pine said. He explained that Slate’s character forces his to confront those emotions in a raw and uncomfortable way.

Slate said she was immediately drawn to Lambert’s script because of how deeply it explores the characters’ inner lives. “Getting full interiority makes for good drama,” she said. While Slate began her career in comedy, she noted that Carousel offered a chance to face darker, more serious emotions head-on.

The film marks a more intimate and emotional turn for both actors — and a reminder that while Pine may be done with Star Trek for now, he’s very much exploring new territory on screen.