'Insane' not to let Quentin Tarantino make the next Star Trek film - Kiwi star Karl Urban

Kiwi star Karl Urban says the studio behind his Star Trek movies would be "insane" not to let Quentin Tarantino direct the next instalment.

For the last two years there have been rumours the Pulp Fiction director would get to stamp his distinctive R-rated style on the franchise, but the project is still to be confirmed by studio Paramount.

Urban, who plays Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, is keen for it to happen.

"I think Quentin Tarantino doing that film would be phenomenal," the former Xena star told the Huffington Post. "He is definitely one of the most exciting filmmakers that's currently working and if he has an interest in making a Star Trek film, I think the studio would be insane not to let him do that."

While Star Trek is doing well on TV, with Discovery a hit and a new series focusing on Sir Patrick Stewart's character Jean-Luc Picard on the horizon, the third of the rebooted movies - 2016's Star Trek Beyond - struggled at the box office, despite the warm critical response. 

Stars Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth also walked away after failing to agree to the pay the studio was offering for the planned fourth film.

As for the plot of Tarantino's potential Star Trek flick, despite his enthusiasm Urban said he's largely in the dark. 

"This is a project that I have no information about, really. I haven't read a script for it, but I understand the basic concept of it."

If Tarantino does direct the next Star Trek movie, he's said it'll probably be the last he ever makes. He recently described his vision as "Pulp Fiction in space".

William Shatner, who played James T Kirk in the original Star Trek series, said he's keen to get back on the Enterprise one last time.

"Quentin, I love you. If you're going to do Star Trek, hey, 50 years later, a few pounds heavier, come on, not a problem," the 88-year-old star told Reuters at London's Film and Comic Con in July.

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