JJ ABRAMS has confirmed his involvement in Star Trek 2 amid rumours of yet another new direction for the franchise.

Speaking at the recent Saturn Awards, the director told movie website Collider.com: “I won’t be walking away from Trek in any way in the next film. I feel too lucky to be a part of this thing to say goodbye to it.”

Abrams did not confirm whether he would direct or simply produce, although he has only recently agreed to reunite with Tom Cruise for a fourth Mission: Impossible.

Collider also reports that the Star Trek sequel is considering whether to dispense with the traditional villain-of-the-week scenario and opt for a more surprising direction, “where the unknown and nature itself is somehow the adversary or the villain model”.

Writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci said at the US junket for Transformers that they were in “active discussions” about the possibility.

Paramount is keen to begin work as soon as possible on the sequel, to capitalise on the runaway success of the current movie which remains the most successful blockbuster of the summer season so far.

Next story: Moon triumphs at Edinburgh Festival

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