17 Years Later, Star Trek Officially Abandons Its J.J. Abrams Movie Timeline
Star Trek is officially ending the Kelvin-verse, the alternate timeline established by J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot that has defined the franchise’s theatrical releases for nearly two decades. The Kelvin-verse, named after a starship central to its plot involving time-traveling Romulans, proved a major commercial success that revitalized the franchise both on screen and through its cast, including Chris Pine and Zoe Saldaña, who achieved superstardom through the films.
The timeline will be formally concluded following Star Trek Beyond, which released over a decade ago. To replace it, Paramount has tapped directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, known for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, to develop an entirely new Star Trek film that will exist outside the Kelvin-verse continuity. The announcement marks a significant creative shift for the franchise, moving away from the alternate timeline that producer and co-writer Alex Kurtzman helped establish and which spawned the broader Star Trek television revival that followed the 2009 reboot.
The decision represents a full creative reset for Star Trek’s film division after the Kelvin-verse had become the theatrical branch’s defining identity for nearly two decades. While the exact direction of Goldstein and Daley’s vision remains unclear, the move signals Paramount’s intent to explore new storytelling possibilities and characters within the Star Trek universe.