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Simon Pegg talks writing Star Trek 3

Simon Pegg has been talking about his screenwriting process for Star Trek 3, going some way towards explaining the pressure that comes with landing such a high-profile gig…

ā€œIt’s terrifying,ā€ says Pegg, when asked for an update by Collider. ā€œOn set, sometimes, there’s room for improvisation, but never anything more than little dialogue tweaks, here and there. Now it’s like, ā€˜Okay, now you’ve got to write the dialogue.ā€™ā€

ā€œIt’s scary! Also, the timeframe we’re working in is extremely tight. It means we’re having to come up with the goods. We can’t be lazy about it. We can’t procrastinate.ā€

ā€œWe have to come up with the stuff because the production is hammering on the door saying, ā€˜When can we build this? What are we gonna we build? Who is in it?’ I don’t know! Let’s write it and we’ll find out. It’s an interesting process.ā€

And as for his approach to the story and characters, Pegg is at pains to make sure his version is as respectful of the source material as possible…

ā€œI’m walking into a realm that doesn’t belong to me,ā€ he explains, ā€œand I have to treat it with a degree of respect. Obviously, I always treat things with respect, by I have to abide by certain rules and do right by the original series, and not be too post-modern with it and not be too aware of itself.ā€

Meanwhile, Pegg has also been lucky enough to pay a visit to the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and is hugely excited by the prospect of J.J. Abrams’ film. ā€œIt’s going to be extraordinary,ā€ says Pegg. ā€œI’m so excited for people to see it. It’s going to be everything that we wanted 16 years ago and didn’t get.ā€

Star Trek 3 will open in the US on 8 July 2016, with a UK date to be confirmed.

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George is GR's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it.