Rumor: Jon M. Chu Frontrunner To Direct 'Star Trek 3' [Updated]

With J.J. Abrams in a galaxy far, far away, the final frontier is wide open. After the success of this year's Star Trek Into Darkness, Paramount is getting ready to prep a third Star Trek film and the hunt for a new director is underway. The studio has yet to make a decision, but Latino Review is reporting the frontrunner is Jon M. Chu, the director of G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Update: The director's reps deny that Chu is connected to the film. Via email, they said "No one has contacted Jon or his reps about this project." Now, Paramount could still be interested in him, but that may be all it is right now. Other rumors paint Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) as the next likely choice.Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz are rumored to be helping on the script, which will also be written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The film is aimed at a 2016 release.

Chu has been a big money maker for Paramount, helming not only the latest G.I. Joe film, but Justin Bieber: Never Say Never as well. He's said to be working on a third Joe film, an adaptation of Master of the Universe and more. A chance to direct the third Star Trek would likely take precedence over any of those films.

Producer Bryan Burk has stated a third Star Trek film would likely be released in 2016, which is the franchise's 50th anniversary. Screenwriter Damon Lindelof also suggested a third film would see the Enterprise go up again the Klingons, the most famous nemeses of Starfleet, who made a brief appearance in Into Darkness.

Abrams will produce a third film unless it gets pushed much later, as he's now committed on Star Wars Episode VII for at least two years.

Chu did a very solid job on Retaliation but it's apples and oranges when compared to Star Trek. Retaliation was tongue-in-cheek with over the top performances and a good amount of visual effects. Star Trek would be very serious with a complicated story, grounded performances and way more visual effects. It's something he could most certainly do, but it's likely a stretch.

Do you think he's a good, potential choice for Star Trek 3?