Producer J.J. Abrams said that he would make no decisions about whether he would direct Star Trek XI until he saw a script that made him believe he was the right person to helm the film, but said he hoped to start filming next spring regardless.

In a brief video interview at TrekMovie.com, Abrams reacted with amusement when told that one of the screenwriters, Roberto Orci, had said that the first draft of the script was due at the end of October. "I would love to see that quote so I can call him up say, 'Uh, Bob?'" Abrams joked. "They are in the midst of it. It's in progress."

But as to the question of whether he would direct, "It is one of those things where I want to make sure I am the right person for it," Abrams said. "I won’t committ to anything that I don't think I can deliver the way I think it needs to be delivered. It is a question of practicality more than anything else."

Abrams said that the film would need to start shooting around next spring to meet Paramount's projected release date in 2008. "Winter would be preferable because you would have more time," he said. Though Abrams continues to refuse to discuss plot details, he answered a question about why the characters of Kirk and Spock have remained so popular by saying, "That was an amazing relationship, it was an incredible relationship. It was brilliant writing and brilliant casting."

The video interview is here.

Discuss this news item at Trek BBS!
 Add TrekToday RSS feed to your news reader or My Yahoo!
Also a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation fan? Then visit CSIFiles.com!