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Chris Pine is close to finalizing a deal to star alongside Emma Stone in the upcoming romantic comedy The Catch, set to be directed by her husband Dave McCary. The film, produced by Universal Pictures, is planned as a two-person romantic story, with Stone poised to take the lead female role and Pine expected to be her male counterpart.
Details on Production and Casting Developments
Although plot specifics remain tightly under wraps, The Catch is framed as a focused dialogue-driven romantic comedy, penned by writers Patrick Kang and Michael Levin. Emma Stone’s casting marks a significant step forward after she explored various potential projects. Industry insiders say once Pine agrees to join, The Catch will become Stone’s next major film shoot.
Reports indicate that several actors expressed strong interest in the male lead once Stone’s involvement became public. However, after numerous discussions with producers and executives, Chris Pine secured the role. The production is supported by Shawn Levy and Dan Levine through their company 21 Laps, while Stone, McCary, and Ali Herting produce via Fruit Tree, which maintains a first-look agreement with Universal. Michael H. Weber is also attached as a producer.
Chris Pine’s Current Career Context and Star Trek Updates
While preparing for this new romantic comedy, Chris Pine remains connected to his iconic role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. However, he confirmed recent discussions about a new Star Trek film have excluded him from involvement. Paramount Pictures is developing a fresh installment with John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein—known for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves—tapped to write and direct, but Pine has yet to be approached for participation.
Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival’s Variety Studio presented by Audible, Pine acknowledged the lack of information on the project by responding,
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You probably know more than I do.
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He added a hopeful message to those working on it:
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Advice? Have fun, good luck, live long and prosper.
”
Simon Pegg’s Reflections on Reprising Scotty and the Future of Star Trek
Simon Pegg, who played Scotty in the Star Trek films, voiced his desire to return to the character during a panel at STLV: Trek to Vegas 2025. He emphasized how much he values reconnecting with his castmates and imagining the characters a decade after their five-year mission. He told fans,
“J.J. [Abrams] has always said that there are scripts being developed and this and that. I think it’s about time. It would be great to see us 10 years after the five-year mission, where we are.”
Pegg shared fond memories of his fellow actors located in Los Angeles, saying,
“I saw Zoe [Saldaña] this year, which was lovely. I saw Karl [Urban] a couple of times when I was working on The Boys. But I miss Chris [Pine] and I miss John [Cho]. We’ve been through a lot together.”
He further expressed heartfelt sentiment:
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We’ve been through good times, bad times. And I would love to be able to hang out with those guys again.
”
Challenges and Hopes for a New Star Trek Film
A fourth film in the Star Trek series has been in development at Paramount Pictures but has encountered multiple hurdles. Originally, Matt Shakman, known for directing The Fantastic Four: First Steps, was slated to helm the project but left in 2022.
Simon Pegg expressed hope that progress would be renewed under Skydance Media’s leadership after its CEO, David Ellison, who is a devoted Star Trek fan, took over at Paramount. Pegg noted,
“Well, I know David Ellison is a big Star Trek fan. I know he cares about the series. So I would love it.”
He continued,
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I would be delighted if we could make another film. I love those guys.
”
The combination of Pine’s recent move toward a fresh rom-com venture with Emma Stone in The Catch, and the ongoing discussions about a Star Trek revival, highlight an intense and reflective period for the actor. As Stone and her team prepare for production, Pine balances his hopeful anticipation for the enduring sci-fi franchise with the excitement surrounding this new romantic project, both of which remain highly anticipated by fans and industry observers alike.