'Star Trek Beyond' Release Date News: Enterprise Delays Launch To Big Screen; Spock, Bones Relationship Explored?

By Lovely Pao

Sep 18, 2015 06:00 AM EDT

"Star Trek Beyond" fans may have to deal with the surprising release date news from their beloved "Star Trek" franchise.

Entertainment Weekly has learned that Paramount Pictures has announced that "Star Trek Beyond," third installment in the "Star Trek" reboot franchise will be pushed back for a later date. The Chris Pine starrer was originally set to hit theaters on Independence Day, but it was moved to July 22, 2016, a couple more weeks later than the previous schedule.

So, what was the reason behind the Enterprise's delayed launched to the big screen?

The answer was simple — Imax venues. For the Melrose Avenue studio, late July proved quite productive when Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" got $55.5 million FSS when it opened on July 31. Its original playdate was supposed to be December 2015 but was moved in late July to take leverage from those open Imax venues. That's exactly why Paramount Pictures has delayed the release date of "Star Trek Beyond." Apparently, on July 1, all Imax hubs were secured by Warner Bros.' "Tarzan" leaving nothing for Captain James T. Kirk and his Enterprise crew, as per Deadline.

The Justin Lin-helmed film, "Star Trek Beyond," will now face off with Warner Bros.' "King Arthur" directed by Guy Ritchie and stars "Sons of Anarchy" alum, Charlie Hunnam, and 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age: Collusion Course."

Previously, "Star Trek Into Darkness" opened unopposed by any wide release on May 16, 2013 and earned $70.2 million. J.J. Abrams "Star Trek," the first reboot opened against Summit's "Next Day Air" on May 8, 2009 and gained $75.2 million FSS.

Meanwhile, "Star Trek Beyond" will not only focus on Chris Pine's Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Vulcan character, Spock's relationship but also on Spock and Karl Urban's Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Quinto has revealed to The Telegraph that the characters of Spock and Bones "are so diametrically opposed that it'll be nice to see them interacting."

Indeed, it would be interesting to see the blunt and calculating personality of Spock to connect with the emotionally driven attitude of Bones.

According to Cinemablend, reprising their roles for "Star Trek Beyond" were Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu. Lydia Wilson and Idris Elba also join the "Star Trek" franchise.

"Star Trek Beyond" hits theaters on July 22, 2016.