After years of deliberation, uncertainty, and flirting with Quentin Tarantino, Star Trek 4 is finally happening - here's one J.J. Abrams tease that must be included. Boldly launching in 2009, J.J. Abrams rebooted the Star Trek movie series for a whole new generation, casting younger versions of Captain Kirk's classic Enterprise crew, but breaking into the totally fresh "Kelvin" timeline. This tactic afforded sequels - Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016) - an untouched slate, but when the latter (photon) torpedoed at the box office, doubt fell over Star Trek 4's prospects. Eventually, after a string of false dawns (one directed by Quentin Tarantino, another starring Chris Hemsworth), J.J. Abrams confirmed Star Trek 4 was officially happening with all the main cast returning.
Across a trilogy of Kelvin timeline adventures, Chris Pine and co. faced many tough adversaries - Nero, Khan, and Krall chief among them. The neo-Enterprise crew encountered other enemies along the way too, most notably Star Trek's famous Klingons. Radically redesigned Klingons were slated to debut in J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, but the scene in question found itself consigned to the cutting room floor. The Klingons returned via Star Trek Into Darkness, but merely as a cog in Khan's evil wheel, and Benedict Cumberbatch brutalizes the Klingon squadron with consummate ease, leaving Star Trek's proud warriors licking their wounds.
Star Trek 4 needs to bring J.J. Abrams' new Klingons back into focus. With their helmets on, the Klingons carry a powerful mystique, but underneath, the design used for Star Trek Into Darkness conjures a menacing, brutal, primal tone that's enjoyed a far warmer reception compared to Star Trek: Discovery's modern makeover. Beyond their physical appearance alone, Star Trek Into Darkness' Kelvin Klingons cut a more ruthless and bloodthirsty figure than ever before - holding a knife to Uhura's throat after she appeals to their honor, for instance. These Klingons aren't merely politically and morally opposed to the Federation, they're natural enemies of humanity as a species. Star Trek's iconic wrinkly-headed bad guys have languished in the background of J.J. Abrams' movie franchise far too long; it's time to finally pay off those teases with a plot that does justice to Qo'noS' perma-angry, blood-soaked legacy.
Seeds for conflict have already been sown thanks to Star Trek Into Darkness' Admiral Marcus. Using Khan as his weapon, Marcus riled up the Klingons in an attempt to provoke war against the Federation. His plan failed, and the Klingons will know he wasn't acting on the Federation's behalf... but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll care. Star Trek 4's plot could involve all-out war between Federation and Klingon that began with Star Trek Into Darkness and steadily intensified over the intervening years. Maybe Kirk's Enterprise must tackle a daring mission to end the war, or else total annihilation beckons for both sides. Star Trek: Discovery attempted something similar in season 1, but design backlash and continuity restrictions dulled the impact. Star Trek 4 benefits from more solid Klingon foundations, and can finally deliver the modern conflict Star Trek's most famous villains have been desperately crying out for.
Given the backstage treacle Star Trek 4 has crawled through (and barring a miraculous box office haul), the upcoming Enterprise reunion will likely represent one last stand for J,J, Abrams' Kelvin timeline. That means any teases or hints from previous movies must be resolved or paid off here, and Abrams' Klingons with their untapped potential fall very much this category. After Star Trek Beyond's commercial stutter, another brand new main antagonist seems unlikely, and of all existing Star Trek baddies, none fit the bill quite like Klingons, who have already made their presence keenly felt despite minimal screen time. Star Trek 4 should finally say "Hab SoSlI' Quch!" to the Kelvin Klingons.