Although we still haven't heard any official word on whether or not Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) will direct Paramount/Skydance's Star Trek 3, it appears that a trio of writers have been hired to tackle the script.  Newcomers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay will join Roberto Orci for the task.  That last name isn't new, as Orci and his writing partner Alex Kurtzman have written the last two Star Trek movies (along with Damon Lindelof).  The catch this time is that Kurtzman will, reportedly, not be involved, making Orci the main force behind the script.  Hit the jump for more.

As Heat Vision reports, Payne and McKay will join Orci as the writing team for Star Trek 3.  A couple of years ago, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot set Payne and McKay to pen the adaptation of the graphic novel-picture book Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel.  The duo also have written a script for Relativity's Goliath picture, which appears to be stuck in development, and at last count, a feature film adaptation of the Spike TV series Deadliest Warrior.  As you may have guessed, none of these have gone to fruition.  It's a safe bet that Star Trek 3 will see the light of day, but how much of the script is owed to them remains to be seen.

Though the third installment in the rebooted franchise remains without a title or release date, the studios are hoping to get it into theaters in time for Star Trek's 50th anniversary in 2016.  (Probably a good idea considering how crowded 2015 is already.)  Abrams, who is still on board the third film but only as a producer, recently spoke about the previous film, Star Trek Into Darkness, and the possibility of Cornish directing.  See what he had to say here.