With the news earlier this week that Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof have completed a 70 page outline for the Star Trek sequel and it is “detailed enough to do some prep,” we were still hesitant that it would hit its June 29th, 2012 release date. With J.J. Abrams not formally signed to direct and a release date of just a year away, it wasn’t looking likely. Deadline now confirms our suspicions.

The report, that although Paramount hasn’t confirmed, says we will get news soon that Abrams will sign on to direct Star Trek 2 and they are refocusing for a Holiday 2012 release. This would free it up from the busy summer that includes The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Bourne Legacy, Men in Black III and The Amazing Spider-Man, opting to go against Zack Snyder‘s Superman: The Man of Steel and Sam MendesBond 23 instead.

Abrams keeping 100% of his focus on Super 8, as well as the busy schedules for the writers, whose workload includes Cowboys & Aliens, Ender’s Game, and Prometheus, is the main reason for the Star Trek 2 hold-up. Chris Pine‘s Jack Ryan film Moscow is also waiting on a rewrite from David Koepp, but he is expected to take on this sequel first. I was a big fan of Star Trek, and although I’d like to see J.J. Abrams take on more original projects like Super 8, I understand the studio’s desire for this one. Let’s just not turn out a sequel rush job like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Take your sweet old time JJ.

Are you upset we may not be seeing Star Trek 2 next summer?

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