According to a new report, Paramount Pictures and J.J. Abrams are said to be eyeing five directors for Star Trek 3 after Roberto Orci dropped out earlier this month (creative differences are believed to be the reason).

The studio are apparently keen on Rise of the Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt, and have met with the filmmaker to discuss the project. He recently finished working on The Gambler starring Mark Wahlberg.

He may be at the top of the shortlist, but others being looked at include Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game), Daniel Espinosa (Safe House), Justin Lin, (Fast & Furious), and Duncan Jones (Source Code). Jones -who is hard at work on the World of Warcraft adaptation – has already taken to Twitter to deny involvement.

Almost all of the directors above have other projects in the works, so it’s going to be interesting to see which (if any of them) will end up making the time in their schedules to take on the third Star Trek movie.

Abrams couldn’t return for the third instalment because he decided to direct Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and the studio want Star Trek 3 out by 2016 to coincide with the franchise’s 50th Anniversary.