‘Star Trek 3’ set for July 2016 release, with Justin Lin directing

“Star Trek 3” has set a course for a July 8, 2016, theatrical release, Paramount Pictures announced Tuesday.

The news comes a day after word broke that Justin Lin will direct the third film in the rebooted sci-fi series.

Deadline Hollywood first reported that Lin, a veteran of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, is stepping in to replace Roberto Orci, who was originally to make his directing debut on “Star Trek 3” but recently vacated the job.

Orci co-wrote the previous two “Star Trek” films directed by J.J. Abrams, who himself jumped (star)ship to helm “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Lin, 43, broke out in 2002 with his Sundance hit “Better Luck Tomorrow,” a crime drama that upended the “model minority” stereotype of Asian American youth with its tale of drug dealing, thievery, murder and suburban boredom.

Though he comes from indie roots, Lin is no stranger to big-budget studio tent-poles. Universal Pictures tossed him the keys to the “Fast & Furious” franchise beginning with the third installment, “Tokyo Drift,” and he steered the series to massive global success with the fourth, fifth and sixth films.

Lin passed the torch to James Wan for “Furious 7” and was attached to direct a sequel to “The Bourne Legacy,” the super-spy spinoff starring Jeremy Renner, but that movie was preempted by Matt Damon’s and Paul Greengrass’ return to the “Bourne” franchise.

Although Lin has yet to direct a proper sci-fi movie, he does fit in to the recent trend of studios tapping youngish directors with vision to tackle some of their major franchise, including Wan, Rian Johnson (“Star Wars: Episode VIII”), Gareth Edwards (the “Godzilla” movies and a “Star Wars” spinoff) and Josh Trank (“The Fantastic Four” and another “Star Wars” spinoff).

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