Simon Pegg, who has played the role of irascible engineer Scotty (originated by James Doohan) in J.J. Abrams reboot of the Star Trek franchise, has been tapped to write the screenplay for Star Trek 3 along with Doug Jung, the co-creator of the TV cop drama Dark Blue.  The infusion of writing talent was needed once Roberto Orci, who had co-written the first two Star Trek films and was set to write and direct the third, left the project and was replaced by Fast and Furious helmer Justin Lin (see "'Star Trek 3' Gets New Director").

Pegg certainly has plenty of experience writing screenplays--he co-wrote the Cornetto Trilogy with director Edgar Wright as well as the underrated comedy, Run Fatboy, Run.  Deadline, which broke the story, speculated, with tongue only partially in cheek, that Scotty might end up with a larger role in Star Trek 3.