Roberto Orci, Writer-Producer of ‘Star Trek' and ‘Transformers,' Dies at 51
A prolific writer, Orci was also known for his work on 'Hawaii Five-0.'
'He was a visionary storyteller with a boundless heart and a beautiful soul,' Orci's brother, J.R. Orci said. 'But beyond his creative talents, he was a compassionate friend who would put his life on hold to help a stranger and find room in his home for the most overlooked pup at the shelter.'
Orci was known for his long collaboration with Alex Kurtzman, whom he met when they were in their teens at Crossroads, a private school in Santa Monica.
They began their their writing collaboration with the 1995 series 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.' In 2008, they teamed up with J.J. Abrams for the Fox sci-fi series 'Fringe,' continuing to collaborate on Abrams' 'Star Trek' feature films. They also created 'Sleepy Hollow' with Phillip Iscove in 2013. It ran for four seasons. Along with Peter Lenkov, they also rebooted the 1960s classic 'Hawaii Five-0,' in 2010 which had a 10-season run on CBS.
Orci and Kurtzman's first film project was Michael Bay's 2005 thriller 'The Island,' which led to them becoming involved in the 'Transformers' film franchise.
They teamed up again on the 2008 thriller 'Eagle Eye,' with Orci receiving his first producer credit.
Without Kurtzman, Orci created the 2014 television series 'Matador' for the El Rey Network, but it was cancelled at the end of the first season. He and Kurtzman were both EPs on CBS' 'Scorpion' and 'Limitless.'
In 2017, Orci was given the 'Visionary Impact Award' by the National Hispanic Media Coalition for 'making outstanding contributions to the positive portrayals of Latinos in film and TV.'
With Kurtzman and Abrams, Orci received Hugo Award and WGA nominations for 'Fringe.' He also shared a Daytime Emmy Award with Kurtzman and other writers in 2012 for the animated series 'Transformers Prime.' His screenplay with Kurtzman for Abrams' first 'Star Trek' feature also received a WGA nomination in 2010.
The post Roberto Orci, Writer-Producer of 'Star Trek' and 'Transformers,' Dies at 51 appeared first on TheWrap.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
What Happened to Taylor Sheridan's Michelle Pfeiffer-Led Drama ‘The Madison'?
While Yellowstone might be gone, the Yellowstone universe and its creator, Taylor Sheridan, are thriving. Y: Marshals, a CBS series centered on Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), is currently in production with a planned 2025–26 midseason premiere. A new Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) show (rumored to be titled Dutton Ranch), is also in the works, while 6666 was announced as another spinoff. Meanwhile, series such as Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown continue to keep Sheridan's name at the forefront of the television landscape. But one show that doesn't seem to have much traction is The Madison(originally titled 2024). The last update on Sheridan's Montana-centered drama came in October 2024, when Y: The Last Man alum Ben Schnetzer was cast as 'a rancher,' sparking speculation about whether he might be playing The Madison's very own version of Rip Wheeler. Prior to that announcement, the high-profile series from Sheridan boasted a big name cast, including star Michelle Pfeiffer, Lost alum Matthew Fox, Patrick J. Adams of Suits, Firefly Lane alum Beau Garrett, Amiah Miller, and newcomer Elle Chapman. Kurt Russell was also been rumored to be attached to the series, though that casting appears to have halted. So, what has happened to The Madison? Why has there been no meaningful news since October 2024? Unfortunately, until there's an official announcement from Paramount or Sheridan's camp, fans will have to settle for speculation and keep waiting for any sign that the project is moving forward. Until then, here what we know about the series. What is Yellowstone's The Madison about? Paramount describes The Madison as a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana. 'Michelle Pfeiffer is a remarkable talent who imbues every role with emotional depth, authenticity and grace,' said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios when her casting was announced. 'She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of the Yellowstone universe, Madison, from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan.' The Madison is executive produced by Sheridan, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Christina Voros, Michael Friedman, Pfeiffer, and Keith Cox. Yellowstone's The Madison Cast The Madison centers on Pfeiffer as far Stacy Clyburn, a wealthy matriarch who moves her family from New York City to Montana in the wake of a life-changing event. Chapman and Garrett play Pfeiffer's two daughters, Paige McIntosh and Abigail Reese. Adams plays Russell McIntosh, Paige's husband. Fox will star opposite Pfeiffer as Paul, 'a self-reliant bachelor who loves the outdoors,' according to Deadline. Here are the official character descriptions provided by Paramount: Adams will play Russell McIntosh, a young investment banker who has followed the life path set before him from the start. Chapman will play Paige McIntosh, a somewhat self-centered woman who indulges in a luxurious New York lifestyle provided by her parents and investment banker husband. Garrett will play Abigail Reese, a resilient and sardonic New Yorker, who is a recently divorced mother of two. Miller will play Bridgette, Abigail's eldest daughter. The Madison is Chapman's TV debut. Her film debut was in a scene in A Man Called Otto opposite Tom Hanks. Miller recently starred in War for the Planet of the Apes. Schnetzer joins the cast as Van, 'a salt-of-the-earth and neighborly Montana rancher,' per Variety. Van is the first character announced for the series who seems to be from Montana and not a transplant like the other main characters. While we wouldn't describe Cole Hauser's Rip in Yellowstone as neighborly, Van's description most resembles the archetypes viewers already know from the flagship series. Schnetzer is known for starring in Y: The Last Man and was recently seen in Netflix's 3 Body Problem. Yellowstone's The Madison Premiere Date Production on The Madison is reportedly began in August 2024 in Montana, NYC, and Texas. It is unknown when the series with premiere. Will Yellowstone's Original Cast Be in The Madison? When it was known as 2024, The Madison got a series order in Fall 2023 from Paramount and was reportedly going to feature appearances from original Yellowstone cast members Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Luke Grimes. Matthew McConaughey was attached to star. There is no update on whether or not Reilly, Hauser, and Grimes will appear in The Madison. The Madison, Series Premiere, TBA, Paramount Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Quentin Tarantino Scrapped ‘The Movie Critic' Because It ‘Was Too Much Like' ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' and ‘Who Wants to See a Movie About a F—ing Movie Critic?'
Quentin Tarantino has offered an explanation for why he scrapped plans to direct his script 'The Movie Critic,' which would've marked his 10th film — and his final one, if he does keep his years-long promise that he will stop helming features at that count. 'I wasn't really excited about dramatizing what I wrote when I was in pre-production, partly because I'm using the skillset that I learned from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' [of] 'How are we going to turn Los Angeles into the Hollywood of 1969 without using CGI?'' Tarantino explained in a career-spanning conversation on the Church of Tarantino podcast, recorded in Los Angeles at his coffee shop Pam's Coffy. 'It was something we had to pull off. We had to achieve it. It wasn't for sure that we could do it. … 'The Movie Critic,' there was nothing to figure out. I already kind of knew, more or less, how to turn L.A. into an older time. It was too much like the last one.' More from Variety Simon Pegg Says Quentin Tarantino's Unmade 'Star Trek' Movie Was 'Bats-- Crazy': 'It Was Everything You Would Expect' 'Pulp Fiction:' Lawrence Bender Reflects on Producing Quentin Tarantino's Modern Hollywood Classic Quentin Tarantino Shares Michael Madsen 'Reservoir Dogs' Story During Private Memorial: 'I'm On Your Side, Buddy' Tarantino also explained that 'The Movie Critic' was set in 1977 and began development as an eight-episode TV series, a project that he had teased was in the works in 2022. He also clarified that the story of 'The Movie Critic' had nothing to do with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' despite rumors that the project was a narrative follow-up. Brad Pitt had been cast in a lead role, leading to speculation that the star would be reprising his 'Once Upon a Time' role of Cliff Booth. Tarantino said that there were no shared characters between the two stories, though he called 'The Movie Critic' a 'spiritual sequel.' He also suggested that he could loop back to the project should he change his mind about it, as it's already written. 'The thing about 'The Movie Critic' is I really, really like it. But there was a challenge that I gave to myself when I did it. 'Can I take the most boring profession in the world and make it an interesting movie?'' Tarantino said. 'Who wants to see a TV show about a fucking movie critic? Who wants to see a movie called 'The Movie Critic'? That was the test. If I can actually make a movie or a TV show about someone who actually watches movies interesting, that is an accomplishment. And I think I did that.' The director continued by saying that he began work on 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth,' the actual sequel to 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' shortly after walking away from 'The Movie Critic.' The Netflix production, which is now shooting in Los Angeles, is written and produced by Tarantino, but David Fincher is directing. In the meantime, Tarantino is planning to open a play on the West End in London in 2026 before working on his 10th (and allegedly final) feature film. 'It's a little crazy to listen to podcasts and hear all these amateur psychiatrists psychoanalyze as if they fucking know what they're talking about about what's going on with me, about how I'm so scared, alright, of my 10th film,' Tarantino said, launching into an impression for his speculative fans. ''Oh my god! Oh my god! I'm so fragile about my legacy. What's going on? I'm paralyzed with fear!' I'm not paralyzed with fear. Trust me.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword


USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Conan O'Brien says late-night TV will 'disappear' after Colbert cancellation
Conan O'Brien isn't optimistic about the future of late-night TV as we know it. During a speech at the Television Academy Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 16, the comedian predicted the current late-night television format will go away, but stressed that the comics who host those shows still have a bright future in the industry. "Late-night television, as we have known it since around 1950, is going to disappear," O'Brien said. "But those voices are not going anywhere. People like Stephen Colbert are too talented, and too essential, to go away. It's not going to happen. He's not going anywhere. Stephen is going to evolve and shine brighter than ever in a new format that he controls completely." Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox O'Brien's comments came about a month after CBS announced its shock cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," which the network described as "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." The move sparked speculation that Colbert's fellow late-night hosts could also be on the chopping block, though no other network has followed CBS' lead since then. After the "Late Show" cancellation, some suggested Colbert could move into podcasting, pointing to O'Brien as a successful example of that pivot. After almost three decades hosting various late-night shows, O'Brien left the format in 2021 with the end of TBS' "Conan" but has stayed active as host of his podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend." He also stars in the HBO Max travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go" and hosted the Academy Awards in 2025, with plans to return in the role in 2026. Stephen Colbert is out at CBS. Is all of late-night TV officially doomed? While being inducted into the Hall of Fame, O'Brien joked in his speech, "For those of you under 40, late-night television was a service designed to distract college students until science could perfect the internet and online pornography." Joking aside, the former "Late Night" host shared a positive message in the face of changes in the television landscape. "We're having this event now in a time when there's a lot of fear about the future of television, and rightfully so," he said. "The life we've all known for almost 80 years is undergoing seismic change. But, this might just be my nature, I choose not to mourn what is lost because I think, in the most essential way, what we have is not changing at all." He added, "Streaming changes the pipeline, but the connection, the talent, the ideas that come into our homes? I think it's as potent as ever." 'I would worry about myself': Seth Meyers reveals concern about his show being canceled "Late Night" host Seth Meyers recently shared his concerns about the future of late-night TV in an interview on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, which was recorded before the Colbert cancellation. "I shifted from fearing that I wouldn't be good enough, and now, my fear is weirdly more outside of my control, which is at some point, the ecosystem might not support it," Meyers said. "I guess that's better than thinking it's your fault, but it is weird to not feel any control over it."