While Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness director J.J. Abrams explores a galaxy far, far away with Disney's Star Wars: Episode VII, Paramount Pictures announced last month that Roberto Orci will make his feature directorial debut with Star Trek 3, after co-writing the first two movies with Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Roberto Orci recently appeared on the Humans from Earth podcast, where he revealed several new intriguing details about the Star Trek 3 story.

Some fans have complained that both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness were set too much on Earth. According to Roberto Orci, that will change with Star Trek 3, which brings these iconic characters closer to how they were portrayed in Gene Roddenberry's original Star Trek TV series.

"In [Into Darkness] they set out finally where the original series started. The first two films - especially the 2009 [Star Trek] - was an origin story. It was about them coming together. So they weren't the characters they were in the original series. They were growing into them and that continues on in the second movie. So in this movie they are closer than they are to the original series characters that you have ever seen. They have set off on their five-year mission. So their adventure is going to be in deep space."

The filmmaker also joked that The Horta would be the main villain in Star Trek 3, before teasing that there may be a whole new alien species created for this sequel.

"The Horta is actually the villain in the next one - no - they are in deep space now, so lets see what's out there."

When a fan stated that they "have to go back to the Romulans or the Klingons," the director countered with this statement, which also hints at new aliens being created.

"But wait, why do you have to go back to them? Because this is an alternative universe I think we can choose. I don't feel the pressure to revisit anyone or not. We are lucky that way, but we have the ability to cherry pick what has become before. It will depend on what serves the story best."

He also spoke about the possible inclusion of a gay character on the U.S.S. Enterprise.

"It can be part of a character and not be the whole shebang...It doesn't have to be like South Park, like 'what have we learned today.' It can be so normalized that it just exists. I agree it can't be shoe-horned in. And it is not necessary for it to be the whole point of the thing. It is an ensemble and there is lots of people to represent so no one point of view should hog it."

Roberto Orci is working on the script with new writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. While an official release date has not been announced yet, many fans believe that Star Trek 3 will arrive in theaters in 2016, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original TV series.

What do you think about these new Star Trek 3 story details? Chime in with your thoughts below.