The third movie in the rebooted Star Trek sci-fi franchise is set to beam down into cinemas a year and a half from now.

Paramount Pictures has revealed that the threequel will arrive on 8 July, 2016 - marking the 50th anniversary of the original TV series.

The date came a day after Justin Lin was revealed to have taken over the director's chair on the project - which had previously been vacated by Roberto Orci.

JJ Abrams directed the first two instalments of the revived franchise, which stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana and Simon Pegg - among others.

Last year's Star Trek Into Darkness grossed £300 million worldwide, aided no doubt by Benedict Cumberbatch playing the villain.