Star Trek 4: Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth ‘drop out’ of film

The fourth instalment of the rebooted Star Trek franchise has lost two main cast members following failed pay negotiations.

According to a new report, Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth won't be appearing in Star Trek 4. The Hollywood Reporter states that both actors have walked away after failing to come to an agreement with Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media.

The film's other cast members - including Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho and Simon Pegg - are all expected to return.

Pine has played Captain Kick across three films, the first two of which were directed by JJ Abrams. Thor star Hemsworth was set to return as his father, having originally played the role in the prologue of the 2009 film.

Sources claim that their departure comes after studios reneged on existing deals which would have seen them take pay cuts amid budget changes caused by the third instalment's lacklustre box office performance. Released in 2016, Star Trek Beyond grossed $343m (£268m) worldwide compared with predecessor Star Trek Into Darkness' global haul of $467m (£366m) in 2013.

The project is said to be moving ahead regardless with female director SJ Clarkson overtaking the reins from Beyond filmmaker Justin Lin.

Pine recently had his return to the Wonder Woman franchise confirmed.