<em>Star Trek 3</em> to begin filming in six months

Los Angeles - Zachary Quinto believes Star Trek 3 will begin shooting within the next six months.

The 37-year-old actor - who has also appeared in the popular sci-fi show Heroes - has confirmed he expects to return to the iconic role of Spock shortly.

When asked how close the cast are to filming Star Trek 3, Quinto told NBC: "I think it's on the horizon.

"Things are rumbling, so I have a feeling that we will be in production sometime in the next six months."

Quinto is expected to appear in the much-anticipated movie alongside Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana.

Meanwhile, Roberto Orci - who helped write JJ Abrams's two Star Trek films with Alex Kurtzman - is in line to direct the new flick.

Last month, Orci - who is writing the script alongside John D. Payne and Patrick McKay - said an initial draft of the script has been completed.

He has also expressed an interest in directing the film, telling Collider: "I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch. The studio has yet to even read the script. I'm in the middle of writing it, with the talented team of John D. Payne and Patrick McKay.

"They are true Star Trek fans, as well. So, I can't even think anything about the future until I give them a script and they greenlight it. Until that happens, everything else is just a rumour."