Justin Lin, best known for his work on the Fast and the Furious films, will direct the third film in the rebooted Star Trek films.

According to Deadline, Lin was assigned the role by Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions and J.J. Abrams's company Bad Robot.

Lin's rep confirmed the news Monday.

Lin directed four out of six films in the Fast and the Furious franchise, which in total have earned more than $2 billion US. He's also directed several episodes of the television show Community, and the 2002 crime-drama film Better Luck Tomorrow.

Lin will replace Roberto Orci, a screenwriter who co-wrote the first two Trek films and would have made his directorial debut with Star Trek 3.

Abrams, who rebooted the Trek franchise in 2009 and followed up with Star Trek: Into Darkness in 2013, is busy directing the other pillar of silver screen sci-fi: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, due out in 2015.

with files from the Associated Press