^ This actually makes a lot of sense - crazy sense, maybe, but sense. Tarantino has talked for years about how he'd like to do a James Bond or Star Wars/Trek movie, and I get the sense that the idea of directing an A-list franchise one-off holds a special appeal for him. (Of course, he could easily get a gig directing any number of minor/forgotten franchise entries, but to do an A-list one, in his own style and with complete authorial control, would be a special coup.) The part where this makes lots of sense is that Star Trek the film franchise is a wounded animal. Into Darkness made 29m less than '09 domestically, and sold even fewer tickets when you factor in the 3D surchage, and, Beyond made 99m less than '09. (Into Darkness bested '09 overseas, but Beyond dropped 23% from there, and during a significant expansion of the Chinese market.) What's more, the reboot cast's contracts expired with Beyond, I believe, making them potentially significantly costlier to re-hire, if they're willing to do so at all.
In short, Trek is arguably a unique property at the moment in that the brand retains enormous cultural prestige and awareness while at the same time being very dubiously bankable. With Abrams still massively tied up in Star Wars, and with no clear path forward, Tarantino could offer Paramount his name and prestige for a significantly cheaper, less action-oriented entry sure to tempt the reboot cast back (assuming that's part of the pitch), and Paramount could offer him the complete freedom (based on an agreed-upon script and rating) he'd no doubt demand.
As someone who flat-out hated just about every damn minute of Beyond apart from Spock learning of Spock Prime's passing and finding the classic cast photo, I for one welcome Tarantino as a potential one-movie overlord. Since Into Darkness killed of my lingering affection for '09, I can't say I (still) like a Trek movie since First Contact, and even that I find all kinds of problematic. Five bad movies in a row is a hell of a losing streak; it's time for some drastic measures.