Star Trek Remaster Reveals New Enterprise

The latest images from the Star Trek remaster give us an awesome new look at the Enterprise along with an updated space station

By Charlene Badasie | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

star trek remaster

Paramount+ has released photos from the upcoming 4k Ultra HD Star Trek: The Motion Picture Director’s Edition remaster. The streaming giant announced the restoration last year and the images are amazing. The two shots give fans a look at the iconic USS Enterprise, refitted for its first big-screen adventure. The second image showcases a satellite facility in orbit far above the Earth.

The Star Trek remaster will include a scene-by-scene High Dynamic Range (HDR) color grading and a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. These elements will create a visual experience of the movie that wasn’t possible until now. The restoration process was overseen by producer David C. Fein along with restoration supervisor Mike Matessino, and visual effects supervisor Daren R. Dochterman – all of whom worked with director Robert Wise who died in 2005.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture remaster will also be edited to align more closely with director Robert Wise’s initial vision for the story, which wasn’t possible before due to a tight, unmovable deadline. Now the film will include abandoned plot elements and additional special effects which were created for the film’s 2001 DVD release. Although the theatrical version has been available on Blu-ray before, this is the first time the director’s cut will be up for grabs in HD format. Check out the Enterprise remaster and the new space station as well.

Star Trek Remaster
star trek remaster

Speaking about director Robert Wise in a 2019 interview with Comicbook.com, visual effects legend Douglas Trumball (who worked on the original movie) explained the creative process behind the film. He said there was a definite desire to elevate Star Trek to a higher, more epic territory. That’s why it’s called Star Trek: The Motion Picture and not just Star Trek something else. They wanted to make sure it was differentiated from the episodic television series. That’s also why the studio hired Wise because he had done The Sound of Music and West Side Story. These really important films were epic in nature, and that’s what they wanted for Star Trek (and the remaster).

Released in 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (and the remaster) is directed by Robert Wise. The film was based on the Star Trek television series created by Gene Roddenberry, who also served as producer. It is the first installment in the Star Trek film series and features the cast of the original series. The movie received mixed reviews, many of which faulted it for a lack of action scenes and over-reliance on special effects. However, it did set a box office record for the highest opening weekend gross.

Set in 2270, Star Trek: The Motion Picture remaster follows a mysterious and immensely powerful alien cloud known as V’Ger who destroys everything in its path as it approaches Earth. In response to the threat, Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) assumes command of the recently refitted Starship USS Enterprise, leading it on a mission to determine V’Ger’s origins and save the planet from harm.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Director’s Edition remaster will debut on the Paramount+ streaming service sometime later this year.