Pre Production on Star Trek The Motion Picture - Episode 89

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s

In the 1970s, Star Trek’s return had taken many forms. Multiple rejected movie ideas had finally led to one being green-lighted, The Planet of the Titans. But ultimately, Paramount cancelled that project too.

But In June 1977, Paramount announced its plans to create a 4th TV network with a new Star Trek show, Phase II, as the anchor. But just two months later, Paramount changed their plans and decided to take Star Trek to the big screen.

Meanwhile, in the fall of 1977, production is continued on Phase II, and the crew of that show did’t yet know that the show had been secretly cancelled.

On November 11, 1977, just two and a half weeks before production on Phase II was due to start, the studio announced that the television series had been cancelled in favor of a new feature film. Cast and crew who had been hired just that Monday were laid off by Friday, and construction on Phase II sets came to a halt.

These were the events that lead up to the start of pre-production on the project eventually called Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Co-hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto tell you about what pre-production involved on this episode of 70s Trek.