30 Years On: ‘Star Trek’s’ Captain Kirk Returns in New Short Film

The 30th anniversary of the film ‘Star Trek: Generations’ has been commemorated with the release of a new short film titled ‘Unification.’ This project, produced by the Roddenberry Archive in collaboration with Paramount and their technology partner OTOY, was unveiled today to celebrate the historic milestone.

‘Star Trek: Generations,’ released in 1994, notably featured the final appearance of William Shatner in his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk, who sacrificed his life to save the day on the fictional planet Veridian III. Now, Shatner, who is also among the executive producers of ‘Unification’, has reprised his character in this latest endeavor.

The short film, which is part of the «765874» series within the Roddenberry Archive, integrates live-action performances with cutting-edge computer-generated imagery. Sam Witwer steps into the role of a younger Kirk, while Lawrence Selleck portrays Spock. The technology used includes «both physical and digital prosthetics resulting in period-accurate portrayals,» explained officials from OTOY.

Executive production also saw contributions from Susan Bay Nimoy, the widow of Leonard Nimoy, who was integral in safeguarding the legacy of Spock. The film, which is approximately eight minutes long, boasts a narrative interweaving decades of Star Trek lore. It includes references to key characters and moments from the original series as well as more recent Star Trek productions, including a character from ‘Star Trek: Discovery‘.

‘Unification’ was directed by Spanish filmmaker Carlos Baena, with renowned Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino providing the score. The visual effects were realized using OTOY’s «Octane» rendering software. Production designer David Blass and Emmy award-winning visual effects supervisor Mark Spatny were also critical to its creation.

In describing the film, Shatner noted that the technology used «takes years off of your face,» allowing actors to appear significantly younger than their real-age counterparts. The nuances of this portrayal were shared in a preview with Shatner at the Star Trek Tour in Ticonderoga, New York, where it was well-received.

‘Unification’ and prior films in the «765874» series are now accessible via The Archive web portal, where they add to an evolving library of interactive sets, props, and digital worlds that extend the Star Trek universe beyond traditional boundaries.