Pre Production on Star Trek The Motion Picture - Episode 89

Pre Production on Star Trek The Motion Picture - Episode 89

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto June 8, 2018 Duration: 32:39

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.


Dive into the fascinating decade when Star Trek lived on without a single new episode airing on television. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto guide 70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s through a detailed exploration of how a cancelled series refused to fade away. This podcast digs into the people who kept the flame burning-the original cast finding new voices in animation and convention halls, the writers and artists expanding the universe in novels and comics, and the passionate fans who created a blueprint for modern fandom. Each discussion connects the dots between the show's internal creative shifts and the wider cultural currents of the seventies that it both reflected and influenced. You'll hear about the specific efforts, from fan-led letter campaigns to Paramount's strategic decisions, that slowly built the momentum leading to a theatrical rebirth. It's a story of resilience and reinvention, examining not just what happened but how it felt to be part of that enduring phenomenon during those years. For anyone curious about the hidden history between the original series and "The Motion Picture," this podcast offers a rich, conversational deep dive into the community and commerce that made a comeback inevitable. Join Turner and Casto as they unpack the legacy of a show that was technically off the air, yet somehow more alive than ever.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s
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