The Refitted Enterprise - Episode 98

The Refitted Enterprise - Episode 98

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto August 24, 2018 Duration: 26:19

When Paramount decided to make Star Trek The Motion Picture, executives wanted to make sure that everything got updated from the 60s show. That included the Enterprise.  This week we tell you about how the starship was redesigned.

The Origins

The legendary Matt Jeffries designed the original Enterprise. And when Star Trek Phase II was in pre-production, Jeffries was asked to update his design.

Jeffries began his work using a drawing he made back in 1964.  This was an alternate version of the ship that he created as a back up.  He wanted to make sure he had something ready just in case Gene Roddenberry didn't like the Enterprise design that Jeffries pitched for the show.

He also thought that if Star Trek lasted for several seasons, the Enterprise might need updating. So he saved these designs.  Jeffries thought that if anything would change on the ship, it would be the warp engines. 

In those early drawings you can see the flatter engines and the swept back support pylons that would eventually show up on the Enterprise in The Motion Picture.

The Devil is in the Details

But when Paramount execs made the decision to make The Motion Picture, the Phase II design needed updating again.  They were highly influenced by the movie Star Wars. In that film, the spaceship models all had a high level of details.  Executives at Paramount believed that this was one of the factors that helped make that film a success.

So, it only seemed natural that the Enterprise needed lots of detail too! This started the creation of an entirely new model for The Motion Picture, one that would take nine months to create, have leading-edge technology installed in it, cost $1 million and face several accidents on the way to the studio.


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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