1977 CE
Paramount Approves Star Trek Phase II
Paramount Pictures greenlights Star Trek Phase II, a new television series intended to relaunch the franchise. #startrek #scifi
Chronological Storyline (39 Milestones)
Mar 28, 1978 CE
Star Trek Phase II Becomes a Feature Film
Paramount opts to turn the planned series into a feature film after the success of Star Wars, with Gene Roddenberry as producer. #startrek #movies
Jun 1, 1978 CE
Robert Wise Signs as Director
Acclaimed director Robert Wise is hired to direct Star Trek: The Motion Picture, replacing originally considered directors. #startrek #director
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Aug 1, 1978 CE
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy Confirmed
William Shatner returns as Captain James T. Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy reprises his role as Spock after initial reluctance. #startrek #cast
Nov 1, 1978 CE
Principal Photography Begins
Filming starts at Paramount Studios, with scenes shot for the USS Enterprise refit and other key sequences. #startrek #filmmaking
Jan 1, 1979 CE
Special Effects Work by Robert Abel & Associates
Initial visual effects are produced by Robert Abel & Associates, but later deemed unsatisfactory and reworked by other studios. #vfx #startrek
Feb 1, 1979 CE
Jerry Goldsmith Joins as Composer
Jerry Goldsmith is hired to compose the score, creating the iconic Star Trek fanfare and V'Ger theme. #music #startrek
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Mar 1, 1979 CE
Merv Griffin Enterprises Completes Refit Model
The detailed USS Enterprise refit model is finished, later used for filming the iconic hangar sequence. #model #startrek )
Apr 5, 1979 CE
V'Ger Energy Cloud Attack on Klingons
In the film's opening, three Klingon battle cruisers are destroyed by a massive energy cloud, later identified as V'Ger. #startrek #scifi
May 1, 1979 CE
Enterprise Refit Shakedown
The newly refitted Enterprise undergoes a shakedown cruise, revealing technical issues including warp drive problems. #startrek #enterprise )
May 1, 1979 CE
Admiral Kirk Takes Command of Enterprise
Admiral James T. Kirk relieves Captain Willard Decker of command to personally lead the mission against the cloud. #startrek #kirk
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May 1, 1979 CE
Spock Returns from Vulcan
Commander Spock arrives on the Enterprise after attempting to purge his emotions on Vulcan, sensing the cloud's intelligence. #startrek #spock
By NBC Television - ebay item front release, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30262781
Jun 1, 1979 CE
V'Ger Abducts Lieutenant Ilia
The cloud sends a probe that scans and later abducts Deltan navigator Ilia, leaving a robotic duplicate. #startrek #scifi )
Jun 1, 1979 CE
Kirk Orders Warp Drive Inside Cloud
Kirk orders the damaged Enterprise to use warp drive within the cloud to escape a tractor beam, risking destruction. #startrek #action
Jun 1, 1979 CE
Ilia Probe Communicates with Decker
The Ilia duplicate appears on the Enterprise, seeking information about the 'Creator' and triggering Decker's personal connection. #startrek #decker
Jun 1, 1979 CE
Enterprise Enters V'Ger Cloud
The Enterprise bravely enters the V'Ger energy cloud to investigate its origin and purpose. #startrek #adventure
Jul 1, 1979 CE
Decker and Ilia Merge with V'Ger
Willard Decker and the Ilia probe merge with V'Ger, allowing V'Ger to transcend and ascend to a higher plane of existence. #startrek #transformation
Jul 1, 1979 CE
V'Ger Revealed as Voyager 6
The crew learns V'Ger is the ancient Voyager 6 probe, enhanced by an alien machine planet to become sentient and seek its creator. #startrek #origin
Jul 1, 1979 CE
V'Ger Interior Discovery
The crew discovers an immense alien structure inside the cloud, housing V'Ger's core. #startrek #scifi
Jul 1, 1979 CE
Spock Performs Mind Meld with V'Ger
Spock uses a Vulcan mind meld to communicate with V'Ger's consciousness after nearly dying in the process. #startrek #spock
Jul 1, 1979 CE
V'Ger Departs Earth
The transformed V'Ger departs Earth, leaving the Enterprise crew in awe of the evolutionary leap. #startrek #ending
Aug 1, 1979 CE
Post-Production Visual Effects Rush
Industrial Light & Magic is brought in to complete the visual effects under tight deadlines, working on the climactic sequences. #vfx #startrek
Oct 1, 1979 CE
Soundtrack Recording Completed
Jerry Goldsmith records the full orchestral score with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. #music #startrek )
Nov 5, 1979 CE
Test Screenings Held
Early screenings receive mixed reactions, leading to minor edits and re-sequencing of a few scenes. #startrek #test
Dec 6, 1979 CE
Premiere at Kennedy Center
Star Trek: The Motion Picture premieres at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., benefiting the National Space Institute. #premiere #startrek
Dec 7, 1979 CE
Wide Theatrical Release
The film opens nationwide in the United States, grossing $11.8 million on its opening weekend. #boxoffice #startrek
Dec 10, 1979 CE
Novelization Published by Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry's novelization of the film is released, containing additional backstory and subplots. #books #startrek )
Dec 15, 1979 CE
Soundtrack Album Released
The soundtrack album by Jerry Goldsmith is released to positive reviews, becoming a bestseller. #music #startrek )
Jan 1, 1980 CE
Film Changes to Sensurround
Select theaters convert to Sensurround to enhance the low-frequency rumble of V'Ger's energy cloud. #technology #startrek
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Feb 1, 1980 CE
Academy Award Nominations Announced
The film receives three Academy Award nominations: Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction. #awards #startrek
Mar 1, 1980 CE
Home Video Release on VHS and Betamax
The film is released on home video formats, allowing fans to own the movie for the first time. #homevideo #startrek
Apr 1, 1980 CE
Cut Television Version Aired
An edited version for network television is aired, with additional footage not seen in theaters. #tv #startrek
Nov 1, 1981 CE
Japanese Premiere with Additional Scenes
The film premieres in Japan with new special effects shots and a slightly different edit. #release #startrek
Nov 1, 1986 CE
Director's Edition Announced
Long-discussed director's cut is officially announced by Paramount for future home video release. #directorscut #startrek
Dec 4, 2001 CE
Director's Edition DVD Released
The Director's Edition, supervised by Robert Wise, is released on DVD with restored and enhanced visual effects. #dvd #startrek
May 12, 2009 CE
Remastered Blu-ray Released
A remastered Blu-ray edition of the Director's Edition is released, featuring high-definition video and lossless audio. #bluray #startrek
Sep 6, 2016 CE
50th Anniversary Retrospective
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is re-released in select theaters for the franchise's 50th anniversary, with new 4K restorations. #anniversary #startrek
Jul 22, 2020 CE
Ultimate Collector's Edition Released
A new collector's edition is released on Blu-ray and 4K UHD, including all previous versions and extensive bonus features. #collectors #startrek
Apr 5, 2022 CE
4K UHD with Dolby Vision Released
Paramount releases a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, fully remastered from original elements. #4k #startrek