Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock are touchingly reunited in a new Star Trek short film titled 765854 – Unification30 years after Kirk died in Star Trek Generations. The Roddenberry Archive and OTOY, in association with Paramount, released Unification on November 18, 2024, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek Generations. The 8 minutes Unification is the fourth OTOY short film available on the Roddenberry Archive (roddenberry.x.io) via the Apple Vision Pro app.
Star Trek Generations saw Captain James T. Kirk sacrifice his life when he teamed up with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to stop Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from destroying the planet Veridian III. In 2016, Star Trek Beyond included Spock’s canonical death following Leonard Nimoy’s passing the previous year. Shatner’s Kirk and Nimoy’s Spock never shared the screen again after 1991 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Unification gives Kirk and Spock one last, touching moment together. Watch the short below:
Kirk and Spock reunite in emotional Star Trek short
765874 – Unification is the end Kirk and Spock deserve
765874 – Unification crosses Star Trek timelines and universes to bring Captain Kirk and Spock together once again. Captain Kirk’s death in Star Trek Generations canonically takes place in 2371, and Ambassador Spock is shunted to JJ Abrams’ alternate Kelvin timeline. Star Trek (2009) film in 2387, when Vulcan was unable to stop the Romulan star from going supernova. Spock arrived in the Kelvin timeline in 2258 and lived on New Vulcan until his death in 2263.
Before Unification, circumstances made it impossible for Kirk and Picard to meet. In the end, Star Trek Generations explained that Captain Kirk was presumed dead in 2293, but he actually survived in the interdimensional space lane called the Nexus until leaving with Captain Picard in 2371, which resulted in his death. Spock never saw the main timeline’s Kirk again after 2293and the Vulcan was not present to see the brief incursion and death of his best friend in the 24th century.
Unification shows a resurrected Captain Kirk traveling to JJ Abrams’ house Star Trek Kelvin Timeline to see Spock (played by Lawrence Selleck) on his deathbed on New Vulcan. Kirk and Spock then share a moment Star Trek Canon denied them, as the iconic duo takes on the horizon together. Unification is a powerful and emotional testament to the friendship between Kirk and Spock that Star Trek Iis built.
Star Trek Unification Short Film Explained
There’s a lot to unpack in 765874 – Unification
Unification incorporates several aspects of Star Trek continuityand there is a lot to absorb. Along with the resurrected Captain Kirk Unification includes Spock, Saavik (Robin Curtis), Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood), who was Kirk’s friend-turned-enemy in Star Trek: The Original Series‘ second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, JM Colt (Mahe Thassia) from Star Trekoriginal pilot, “The Cage.” Jorg Hillebrand, a renowned researcher in Star Trek: Picard season 3, broke Unification on your account X (@gaghyogi49):
Surprisingly, the resurrected Captain Kirk reunites with Saavik and his son with Spock, Sorak (Mark Cinnery). Kirk then meets Yor (Gordon Tarpley), a time soldier from the Kelvin Timeline introduced in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Yor gives Kirk the means to cross into the Kelvlin Timeline. After meeting his younger selves, Captain Kirk and Admiral Kirk, Jim enters Spock’s quarters on New Vulcan to be with his dear Vulcan friend. Production Designer Dave Blass confirmed on X what Kirk travels to the Kelvin timeline.
How the Star Trek Unification Short Film Was Made
William Shatner is executive producer
Unification is an astonishing technical achievement and a labor of love to celebrate the iconic Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the 30th anniversary of Star Trek Generations. William Shatner and Susan Bay Nimoy served as executive producers. Working with OTOY, Mr. Shatner helped ensure the technical and creative precision of Captain Kirk. Sam Witwer played the role of costumed Kirk; Witwer studied and imitated Shatner’s exact movements, aided by physical and digital prosthetics. Lawrence Selleck did the same to recreate Spock.
Oscar-winning Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino provided the score for Unification.
OTOY and VFX studios combined digital and physical prosthetics to recreate iconic pieces Star Trek characters, with live-action location photography, virtual production, and CG set extensions to create views of Veridian III, New Vulcan, and other locations seen in Unification. In addition to Michael and Denise Okuda and Dave Blass from Star Trek: Picard Oscar-winning season 2 and 3 production design work Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino provided Unificationscore.
Is the Star Trek Unification Short Film Canon?
765874 – Does unification really count?
765874 – Unification is a respectful and deeply moving work by Star Trek professionals who are also die-hard fans, but is it really canon? Star Trek defines official canon as events that happen or are referenced in Star Trektelevision series and films. Auxiliary work as Star Trek Fan novels, comics, and films exist outside of the official canon or exist in their own continuities, but occasionally, Star Trek TV shows and films can incorporate ancillary projects into the canon.
With William Shatner returning to help execute and oversee the accuracy of the Unificationrecreation of Captain Kirk, it is tempting to want to consider the short film as Star Trek canon. In the end, Unification incorporates several beloved (and surprising) Star Trek characters from across the franchise, legendary Star Trek creators behind the scenes and The end result is the touching Kirk and Spock reunions that fans have been longing to see for three decades. 765874 – Unification is a beautiful ode to Star Trek, an impressive technological achievement and a lovely farewell to William Shatner’s Kirk and Spock.
Source: OTOY