How J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Movies Transformed Star Trek TV Series

The Star Trek films directed by J.J. Abrams have concluded, but the franchise continues with TV series on Paramount+, including Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. According to Variety, Paramount Skydance has decided not to move forward with Star Trek 4, which would have brought back the original USS Enterprise cast, including Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto.

As a longtime fan, I thought we’d seen the last of Star Trek on TV after Enterprise ended in 2005. But then Star Trek: Discovery boldly went where no series had gone before – straight to streaming on Paramount+ – and completely revitalized the franchise. Its success wasn’t just a fluke; it kicked off a full-blown Star Trek renaissance. Now, we have not one, but four live-action shows, two animated series, and even a streaming movie, Star Trek: Section 31. It’s a fantastic time to be a Trekkie!

Between the end of Rick Berman’s time overseeing Star Trek in 2005 and the start of the new Star Trek series on Paramount+ in 2017, J.J. Abrams produced and directed the first two of three Star Trek reboot films: Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).

After more than nine years of struggling to get made, Paramount Skydance has canceled Star Trek 4 in favor of a new Star Trek movie idea. This means that Star Trek Beyond, released in 2016, effectively concludes the series of Star Trek films started by J.J. Abrams – the alternate timeline known as the Kelvin Timeline. This film series had a significant influence on the Star Trek shows that later appeared on Paramount+.

Star Trek TV Action Ramped Up Thanks To J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek

J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek film successfully relaunched the franchise as a big-budget summer action series. While action was always a part of Star Trek, it was typically limited by the scope of television. Abrams’ version transformed it into a non-stop, explosive spectacle.

J.J. Abrams’ fast-paced style carried over to Star Trek: Discovery, which featured exciting, high-energy action. These sequences often focused on Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in close-quarters fighting and battles with phasers.

Both Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds featured action sequences that were more intense and dynamic than anything previously seen in Star Trek films or series before the J.J. Abrams era.

J.J. Abrams was a lifelong fan of Star Wars, and later went on to direct two of the newest films in the series, The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. He then brought a similar style to Star Trek, continuing with the series on Paramount+. However, some longtime Star Trek fans feel the franchise has become more focused on action and less on thoughtful storytelling.

Star Trek TV Got Lens Flares Thanks To J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films are often criticized for their overuse of lens flares. These flares became a signature visual element, appearing frequently as the camera moved around the brightly lit bridge of the USS Enterprise, almost as if the viewscreen itself was a window.

The live-action Star Trek shows on Paramount+, including the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy, sometimes used the distinctive lens flares popularized by J.J. Abrams.

The newer Star Trek series – Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds – frequently show lens flares and use viewscreens that look like windows, creating a more immersive visual experience.

Star Trek TV Uniforms & Costumes Were Upgraded Thanks To J.J. Abrams’ Movies

As a long-time Trek fan, I really appreciate how J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films updated the look of the show. We finally moved away from those older, sometimes a little embarrassing, uniforms – you know, the velour ones from The Original Series and the comfy, almost pajama-like jumpsuits that were popular during Rick Berman’s time running things. It feels so much more modern now!

As a huge Star Trek fan, I’ve always loved how Abrams updated the uniforms – they’re so sleek and modern. But what really caught my eye was the outerwear! When the crew beamed off the Enterprise, they weren’t just wearing any jackets – they had these really cool, rugged ones. In fact, the jackets from Star Trek: Picard became so popular, they actually started showing up as real fashion pieces you could buy! It’s amazing how a show can influence style like that.

Thankfully, the newer Star Trek series on Paramount+ have kept improving the look of Starfleet uniforms, building on the changes started in J.J. Abrams’ films. Whether it’s the blue uniforms of Star Trek: Discovery or the color-coded outfits in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the modern designs are really impressive.

The recent Star Trek television series updated the look of civilian clothing, moving away from the often-unflattering earth tones, loud patterns, and abundance of vests that were common during Rick Berman’s time overseeing the franchise.

J.J. Abrams Proved Star Trek Could Recast Iconic TOS Characters

Before the 2009 Star Trek movie, most fans couldn’t imagine anyone other than William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy playing Kirk and Spock. J.J. Abrams showed that these famous characters could be successfully reimagined with new actors who captured their essence and brought a fresh energy to the roles.

After Star Trek: Discovery reintroduced Captain Christopher Pike, Spock, and Number One – played by Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn respectively – the move proved incredibly popular with fans. They quickly began requesting a separate series focused on these characters, which eventually became Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, now considered by many to be the most successful Star Trek show on Paramount+.

The actors in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Jess Bush as Nurse Chapel, Martin Quinn as Scotty, and Paul Wesley as Captain Kirk – have perfectly captured their iconic roles. Paul Wesley’s Kirk and the actor playing Spock have a chemistry that rivals the classic pairings of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and even Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto.

Oscar Caliber Movie Stars Are Now Cast In Star Trek

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films launched the careers of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the entire cast of the Starship Enterprise, making them well-known movie stars. Zoe Saldana’s performance in Emilia Perez even earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Abrams’ Star Trek movies also featured prominent actors like Eric Bana, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Idris Elba playing the roles of villains.

Throughout its history, Star Trek has featured talented actors, including Christopher Plummer and a young Tom Hardy. However, the show reached a new level of acting prestige when Jason Isaacs and Michelle Yeoh—who would later win an Academy Award for Best Actress—joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+.

Appearing in Star Trek has become a highly desirable opportunity for top actors. For example, the new series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy features Academy Award winner Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, who has both an Academy Award nomination and an Emmy Award.

Top actors are eager to appear in Star Trek films, a trend that started with the high-caliber cast assembled for J.J. Abrams’ successful movie trilogy.

Star Trek TV Wouldn’t Exist Today Without J.J. Abrams’ Movies

By 2005, the future of Star Trek looked bleak. The movie Nemesis flopped, effectively ending any further films starring the cast of The Next Generation. At the same time, the TV series Enterprise didn’t perform well, bringing 18 years of continuous Star Trek television to a close.

J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek film revitalized the franchise and made it popular with a wider audience. It was a great starting point for newcomers, allowing them to easily understand the core ideas of Star Trek. In fact, many people who saw Abrams’ three films hadn’t yet watched any of the original Star Trek TV series.

Alex Kurtzman has been key to the recent success of Star Trek on television. He co-wrote the films Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness, and since 2017, his production company, Secret Hideout, has been responsible for all Star Trek series on Paramount+.

Although Alex Kurtzman’s work on Star Trek has sparked debate, he broadened the show’s scope, made it more welcoming to diverse stories and characters, and reimagined what Star Trek could achieve on television, both in live-action and animated formats.

Alex Kurtzman, a key figure behind J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films, spearheaded a revival of the franchise with Star Trek: Discovery. This relaunch has made Star Trek more popular than it has been in decades, reaching a level of prominence not seen since the 1990s.

2025-11-10 02:01