Red Alert! The New Star Trek Short Film Is Everything You've Been Waiting For
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Starfleet Academy Star Trek fans were disappointed for a number of reasons, including the liberties it took with franchise lore and its focus on foul-mouthed, drama-loving teenagers. But some fans hated that show long before it came out because they hoped Paramount would produce a very different series. That is, they wanted to Star Trek: Legacywhich could combine new characters with legacy favorites and serve as a third season favorite episode for Terry Matalas fans. Star Trek: Picard.
That show never materialized, and Paramount now seems focused on rebooting the franchise entirely. Does that mean going up a big river without a paddle if you want a classic Star Trek adventure? Bad, captain! Trek Shorts recently released their new fan film: Legacy Returns. Billed as “the world's first SNW/Voyager Era fan film,” Legacy Returns it's free to stream on YouTube, and we've embedded it below.
Legacy Returns is worth a watch for any fan hoping to return to the Golden Age of Star Trek.
Job Reporting
What Legacy Returns about, exactly? Like many classic Trek episodes, it begins with Starfleet officers (Dr. Louise Nilson and Lt. JG Hayes) preparing to turn to their next mission. However, along the way they encounter something unexpected: a Constitution-class ship named the USS Magellan. When they explore the ship, they encounter many interesting things, including a mystery related to the events of more than a century before. Fortunately, there's no obstacle our heroes can't solve with the cornerstones of Star Trek: exploration, diplomacy, and endless curiosity.
If you wrinkle your nose like a Bajoran when you hear the phrase “fan film,” I get it. Most of such products are not very cheap and look very painful. For example, it feels like the majority of Star Wars “fan films” out there are just excuses to watch two grown men beat each other with sticks in the woods. Star Trek hasn't fared much better, with fan products suffering from poor acting and even worse production quality.
Setting up Phasers to Fun
Fortunately, Legacy Returns a breath of fresh air among fan films. It was made by the Patreon-funded Trek Shorts team, and they've been creating killer Star Trek fan films since 2023. That experience helped the team to create a movie that is really fun to watch. First, the special effects (including the ship's absolutely gorgeous exterior) are top-notch. That same level of quality extends throughout the production: the uniforms are clean and professional, and some of the recreated ship interiors will blow your mind. The uniforms and props work well, making this “fan film” look polished and professional.
Most important, however, is the story of Legacy Returns feels like Star Trek at its best. There isn't much in the way of action and adventure, which may disappoint younger fans who grew up with the Kelvinverse movies. Instead, the movie focuses on the characters exploring the mysterious ship in peace, while being immersed in Trek lore. After all, that's why it's billed as a Voyager/Strange New Worlds movie: our main characters are from the TNG/VOY era, but they're piloting a Constitution-class ship with a sleek interior similar to Captain Pike's Enterprise.
Like reuniting with a Very Old Friend
Obviously, Legacy Returns it's not a perfect movie. While the acting is much better than most fan films, it's a far cry from what you get from professionals in games like this The Next Generation. Also, while I dig the slow, heavy plot, some fans may find the pace slow. However, these are minor gripes, given how good the story and production quality are. Starfleet Academy it had a professional cast, and that show's bad writing nearly killed the entire franchise. Obviously, Legacy Returns the perfect fan film for anyone who has had issues with NuTrek and just wants more Star Trek adventures like we had back in the '90s.
Best of all, this fan film is like everything else in the Utopian future of the 24th century: completely free! Now you can stream Legacy Returns on YouTube. If you like what you see, take the time to log in: under the Power543 Fan Films account, Short Treks has posted a number of fan films, each one more passionate and ambitious than the last. If you are a big fan of Star Trek, you don't have to wait for Season 4 Strange New Worlds or Season 2 of Starfleet Academy to get your fix. You're just one click away from stellar storytelling, more sci-fi than you can shake a jumja stick at!
