New Star Trek Documentary Beam Me Up, Sulu Releases In 2026

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Paramount is planning the next chapter of Star Trek, and a new movie is scheduled to come out in 2026. The popular science fiction series began in 1966 with The Original Series, starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelley as McCoy, Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, and George Takei as Sulu.

Many of the original actors reprised their roles in the Star Trek films, including The Motion Picture, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, The Final Frontier, and The Undiscovered Country.

A new documentary, Beam Me Up, Sulu, will be available on digital platforms starting February 17, 2026. The film examines George Takei’s famous role through a rediscovered student film from 1985, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider, the directors of Beam Me Up, Sulu, set out to make a documentary exploring why Star Trek has such a dedicated fanbase. They discovered a central theme running throughout the entire series: the idea of ‘infinite diversity in infinite combinations,’ which they believe is key to its enduring appeal.

As a huge movie buff, I’ve always wondered what makes certain stories really stick with people. With Star Trek, it’s always been on another level. We started looking into why fans dedicate years – even decades, like with this incredible 35-year fan film project – and why someone like George got involved. What we discovered is that the show’s core philosophy, this idea of ‘infinite diversity in infinite combinations,’ is the key. It’s something that was built into Star Trek from the start, and honestly, it feels even more relevant and powerful today.

The creators of a fan film dedicated to George Takei and his iconic Star Trek character spent 35 years bringing their vision to life – and Takei himself ultimately appeared in it. Like the filmmakers who documented the project, Takei emphasized that the film highlights “the importance of diversity and inclusion.” He added that, given today’s political environment, showcasing diversity and inclusion in popular culture is crucial.

This documentary goes beyond just a film I was in as a student. It really highlights how important diversity and inclusion are – values that Star Trek has championed on TV for almost 60 years. Especially with everything happening in the world today, we need to see more of these values represented in the shows and movies we enjoy.

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, intentionally assembled a diverse cast for Star Trek: The Original Series. The show was revolutionary for many reasons, notably the casting of George Takei as Sulu and Nichelle Nichols as Uhura. Seeing a Japanese-American man and a Black woman in such visible roles on a popular series like Star Trek was extremely unusual for that era.

Every Star Trek series since the original has featured a cast representing a variety of racial backgrounds, building on Gene Roddenberry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

George Takei won’t be the only Star Trek alum in Beam Me Up, Sulu. Joining him are Eugene Roddenberry (son of Star Trek‘s creator), Alexander Siddig, Christina Chong, Garrett Wang, and Ian Alexander.

Gregory and Schneider directed and produced the film Beam Me Up, Sulu, alongside Matthew Drake and Ashu Rai.

The Star Trek documentary premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in London this June. Now, more people will be able to hear George Takei share the story of a life-changing experience.

Beam Me Up, Sulu will be released on digital platforms on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

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2025-12-11 02:10