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Nearly four decades ago, a group of fans filmed a student project in a California forest with George Takei. The footage then disappeared, seemingly gone forever. Now, that project has been rediscovered and is featured in the new documentary Beam Me Up, Sulu, set for digital release on February 17, 2026 via Tribeca Films. The film offers a rare glimpse into early fan filmmaking and show how passionate communities preserved Star Trek’s ideals long before online fandom became widespread.
Directed by Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider, the documentary goes far beyond a lost fan movie. It highlights Star Trek’s longstanding commitment to inclusion and representation.
‘This documentary is about so much more than a student film I appeared in,’ says Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in the original show . ‘It’s about the importance of diversity and inclusion — something Star Trek pioneered on television and has excelled at for nearly 60 years.’ The documentary emphasizes how storytelling and fandom can shape cultural awareness and social progress.
The documentary premiered at the 2025 Raindance Film Festival and will have a U.S. premiere on February 12 for Tribeca Members. Alongside Takei, it features Alexander Siddig (Deep Space Nine’s Julian Bashir), Christina Chong (Strange New Worlds’ La’An Noonien-Singh), Garrett Wang (Voyager’s Harry Kim, and Ian Alexander (Discovery’s Gray Tal). Executive producer Eugene Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, also appears, connecting the project to the franchise’s legacy. The film includes archival footage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments that reveal the dedication and creativity of the original student filmmakers.
Gregory and Schneider explain that their interest was in understanding what drives Star Trek fandom, what inspired decades-long dedication to a fan film, and why Takei participated. They conclude that it comes back to the the Vulcan guiding principle of “infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” a concept that continues in Star Trek philosophy today.
Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of Tribeca Enterprises, describes Beam Me Up, Sulu as ‘a powerful reminder of the impact of fandom, storytelling, and representation.’ She goes on to say that ‘what began as a student film has become a moving reflection on identity, resilience, and Star Trek’s lasting cultural influence.’
The documentary captures both the dedication of fans and generosity of Takei himself. Beam Me Up, Sulu‘s features footage that was lost for decades but now provides a meaningful look at Star Trek’s cultural legacy and its enduring relevance. It shows that even small acts of fan devotion can leave a lasting mark.
About the author
Ben Mund is a trending news writer at Parade covering music, movies, science fiction and celebrity news, with a focus on the fandoms behind them.