science fiction franchise and is the last of the Star Trek films to include the entire main cast of the 1960s Star Trek television series
. Released in 1991 by Paramount Pictures
, it was directed by Nicholas Meyer
and written by Meyer with Denny Martin Flinn. After an ecological disaster leads to two longstanding enemies—the Federation and the Klingon Empire
—brokering a tenuous truce, the crew of the USS Enterprise
must prevent war from breaking out on the eve of universal peace.
The Undiscovered Country was initially planned as a prequel to the original series, with younger actors portraying the crew of the Enterprise while attending Starfleet Academy
, but the idea was discarded because of negative reaction from the cast and the fans.
Captain's Log, Stardate 9522.6. I've never trusted Klingons, and I never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy. It seems to me our mission to escort the Chancellor of the Klingon High Council to a peace summit is problematic at best. Spock says this could be an historic occasion and I'd like to believe him, but how on Earth can history get past people like me?
[last lines] Captain's Log, Stardate 9529.1. This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to all the undiscovered countries boldly going where no man- where no one-has gone before.
Tickle us, do we not laugh? Prick us, do we not bleed? Wrong us...shall we not revenge?
:[Paraphrased, The Merchant of VeniceAct III|The Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene i.]