Star Trek: Insurrection is a 1998 American science fiction film directed by Jonathan Frakes. It is the ninth installment in the Star Trek film series, as well as the third to star the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, with F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy, and Anthony Zerbe appearing in main roles. In the film, the crew of the USS Enterprise-E rebels against Starfleet command after they discover a conspiracy with a species known as the Son'a to steal the peaceful Ba'ku's planet for its rejuvenating properties.
Paramount Pictures sought a change of pace after Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Michael Piller was asked to write the script of the next installment, which was created from story ideas by Piller and producer Rick Berman. The story's first drafts featured the Romulans, and the Son'a and Ba'ku were introduced in its third draft. After Ira Steven Behr reviewed the script, Piller revised it and added a subplot involving a romantic interest for Jean-Luc Picard. The film's ending was further revised after test screenings. The special effects depicting outer space were completely computer generated, a first for a Star Trek film. The Ba'ku village was fully built on location at Lake Sherwood, California, but suffered weather damage. Sets from the Star Trek television series Voyager and Deep Space Nine were reused and redressed.
Upon its release in theaters on December 11, 1998, Insurrection went on to gross $118 million worldwide. Critical responses to the film were mixed; the performance of Patrick Stewart and the directing of Jonathan Frakes were praised, while many critics compared it to an extended episode of the television series. Insurrection was nominated for both a Saturn Award and a Hugo Award, but the only award it received was a Youth in Film Award for Michael Welch. The film was followed by Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002.
Plot
Lieutenant Commander Data is temporarily transferred to an undercover mission observing the peaceful Ba'ku people. He suddenly malfunctions and reveals the presence of the joint Federation–Son'a task force observing the Ba'ku. Admiral Dougherty contacts the USS Enterprise-E to obtain Data's schematics for recovery purposes. Captain Jean-Luc Picard ignores orders and takes Enterprise to recover Data. Upon successfully recovering and repairing Data, Picard becomes suspicious when Dougherty insists that Enterprise is no longer needed and orders Data's malfunction to be investigated.
The crew discovers that the Ba'ku are technologically advanced with warp capabilities, but have rejected the use of technology for simpler lives. Due to unique "metaphasic particles" emanating from the planet's rings, the inhabitants are effectively immortal. By contrast, the Federation's allies, the Son'a, are a decrepit race who rely on medical technology to delay death; excessive cosmetic surgery gives them a mummified appearance. The Enterprise crew experience the rejuvenation effects of the planet: Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge can now see without ocular implants, Lt. Commander Worf experiences puberty symptoms, Commander William Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi rekindle their long-abandoned relationship, and Picard develops a romantic relationship with Anij, a Ba'ku woman.
Data and Picard discover a submerged and cloaked Federation ship containing a gigantic holodeck that recreates the Ba'ku village. Data's malfunction stemmed from a Son'a attack, the result of his accidentally discovering their vessel. Picard confronts Dougherty and learns that top Federation officers colluded with the Son'a to relocate the Ba'ku to another planet deceptively, allowing the particles to be collected (massively poisoning the planet in the process). Dougherty then orders Enterprise to leave. Picard defiantly retorts that the particles' medical benefits do not justify Dougherty's plans for the Ba'ku and that they violate Starfleet's Prime Directive.
Picard and some crew help the Ba'ku escape abduction while Riker moves the Enterprise to transmission range to communicate the violation to Starfleet. The Son'a launches robotic probes to locate and capture the fleeing Ba'ku. The Son'a leader, Ahdar Ru'afo, convinces Dougherty to allow two Son'a ships to attack the Enterprise, but Enterprise escapes after taking damage and destroying a Son'a ship. With the Son'a plan exposed, Ru'afo insists on immediately harvesting the radiation source. Picard, Anij, and several Ba'ku are transported as prisoners onto the Son'a ship.
Dr. Beverly Crusher discovers that the Son'a and the Ba'ku are the same race. Picard then informs Dougherty that Dougherty has unknowingly involved Starfleet in an internecine dispute: the Son'a are a Ba’ku splinter faction who rejected their Ba’ku idyllic existence a century earlier and embraced technology. When the Son’a failed in their attempt to seize power, the Ba'ku elders exiled them from the planet, and thus from the rings' rejuvenating effects. The Son'a developed an artificial, imperfect, painful means to extend their lives and mitigate their aged appearance, and now seek revenge against their own people, the Ba’ku. Ru'afo kills Dougherty after he reneges on their plan, and moves to complete the collection.
While Picard is prepared for execution, he convinces the disillusioned Son'a Gallatin to help him stop Ru'afo. Picard masterminds a ruse to transport Ru'afo and his bridge crew to the holoship and disable the harvester. Ru'afo discovers the deception and transports to the harvester ship to manually restart the process. Picard follows and sets the harvester to self-destruct, killing Ru'afo just as the Enterprise rescues Picard. The remaining Son'a are forgiven and welcomed back by the Ba'ku. As gratitude for Gallatin’s help, Picard arranges a reunion between Gallatin and his Ba'ku mother, who embraces her son. The crew takes a moment to enjoy their rejuvenated selves before returning to their previous mission.
Cast Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi F. Murray Abraham as Ru'afo, the commander of the Son'a. Donna Murphy as Anij, a Ba'ku woman. Anthony Zerbe as Vice Admiral Dougherty. Gregg Henry as Gallatin, a member of the Son'a crew and Ru'afo's second in command. Daniel Hugh Kelly as Sojef, a Ba'ku man. Michael Welch as Artim, Sojef's son. Mark Deakins as Tournel, a young Ba'ku man. Stephanie Niznik as Ensign Perim.
Patrick Stewart thought that the first Next Generation film, Star Trek Generations, was too much like a television episode but thought that his character, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, was redefined as a "movie hero" in Star Trek: First Contact.Reeves-Stevens (1998): p. 278 He was concerned that in the new film the character would return to that seen in the television series. Michael Piller said that in order to be a hero, Picard "should be acting out of a moral and ethical mindset, and stand for principles that are important to [humanity]". Stewart was later pleased with the film's romantic sub-plot, calling it "charming" and saying that he was "feeling very good about it." He thought that the film had a lighter tone than previous films, saying, "It shows our crew having a little more fun than we normally see them doing". Stewart was disappointed that a scene in which Picard and Anij kiss was cut from the final version of the film, saying that "It was a studio decision, but still somewhat inexplicable to me as I feel the audience were waiting for some kind of romantic culmination to the relationship, which did happen and was extremely pleasant." Stewart received a producer's credit on the film.
Jonathan Frakes appeared as Commander William Riker, and as with First Contact he directed the project. Brent Spiner starred as Lieutenant Commander Data, asking for the character to be killed in Insurrection out of concern for aging out of the role. His copy of the script came with a note from the production team saying, "Sorry, kill you later". The underwater scene required Spiner to wear extra makeup to make it waterproof. LeVar Burton reprised his role of Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge; a month before the release of Insurrection he appeared in the role in a guest appearance in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Timeless".
Michael Dorn returned as Lieutenant Commander Worf, having portrayed him in Deep Space Nine since 1995. Reprising her role as Doctor Beverly Crusher, Gates McFadden said that "Shooting Star Trek and getting paid to do it is great. But what's actually changed my life the most is traveling around and ... being a tiny little part of this huge mythology that has changed people's lives, in many ways for the better." Marina Sirtis appeared once more as Counselor Deanna Troi. She was positive about the film, saying "we've been involved with this for eleven years, we've done 179 episodes, three movies, and there are still surprises. There are more layers in this movie, it's not as black and white. It goes back to a lot of what Gene Roddenberry felt about Star Trek — I think he's going to be very happy up there when he sees this movie."
Before the casting process, no actors had been considered for the roles of the Son'a leader, the Ba'ku woman, and the Starfleet admiral.Reeves-Stevens (1998): p. 283 The Son'a leader, Ahdar Ru'afo, was portrayed by F. Murray Abraham, who won an Academy Award for his performance in Amadeus.Nemecek (2003): p. 337 Abraham was given the role without an audition. Abraham said of the franchise, "I was around when the series was first introduced to television and it was a hoot". He praised his make-up and prosthetics, saying "The idea that you can be somebody else behind the mask is an extraordinary feeling — it's very primitive and mysterious. A gap opens somewhere in the brain and it encourages wildness. It had me chewing at the scenery". He was particularly pleased to be working with Patrick Stewart.
Donna Murphy played the Ba'ku woman Anij, who is Picard's love interest. Eighty actresses auditioned for the role,Nemecek (2003): p. 336 which was awarded to Murphy who had previously won two Tony Awards for her roles in the Broadway musicals Passion and The King and I.Reeves-Stevens (1998): p. 284 Murphy was such a favorite of Frakes and the producers that after auditioning, only a small number of other actresses were seen. She said of the role, "I feel a great honor and responsibility to be a part of this film, because I know that the Star Trek audience has such a devotion to and affection for these richly drawn characters."
Anthony Zerbe originally auditioned for the role of Ru'afo, and was considered to be the best choice for it. However, the production team decided instead to cast him in the role of Admiral Matthew Dougherty. During Zerbe's audition, instead of reading the lines provided, he recited Dante's Inferno before seamlessly moving into the script. Frakes and the producers unanimously decided to award him the part of Dougherty.Reeves-Stevens (1998): p. 285 In the film's smaller roles, Stephanie Niznik played Ensign Kell Perim and Daniel Hugh Kelly appeared as Sojef. Gregg Henry appeared as Gallatin, and 10-year-old Michael Welch played the Ba'ku child Artim.Nemecek (2003): p. 338 Michael Horton returned as the tactical officer he portrayed in First Contact; his character was called Lieutenant Daniels in this film.Nemecek (2003): p. 322 Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello played a Son'a warrior. Morello's make-up regime began at 5 am, at which time he said he would normally "be crawling back into my coffin".