Pada 20 April 2006, Associated Press melaporkan bahawa filem cetara Star Trek yang dalam penghasilan secara rasmi. Citing sources at Paramount Pictures, the AP reported that the untitled new movie would be directed dan produced by J. J. Abrams, best known sebagai the creator dan executive producer of the television shows Alias dan Lost, dan sebagai the producer/director of Mission: Impossible III. Most of this information was later confirmed by Paramount dan other sources. Longtime Abrams collaborators Roberto Orci dan Alex Kurtzman have since independently confirmed that they will be writing the movie, with fellow Abrams alumnus Damon Lindelof co-producing. Kurtzman, Orci, dan the final member of Abrams' production company, Bryan Burk, are all executive producers.

According to comments by Roberto Orci, the perawatan untuk XI telah disiapkan, dan dia dan Kurtzman have begun writing the script. In an August interview, he hoped that they would complete a first draft by the end of October dan a final version by Christmas 2006, dan said that, "if all goes perfectly", shooting might begin sebagai early sebagai summer 2007.[39] However, unnamed sources speaking to The Trek Movie Report indicated in October that shooting may begin in the spring, partly to alleviate Abrams' overscheduling sebagai executive producer for Lost, Six Degrees, dan What About Brian, in addition to producing Trek XI. Sources have also claimed that informal auditions had already begun in early October.[40] Despite Orci's hopes of an October script, however, J. J. Abrams said in a November 2 interview that, "they are in the midst of it dan it's in progress".[41] Despite some news agencies taking this sebagai a sign of possible delay for Trek XI,[42][43] Abrams appears to still believe in an accelerated schedule, saying in the interview that shooting next spring is "realistic", dan that, in fact, they are "otherwise ... not going to make the date that we have".

For many months after the film was announced, Abrams declined to make a decision about whether or not he would accept the directorship offered him by Paramount. On February 23 2007, Abrams had finally accepted Paramount's offer to direct Star Trek XI.[44] Afterward, Paramount Pictures announced a release date of December 25, 2008.[45] On January 7, 2007, J.J. Abrams announced that the first draft script for the movie was complete dan awaiting what he referred to sebagai "tweaking". He remarked that it will satisfy "non-Trekkers" dan that for those who love Star Trek, "the fix that they get will be very satisfying". He has said that it will begin filming in 2007, with a release date of 2008. Contrary to some reports, Abrams pointedly did not confirm details of the film or its plot.[46][47]

Pengfileman dimulakan pada 7 November 2007.[48] The shoot will last eighty-five days, dan will take place on eleven sets built at the Paramount backlot, dan there will be two weeks of location shooting in Iceldan.[49] The shoot will finish in March.[50] The design work for the film will be primarily done by Transformers designer Ryan Church dan Trek veteran John Eaves.[51] Following the commencement of the Writers Guild of America strike on November 5, 2007, Abrams, himself a WGA member, told Variety that while he will not render writing services for the film dan intends to walk the picket line, he does not expect the strike to impact his directing of the production.[52] In the final few weeks before the strike dan start of production, Abrams dan Damon Lindelof polished the script a final time.[53]

Michael Giacchino, the composer for several other Abrams projects, including MI:3, Lost, dan Alias has confirmed that he will score Star Trek.[54] The composer will keep the original theme by Alexdaner Courage. Giacchino admitted personal pressure in scoring the film, sebagai "I grew up listening to all of that great [Trek] music, dan that's part of what inspired me to do what I'm doing... You just go in scared. You just hope you do your best. It's one of those things where the film will tell me what to do."[55]

The film's shooting script has been fiercely protected, even with the main cast. Actor Simon Pegg said the script is "very hush-hush; when I read it, I read it with a security guard near me - it's that secretive."[56]

Star Trek will be the first film in the franchise in which Paramount has collaborated with other production companies to finance the film. J.J. Abrams' company, Bad Robot Productions, dan Bill Todman Jr.'s Level 1 Entertainment are developing the picture alongside Paramount.[57]