Star Trek: Discovery ushered in a new era with real-life technology producers have dubbed a “holodeck”. Past Star Trek series and movies created strange new worlds using matte paintings, styrofoam sets, and CGI. However, Star Trek: Discovery introduced the AR wall, which is similar to The Volume used by Star Wars shows like The Mandalorian. The AR wall is a massive 270-degree LED screen located in Toronto that can digitally and realistically create any environment – which is as close to an actual holodeck as Star Trek has achieved in real life so far.

Paramount+ released a behind-the-scenes video compilation called Star Trek: Discovery: The Making of Season 5, where executive producer and director Olatunde Osunsanmi discussed how Star Trek: Discovery innovated the use of LED lights on set before implementing the AR wall, which was dubbed “the holodeck”, starting in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. Read his quote below:

The other thing that’s fascinating is how we’ve innovated the sets. The virtual production wall, which we call the holodeck, it just expands the universe in ways that are incalculable.

Star Trek: Discovery series lead and producer Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays Captain Michael Burnham, also spoke about what it’s like acting with the AR wall’s virtual environment. Watch the video from Paramount+ below:

Source: Paramount+ YouTube