Paramount Home Entertainment announced this morning that the studio is reworking Star Trek: The Original Series for release in high definition. The series is getting a 21st century make-over with all new special effects and music to celebrate the series’ 40th Anniversary.

The new special effects will include things such as state-of-the-art computer-generated ships exteriors. All the graphics of the galaxy, so frequently seen through the window on the Enterprise’s bridge, will be redone as will be the show’s opening main title sequence. Many of the battle scenes, planets and ships from other cultures – notably the Romulan “Bird of Prey” and Klingon Battle Cruisers – will be updated also while some of the iconic, yet flat, matte paintings used as backdrops for the strange, new worlds explored by the Enterprise crew will get a CGI face-lift, adding atmosphere and lighting.

The refurbished episodes also feature higher quality sound for the famous opening theme. The original score by Emmy Award-winning composer Alexander Courage has been re-recorded in state-of-the-art digital stereo audio with an orchestra and a female singer belting out the famous vocals. A digitally remastered version of William Shatner’s classic original recording of the 38-word “Space, the final frontier…” monologue continues to open each episode.

The remastered episodes have been converted from the original film into a High-Definition format, which gives viewers a clearer, crisper, more vibrant picture than before, even when viewed in standard definition.

No home video release has been announced for these updated “Star Trek” episodes yet, as they will be broadcast first, starting September 16. However, we are sure that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD versions won’t be too far behind, one things have started rolling.