See Chase Masterson (Leeta of Deep Space Nine) like you’ve never seen her before: in a sexy, retro-futuristic science fiction thriller, R.U.R.: GENESIS. The short film, now available online, combines past, present, and future in the style of an alt-history 1969. Masterson stars along other Trek vets in a cast with a surprising number of Trek connections. Hit the jump to watch R.U.R.: GENESIS for yourself.





Robots, ray guns, and a whole lotta latex

R.U.R.: GENESIS is an indie sci-fi thriller based on some very early sci-fi stories and themes. In 1919, Czech playwright Karel Capek began work on what would become a seminal science fiction story, R.U.R.. The film was set 50 years into the future (well, 50 years into the future from the perspective of 1919, so sometime around 1969), and managed to accurately predict some key advances in biotechnology. R.U.R. has even been cited as the inspiration for Metropolis and Blade Runner, to name a few.



In the new short, writer-director James Kerwin (who brought us the award winning noir film Yesterday Was a Lie) takes a fresh yet faithful look at the classic work and shows us what 1969 was to 1919 (while adding in a little of that mid-century groovy we in the present are so fond of).



Chase Masterson Brings the Trek

Chase Masterson, known for playing Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, stars in R.U.R.: GENESIS along side Kipleigh Brown (Crewman 2nd Class Jane Taylor in Star Trek: Enterprise, “The Forgotten“) and Vic Mignogna (Capt. Kirk in Star Trek Continues). But, the Trek connections don’t stop there. Bonus points to the first person to spot Mission Log Podcast co-host John Champion and Glue Guns and Phasers co-host Mary Czerwinski (aka the Televixen).

“Stylistically, R.U.R.: GENESIS is by far the most fun of any project I’ve ever done — and that’s something that really counts for an audience,” says Masterson. “But what really sets the film apart from the vast majority of projects out there is the brilliant combination of story and timeless themes. Not many filmmakers’ work embodies both of those elements thoroughly. Whereas you found shades of black and white and gray in the noir of Yesterday Was a Lie, the colors — and issues — in the world James [Kerwin] has created for R.U.R.: GENESIS really ignite the screen. It’s sexy, powerful stuff.”



Chase Masterson (Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)



Kipleigh Brown (Crewman 2nd Class Jane Taylor in Star Trek: Enterprise, “The Forgotten“)



How many Trek connections can you spot?

R.U.R. GENESIS short just the beginning

The standalone short film is also a “teaser” for the full-length feature currently in development. “The full-length script is written,” Kerwin told TrekMovie. “The story in the short won’t fit into the feature film. We’re using it to show financiers what the feel of the feature will be, just like what was done to fund Mortal Kombat, Looper, and Tron: Legacy.” Kerwin says that feedback so far has been positive and hopes that as more good reviews (and YouTube views) come in, they will have traction to complete the final film.



