Rihanna gets a Star Trek makeover for her epic new song Sledgehammer

Rihanna is virtually unrecognisable in her new video for the Star Trek song Sledgehammer. Photo/YouTube

You might do a double-take after watching Rihanna's new video, which gives the chart-topping popstar an alienesque makeover.

Sledgehammer, Rihanna's contribution to the Star Trek Beyond soundtrack, has been released on YouTube - and she's barely recognisable.

The song's video debuted in Imax theatres first.

Speaking about partnering with the brunette beauty on the clip, Director Floria Sigismondi said: "I have been a fan of Star Trek since I was a little girl. I loved the idea that it explored new territory and the unknown. So being able to be the first director to shoot a music video entirely with IMAX cameras and use this revolutionary technology to explore a different type of new territory was a dream come true."

The Barbados-born beauty's song - written by pop star Sia - is the first music video shot entirely with the ALEXA IMAX camera, which was used to capture the gripping fight scene between Captain America and Iron Man in 'Captain America: Civil War', to achieve a lifelike picture.

And to commemorate the momentous occasion the big unveil of the music video will be shown in the chain cinema tomorrow, although the single is already available to purchase and download now.

Rihanna in her new video, Sledgehammer. Photo/YouTube

Meanwhile, Rihanna - who is the creative director of the sportswear brand PUMA - debuted the single in the third trailer for the eagerly-anticipated sci-fi movie, which features the late star Anton Yelchin, who tragically passed away this month at the age of 27 following a car accident.

The song has resonated with the cast of the movie including Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto, who have praised the 'Work' hitmaker for bringing some "light into the darkness" after the tragic week, which saw them lose their dear friend and colleague.

Saldana - who plays Uhura - shared the short clip promoting the film on Instagram and thanked the 28-year-old singer for helping them through the "most difficult times" for the movie's cast and that Anton would be "proud" of her soundtrack.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you @badgalriri, for a beautiful song during one of the most difficult times for our StarTrek family. We know Anton would be proud.

A post shared by Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) on Jun 27, 2016 at 7:49am PDT

And Quinto - who plays Spock - also posted to Instagram: "After such an unimaginably sad week for our star trek family - @badgalriri brings some light into the darkness (sic)."

View this post on Instagram

after such an unimaginably sad week for our star trek family - @badgalriri brings some light into the darkness.

A post shared by Zachary Quinto (@zacharyquinto) on Jun 26, 2016 at 11:32pm PDT

Star Trek Beyond hits the big screens on July 22.

- Bang! Showbiz