San Diego Comic-Con was an embarrassment of riches for Star Trek fans. We have a ton of news, a few teaser trailers, and some surprise announcements about new shows! There’s a lot to take in, so let’s hit the highlights for each show at SDCC 2024.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
First up in our news round-up from SDCC 2024 are the highlights from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. We’ve got a mention of Roger Korby, who those steeped in Star Trek will already recognize as Nurse Chapel’s fiancé from Star Trek: The Original Series. Korby will be played by Irish-American actor, Cillian O’Sullivan. According to the panel, Korby is confirmed as a recurring character this season. This should create even more tension between Chapel and Spock and I’m here for it!
In other character development notes, Rebecca Romijn teased that in season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds we will see a side of Una we’ve never seen before. What does that mean? I do not know, so please share your ideas in the comments section. Romijn also mentions in the interview that Una gets more time in the Captain’s Chair this season. That spells two things. The first is that Pike is going to be off-ship more often. The second is that we get to see more of Una’s command style, which I am quite excited about. Rebecca Romijn is a gift to the fandom and I’m excited to see what our Number One gets into next season.
Other teases for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds include that one of the episodes in season three is an old Hollywood-style murder mystery. As a lover of a good murder mystery, I’m chomping at the bit for this episode. Additionally, Henry Alonso Myers teased the possibility of bringing Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2×09 “Subspace Rhapsody” to the stage. A stage musical? A hopefully expanded stage musical? Strictly speaking, Myers only said “It’s a possibility,” so the rest is pure conjecture on my part. Either way, count me in.
Speaking of next season, we’ve also got a short teaser clip from an unnamed episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three. Take a look!
I have mixed feelings about the clip. On one hand, I see what they’re trying to do, as it’s fun to dunk on Spock. He is easily the most revered character in the canon and it’s a bit cheeky to mess with him. However, unless there is some context we’re missing about how Vulcans have a genetic predisposition for logic, the premise for the clip is flawed. Historically, Vulcans have chosen to purge all emotion and pursue logic. I’ve seen some other folks speculate that because there seems to be an aggressive shift in musical cues, this clip is several scenes spliced together, omitting the full context. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt until I watch the episode in question.
However, this clip takes the wind out of the sails of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2×10 “Hegemony.” It confirms our crew somehow escaped the Gorn unscathed. Now, did I doubt that our crew would escape the Gorn unscathed? Not really. What gave me more doubt than anything was that the SAG-AFTRA/WGA strike was ongoing at the episode’s air date, versus anything I expect from a Trek show.
That being said, I’m still a little bummed that some of that tension has been relieved. As much as I want to know what happens, I don’t like spoilers. I think it would have been better for them to release a clip of the season opener instead of this one. Now they’re going to have to deal with the backlash of the potential lack of Vulcan canon continuity for the next six months or more. I don’t envy their PR team. How do you feel about the clip? Sound off in the comment section!
Those are the highlights for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds from SDCC 2024. Let’s keep it moving with the latest in Star Trek: Lower Decks announcements.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Star Trek: Lower Decks dropped some big teases for their fifth and final season. First of all, the panel interview with Jack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Alex Kurtzman, Noël Wells, Jerry O’Connell, and Mike McMahan was incredible. The heart these actors and showrunners have for the show and for the franchise, in general, is immense. Alex Kurtzman, talking about Lowers Decks says, “We never punch down on Star Trek. We laugh with it, not at it.”
We got some great insights into our characters. Tawny Newsome mentions that “Mariner is in her growth era,” and calls playing Mariner, “the joy of her life.” We also find out from Jack that Boimler meets a hero that he admires and wants to emulate. Apparently, this emulation leads to “shenanigans.” Noël mentions that Tendi is back on Orion and we get to see another alien race that was in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
While it’s great to get insight into our characters, an audience member asked the question on everybody’s minds. “What can we do to get season six?” Mike McMahan advised the audience to watch the entire season when it airs and make some noise about it online. Alex Kurtzman took that a step further and said, “Watch it twice.” According to Kurtzman, watching the series at least twice helps signal to streamers that there is interest in the show. You know what to do, Trek fam. Keep streaming Star Trek: Lower Decks now and when season five hits Paramount+ on October 24.
We also got a nice teaser trailer for Star Trek: Lower Decks season five at SDCC 2024. Take a look and tell what you’re most looking forward to in season five.
A New Star Trek Show!
We got a surprise announcement at SDCC 2024. Panel moderator, Justin Simien (Dear White People) & Tawny Newsome are writing a new Star Trek show. This show is the first of its kind. It will be a live-action comedy. And while details of the show are fuzzy, sources for The Hollywood Reporter are calling the series a “workplace comedy” in the vein of The Office and Parks and Recreation. Whatever it is, I am eager to have Tawny and Justin at the helm. Tawny’s excitement for the project is palpable. Before leaving the stage she said, “I’ve never been more ready to put my stamp on this universe.” I’m ready for your stamp on the Trek universe too, Tawny.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Speaking of Tawny Newsome, she is one of the main writers for the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series. During this portion of the panel, Alex Kurtzman was joined on stage by Noga Landau the creator and executive producer for the series. Kurtzman and Landau discussed casting for the series, noting that they are only one role short of having a full cast. We also got a clip of our Starfleet Academy cadets learning of their casting. Take a look!
Alex and Noga also gave more insight into Paul Giamatti’s casting as the yet-to-be-named villain for the series. Giamatti is a huge Trek fan and cried when he learned that he would be in the series. Giamatti is a wonderful actor in his own right and knowing his enthusiasm for the role makes me even more excited to have him aboard.
Additionally, during SDCC 2024, Alex and Noga revealed which legacy actors are joining the cast. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will also star Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr, Mary Wiseman, and Robert Picardo! I cannot be happier with this news. Watching Tig, Oded, and Mary play off each other in Star Trek: Discovery is great, but now watching all three of them interact with Robert Picardo is stuff fanfic is made of, except now, it’s canon. I am more hype for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy than ever. It can’t get here fast enough.
There were several audience questions about seeing characters of varying disabilities onscreen. Kurtzman confirmed that there would be deaf representation in Starfleet Academy. When asked if we would have mobility-impaired representation onscreen, Kurtzman responded, “Come see the wheelchair we just designed with the delta for Starfleet Academy.” I know some folks have had trepidation about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy being a teen-focused show, anticipating it being “Star Trek does the CW,” with absurdly attractive people fussing over who is dating who. However, I don’t think this is the show we’re getting. It sounds more and more like Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be a solid Star Trek show featuring young adult cast members. I look forward to seeing the finished product.
Star Trek: Section 31
SDCC 2024 also gives us our first look at the Star Trek: Section 31 film. This spy-fi film features some interesting nods to existing Trek lore and looks to be a straight-up action film. Take a look at the trailer.
Section 31 star Omari Hardwick describes the film as “Guardians of the Galaxy on steroids.” Considering the Guardians films are consistently my favorite Marvel movies, you definitely have my attention there. Star Trek: Section 31 will also feature Kacey Rohl as Rachel Garrett who we last saw in Star Trek: The Next Generation 3×15 “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” She also had a building named for her in Star Trek: Picard. I am excited to see that character get fleshed out more in this film. Additionally, Sam Richardson will play the second iteration of a Chameloid, a shapeshifter that we last saw in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Further details on the film are yet to be revealed. Look for Star Trek: Section 31 in 2025 on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Prodigy
Sunday at SDCC 2024 held a Star Trek: Prodigy panel, featuring Kate Mulgrew, Brett Gray, and our showrunners, Kevin and Dan Hageman. Star Trek: Prodigy fans present got a pair of Prodigy shades. They also got to watch Star Trek: Prodigy 2×14 “Cracked Mirror” as a group! I would love to watch an episode of Star Trek with my captain, Kate Mulgrew, but especially that one. There was also a Q&A with Mulgrew, Gray, and the brothers Hageman, but the big reveal is that Star Trek: Prodigy season two is now available for purchase. As of July 29, 2024, Star Trek: Prodigy season two is available for digital purchase from your favorite digital video provider. On November 12, 2024, season two will be released on DVD/Blu-ray, with loads of special features.
Fans were treated to a brief clip of one of those special features—an interview with Wesley Crusher himself, Wil Wheaton. Here’s the clip!
Mulgrew also thanked fans for their support which prompted Netflix to pick up Star Trek: Prodigy season two. “Do it again!”, she encouraged. As Kurtzman said in the Lower Decks panel, “Stream it twice!”
Other Trek Announcements
Aside from the great Star Trek show and film announcements, we also learned of a new collaboration between Doctor Who and Star Trek: Lower Decks. I didn’t have that collaboration on my bingo card and I certainly didn’t have it as a mobile game. East Side Games publishes both the Star Trek: Lower Decks Mobile and Doctor Who: Lost in Time games. On August 1, 2024, there will be a crossover between the two games. Watch the trailer to learn more!
This is a limited-time event, so download and set your phasers, or sonic screwdriver to friendship with Doctor Who and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Finally, speaking of Lower Decks, IDW has extended its comic license with Star Trek. Not only are we getting more new comics, but we are also getting an ongoing Star Trek: Lower Decks series. Each issue will feature art by different artists, the first being from Derek Charm, who worked with Ryan North on the Eisner award-nominated, Day of Blood – Shaxs’ Best Day one-shot. The series is due out on November 13, 2024. Check your friendly local comic shop and have them add it to your pull list. You can find a shop near you at ComicShopLocator.com.
Final Thoughts
SDCC 2024 brought us amazing Star Trek news and interviews. There has never been a better time to be a Trek fan. There’s truly something for everyone in the Star Trek universe, no matter your age, interests, or experience with Trek. Stay tuned here to Fangirlish, where I will be covering all the upcoming shows and films, and providing you with periodic news updates.
What do you think about all these SDCC 2024 Star Trek announcements? Leave me a comment and let’s talk Trek.
Star Trek: Prodigy is streaming on Netflix. All other Star Trek series and films are on Paramount+.
