Star Trek fans found their crops watered, their skin clear, and all phasers set to stunning after the weekend’s Star Trek news announcements at New York Comic Con. Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Section 31, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy fans learned more details about the upcoming shows and films. Let’s break down these announcements and pull out our calendars to prep for these upcoming releases!
New Lower Decks Clip and Poster!
The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Lower Decks is set for premiere on October 24, 2024. Fans at New York Comic Con were treated to a clip of an upcoming episode from the season, as well as a brand new Lower Decks season five poster! First things, first. Let’s take a look at the clip.
First of all, thinking of subspace rifts as “space potholes” is both hilarious and a great way to explain the idea of subspace rifts in layman’s terms. The idea that so many of these “space potholes” could take us to parallel universes is both fascinating and horrifying.
Second, Captain Becky Freeman?! Look at that Bun of Steel™ that she’s rocking, giving big Janeway energy! There’s a lot that I want to dig into with this clip, but I think I’ll save that for my Lower Decks coverage here at Fangirlish.
As for the season five poster, it’s a lovely spoof on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Continuing the tradition of spoofing Star Trek movie posters, it reads Star Trek: Lower Decks V – The Final Season. While I hope we can pull Lower Decks out of cancellation, I think this is a fine tradition with which to close the series. Tell me your thoughts about the teaser clip and this new poster in the comments.
Starfleet Academy Casting News and Renewal!
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy just upped their cast by one Hulk! Sci-fi superstar Tatiana Maslany is joining the cast of Starfleet Academy as a guest star in season one. The amount of screaming and fangirling that occurred in my house upon reading this announcement was Hulk-worthy. Tatiana Maslany got on my radar with Orphan Black, wowed me as my all-time favorite superhero in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and now she’s joining the Star Trek family. I feel like the luckiest fangirl in the world with this news. Maslany joins an all-star cast with Trek newcomers Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, as well as returning Trek cast, Oded Fehr, Robert Picardo, Mary Wiseman, and Tig Notaro. We don’t have a word on who Maslany will play, so let’s start the speculation now. Leave me a comment with your thoughts on who Maslany will play!
Additionally, the Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con confirmed that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been renewed for a second season. This seems to show a vote of confidence in the series from Paramount+. I’m excited to see how this season will turn out. What are you looking forward to in Starfleet Academy? I have no expectations, but I am eager to see how this stacked cast of incredible performers will play off each other.
A Clip and Casting News for Strange New Worlds!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is getting a new guest star in season three! It was announced at New York Comic Con that New Zealand actor Rhys Darby is joining the cast in an unnamed guest role. If Rhys Darby’s name is familiar, you’ve likely seen or heard him in his numerous film, television, and animation roles, such as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Our Flag Means Death, and Flight of the Conchords.
Any guesses on what role Darby will play in the upcoming season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? I’m going to guess that he’s on another Starfleet ship with which the Enterprise will rendezvous. My off-the-wall silly guess is that perhaps he’s playing a Gorn. That would be fascinating. We’ll have to watch and find out.
But speaking of watching, New York Comic Con blessed us with a clip of the season three opener for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Let’s watch!
There’s a lot of crazy stuff going down in that first episode! I can’t wait to see what’s coming. We don’t have a release date yet for Strange New Worlds, but here’s hoping we can start the countdown clock soon.
Star Trek: Section 31 Gets a Release Date!
The last item I want to discuss from New York Comic Con is the release date for Star Trek: Section 31. Section 31 is set to premiere on Friday, January 24, 2025, exclusively on Paramount+. The film will follow Emperor Philippa Georgiou, as she joins Section 31, the secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets. I have some issues about such an organization even existing within the Federation. However, I love Michelle Yeoh so much that I’m willing to set that aside to watch her do her thing.
Mark it on the calendar, folks! Invite your Star Trek buddies over, make some popcorn, and enjoy Section 31 on January 24, 2025, on Paramount+.
Final Thoughts
I’ve said it before, Fangirlish Trek Fam, but it’s still true. There’s never been a better time to jump into Star Trek or be a Trek fan. New York Comic Con brought us great news and even greater excitement for the franchise. Which of these Trek announcements are you most looking forward to in the near future of the franchise? For me, it’s got to be Tatiana Maslany joining the Trek family, but really, all of the announcements have me jumping on the hype train!
Stay tuned here to Fangirlish for all the Star Trek news you can use. We’ll have coverage of Star Trek: Lower Decks starting on October 24, 2024. We will keep you in the loop for all other Star Trek news and updates.
All current Star Trek shows and Star Trek: Section 31 can be found on Paramount+.
