Fans demanded it and their voices were heard. A Star Trek: Discovery spin-off, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, starring favorites Spock, Captain Pike, and Number One has been ordered to series by CBS All Access.
Star Trek: Discovery started a resurgence of Star Trek programming in recent years. Star Trek: Discovery reintroduced franchise fan-favorites in its second season when Pike took over as Captain of the USS Discovery temporarily. Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romjin will be reprising their Star Trek: Discovery roles as Captain Pike, Spock, and Number One respectively.
“When we said we heard the fans’ outpouring of love for Pike, Number One and Spock when they boarded Star Trek: Discovery last season, we meant it,” said Kurtzman. “These iconic characters have a deep history in Star Trek canon, yet so much of their stories have yet to be told,” the executive producer added. “With Akiva and Henry at the helm, the Enterprise, its crew and its fans are in for an extraordinary journey to new frontiers in the Star Trek universe.”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will be set about ten years before the original Star Trek series, as is Star Trek: Discovery, on the USS Enterprise. Strange New Worlds, the title coming from Captain Kirk’s introduction in the original series, will follow the crew of the Enterprise pre-Kirk as they explore new planets throughout the galaxy. Pike, Number One, and Spock will be back on the Enterprise following the disappearance of the Discovery. Strange New Worlds is meant to take the crew of the Enterprise almost right up until the moment Kirk takes over as Captain.
In Star Trek: Discovery the original series characters were introduced when Pike took over as Captain of the Discovery temporarily while the Enterprise is being repaired. Spock is the adopted brother of Starfleet Commander Michael Burnham on the Discovery, and the main character of Star Trek: Discovery, and he is connected to the mysterious “Red Angel” which has caused Spock to go on leave without his family knowing. Following a series of mysterious signals and a figure known as the “Red Angel” throughout the season. At the end of the season the Discovery and most of its crew, sans Spock, Pike, and Number One, disappear to more than 900 years into the future.
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Assuming the new series takes place following the events of the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, Spock could have an interesting arc. Spock is known for being the stoic, almost emotionless, half-Vulcan. However, he just had to say goodbye to his adopted sister likely forever, given that she is now over 900 years in the future. It would be interesting to see how the disappearance of Discovery’s crew will affect the trio and how Pike runs his crew on the Enterprise. Strange New Worlds could take fans back to a more hopeful episodic structure following the crew of the Enterprise on their adventures in exploration.
“Fans fell in love with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck’s portrayals of these iconic characters when they were first introduced on Star Trek: Discovery last season,” CBS All Access executive vice president and head of programming Julie McNamara said in a statement. “This new series will be a perfect complement to the franchise, bringing a whole new perspective and series of adventures to Star Trek.”
The premiere of Strange New Worlds will be written by Akiva Goldsman. Goldsman will not only helm the new spin-off, but he also serves as executive producer on Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Short Treks. Short Treks is a series of stand-alone shorts featuring Star Trek: Discovery characters including Spock, Number One, and Captain Pike.
“This is a dream come true, literally,” said Goldsman “I have imagined myself on the bridge of the Enterprise since the early 1970s. I’m honored to be a part of this continuing journey along with Alex, Henry and the fine folks at CBS.”
Star Trek fans have a special place in their heart for the Enterprise and its crew, especially Spock, as that is the ship that began the franchise. It should be fun to see if any other familiar faces show up on the Enterprise before Kirk takes command. Will the Enterprise immediately be full of the beloved crew or will they be brought onto the series over time?
Official Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Announcement
Watch Anson Mount (Captain Pike), Ethan Peck (Spock), and Rebecca Romjin (Number One) announce the upcoming series in a video below:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is produced by CBS Television Studios, Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Ruth will serve as executive producers. Aaron Baiers, Akela Cooper, and Davy Peres will serve as co-executive producers.
It is unknown when the new Star Trek series will premiere given the effects that COVID-19 has had on productions. Star Trek: Picard recently finished up its first season and a second is in the works. Another Star Trek: Discovery spin-off is in development centered around Michelle Yeoh and her character’s experiences in the mysterious, autonomous Starfleet Section 31 Division. Star Trek: Discovery season three is expected later this year. Along with the animated Star Trek series Star Trek: Lower Decks, which follows the support crew on one of Starfleet’s unimportant ships. Nickelodeon has also greenlit a Star Trek CG-animated series for a younger audience.
Are you excited for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? What do you hope to see in the Enterprise pre-Kirk era? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media.
Source: Syfy
