Star Trek has been one of the most iconic sci-fi properties in entertainment for more than half a century. Since 1966, viewers have boldly gone where no viewers have before on board the Enterprise and other starships. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the eleventh and most recent full-length series in the franchise. It tells the story of Captain Christopher Pike, the captain of the Enterprise and immediate predecessor to James T. Kirk, in the decade preceding The Original Series.
Its critical and fan success led to a third season’s order in March 2023, months before the second launched. Filming was scheduled to begin in mid-2023 before the dual WGA and SAG strikes pushed production back. Now, with things up and running again, what do we know? How will the new season continue the story of the first two? Which main cast members will return, who might not, and will any new faces join them? What else do we know about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3?
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Returning Cast Members
Trekkies should rest assured that every main cast member from the second season is set to return in Season 3. Anson Mount is back in the lead role as Pike, a role he originated in Star Trek: Discovery. Ethan Peck portrays the younger version of Spock, memorably brought to life by Leonard Nimoy in The Original Series. Spock originally worked under Pike before later joining Kirk. A young Christine Chapel is played by Jess Bush, succeeding Majel Barrett – wife of creator Gene Roddenberry – from the original.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Best Moments
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has concluded its second season, so take a look at the best moments from the series on Paramount+.
Younger versions of Uhura, played by Celia Rose Gooding, and Number One, played by Rebecca Romijn, will return. The late Nichelle Nichols played Uhura, while Majel Barrett also played Number One in The Original Series‘ unaired pilot. Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh, Melissa Navia as Erica Ortegas, and Babs Olusanmokun as Joseph M’Benga round out the rest of the returning main cast.
Paul Wesley will return again as the younger James T. Kirk, alongside another famous face from the original run. Scotty, now played by Martin Quinn, was beamed up in the Season 2 finale and will return to the show in the upcoming batch of episodes. Currently, there’s no additional information on any new characters or other returnees from the first two outings. We should expect more casting news to come out as production continues.
Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 3 Plot Details
While we have no concrete information about what we might see plot-wise, it’s safe to assume that Season 3 will pick up right where the second season finale left off. Season 2 ended with the arrival of the Gorn after their appearance was teased all season. The Enterprise crew attempts to rescue colony survivors under the Gorn’s siege, but it appears that the Gorn beat them to it. Complicating matters was the fact that the Gorn attacked a colony where both Marie Batel and Christine Chapel were visiting. No one can for sure say what happens to the colonists by the end of the episode, though it’s safe to say we haven’t seen the last of them.
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Earlier in the season, Spock was accidentally turned into a human for a brief time, which led to him and Chapel accepting their feelings for one another. Characters dealt with their own personal and interconnected traumas, and La’an and Kirk even formed a romance in an alternate universe, modern-day Toronto. The finale also introduced us to young junior officer Montgomery Scott. In an interview with Variety, executive producer and writer Henry Alonso Myers and showrunner Akiva Goldsman explained the decision to feature another original series veteran,
“It just sort of came up as we were talking about the story. Initially, it had been someone else completely. And then Akiva and I were talking, and I was like, “Well, what about Scotty?” And then we both fell in love with the idea.”
A Celebration of the Franchise
Myers and Goldsman also teased that we could see more characters from The Original Series return if the show’s run continues for a few more years. Season 2 took risks; who would have thought Star Trek would put on a full musical episode? The animated Star Trek: Lower Decks also received the live-action treatment in a praised crossover episode. This show is so much more than just a prequel to The Original Series. It’s a celebration of all things Star Trek and how the franchise still has life after 55+ years. We should expect those same innovative storytelling techniques in Season 3.
However, there will be a longer than usual wait for Season 3. Production is slated to run from December 2023 through July 2024, delayed by the Hollywood strikes. However, if it follows the pattern of the first two seasons, it should be well worth the wait. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
