Tributes continue to pour in from Star Trek fans and actors following Walter Koenig's passing. I've read and watched a good many, but none have made me as emotional as the one from Marina Sirtis, who reminds us of the strong bonds actors from this franchise have.

Sirtis played Deanna Troi in The Next Generation, the companion movies, and Picard. She posted a tearful tribute to Koenig on Instagram and talked about how they were good friends, despite being on completely different shows:

We've heard many stories of Star Trek cast members showing up for each other over the years, and how many have bonded outside the show simply by traveling on the convention circuit together. Some of them have been doing that since the 1970s, so it's inevitable that they cross paths quite a bit.

Sirtis and Koenig had never been on Star Trek together, but she had a role in his independent movie, Inalienable. It sounds as though they bonded a bit on the set of the 2007 movie, and their friendship only grew from there. For readers looking to check out the movie, it's available to watch for free over on Tubi.

Marina Sirtis continued and expressed some consolation that Walter Koenig was at peace. She let fans in on some of the sadness he dealt with in later years following his wife's passing in 2022 and his son's in 2010:

Great words from Sirtis, who is never afraid to speak her mind and wear her heart on her sleeve. It's good to hear that many in the Star Trek cast are still close with each other, even if there is some division. I'm not sure George Takei and William Shatner will end their feud anytime soon, but who knows?

Walter Koenig was a beloved figure in the Star Trek fandom, as was his character, Pavel Chekov. He even played a role in ensuring Nichelle Nichols and other women co-stars received equitable pay. Koenig first noticed the pay disparity and took it to Leonard Nimoy, who also helped make it happen.

Koenig's role as Chekov was novel for its time, as a Russian character seated alongside Americans at the height of the Cold War. While Star Trek took place in the distant future, there was a subtle message that these countries would set their issues aside. Additionally, the likability Koenig had as Chekov might've played a positive role in how Americans viewed Russians at a time when paranoia was at an all-time high.

CinemaBlend continues to offer condolences to the family and friends of Walter Koenig, as they lay their loved one to rest. Catch some of Chekov's best moments in Star Trek by streaming the series on Paramount+.

Star Trek's Walter Koenig, known to fans as Pavel Chekov, has passed away at 90. As fans share tributes and experiences with the actor over the years, I just feel so grateful we got a quick cameo of the actor in Picard before he left us.

Those who haven't been keeping up with the latest Trek shows with a Paramount+ subscription may not know this, but Koenig returned to the franchise back in 2023. He had a voiceover cameo in the series finale, "The Last Generation," in which he played President Anton Chekov, the son of the original Chekov and leader of the United Federation of Planets. Former showrunner Terry Matalas paid tribute to Koenig on X after hearing the news:

Matalas isn't lying and has gone on the record many times about wanting to make a follow-up to Picard. Given how he was positioned, it makes sense that Walter Koenig could've appeared as President Chekov in a later episode, had the series ever been made.

As for why he didn't appear in person, Matalas told The 7th Rule Podcast he simply ran out of time to finish the season exactly how he wanted to. Here's what he said when asked about the cameo:

Terry Matalas jumped on the opportunity to include one of the original Star Trek actors, and I'm so happy he did. I've applauded other efforts to bring in the original TOS crew in new projects, such as George Takei for Lower Decks and the Khan audio drama podcast. Strange New Worlds also attempted to bring in William Shatner, but it didn't come together.

Fortunately, the Picard cameo with Walter Koenig happened, and we now have a recent performance to look back on for the celebrated Chekov actor. The character itself was considered bold at the time, as Gene Roddenberry featured a Russian character working alongside Americans at the height of the Cold War.

Koenig played Chekov across three seasons of Star Trek and appeared in the major motion pictures. That being said, he missed several episodes of the final season of TOS due to his participation in a play in Chicago. He'd go on to another acclaimed sci-fi series, Babylon 5, where he played the recurring role of Alfred Bester.

His death leaves William Shatner and George Takei as the only living actors amongst the bridge crew of the original Star Trek. Those two famously don't get along, and even Koenig got in on the latest round of comments they shot at each other. While they may not have stayed close, they all seem to have embraced the late Leonard Nimoy's Spock credo when he said: "Live long, and prosper."

CinemaBlend extends its condolences and well wishes to the family of Walter Koenig, and wishes them well as they lay their loved one to rest. Hopefully, there will be more great stories about him as fans share their interactions, and I can't wait to rewatch "The Last Generation" for his performance.

One of Star Trek's top brass recently spoke out about the future of the franchise, and I can't say I love what I heard. Trevor Roth, COO of Roddenberry Entertainment, spoke about the company's vision for the future of the sci-fi series, and it's what he didn't say that has me most concerned.

Trek is done on the 2026 TV schedule, and while we can expect Starfleet Academy and Strange New Worlds to wrap up in 2027, we don't know much about the future outside of an in-development movie. Variety reports Roth was at Rome's MIA Market and confirmed there is a vision for what the future of the franchise will look like.

It's very interesting that Roth would mention so many Star Trek shows and fail to name any of the ones that have aired in the past decade. Discovery, Picard, Prodigy, Lower Decks, and the aforementioned Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy were all left out of the comment, which has me asking: why?

Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds all had episodes chart on Nielsen's streaming ratings, despite far fewer consumers having a Paramount+ subscription compared to competitors. It's also worth noting that very few Trek shows in general were ratings juggernauts, with many of those shows struggling to find an audience when they were on television.

I'm confused by what Trevor Roth is trying to imply, and I do think there's an implication. He could've easily said "all the Star Trek shows," but instead he specifically pointed to the original series and Rick Berman era. I'd have the same reaction if he praised the Kelvin films, all whilst leaving out all the other great Star Trek movies.

To me, it feels as though there's a growing number of fans who believe rolling back to the Berman era will lead to more success for Star Trek. Those shows struggled back then as well, and its audience struggled to embrace some of its less novel concepts today. Star Trek was created to push forward and challenge the ideas we hold in the modern day, not rehash the stories and lessons we learned three decades ago.

I understand the need for Star Trek to pull in more audiences, but I don't think pandering to an older audience who enjoyed TNG will result in any more fans than it currently has. As we've reported on in the past, the core fandom is dying, and without a young core to keep it going, it's hard to imagine we see Trek reach its 75th anniversary, let alone 100th.

The people with the keys to the kingdom have some big decisions to make, and while I think getting a movie back in theaters is a great first step, I'm not feeling great about what I'm hearing from the television side. I hope as these final shows wrap up, there are some big discussions about the best path forward for television rather than continuing to lean on nostalgia.

I had the pleasure of checking out The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television And The World, and as a millennial who came into the fandom in adulthood, I learned a lot. Sure, there was much I already knew about the history of TOS, but one thing I loved about this doc was how it spoke about the shows that inspired it.

As we wait for news about when we'll be watching more Trek with our Paramount+ subscription, or when that in-development movie will hit theaters, I'm going to spend my time seeking out these movies and shows that influenced the original series.

The Lieutenant

I guess it's silly in hindsight to assume Gene Roddenberry's first television series was Star Trek, but this documentary was the first I'd ever learned of The Lieutenant. The military series only lasted for one season, but as many said in the doc, it contained a lot of the bones of what would become the beloved sci-fi franchise. It also featured a ton of the same cast, such as Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, and many more.

Unfortunately, the series isn't available to stream, though the entire series can be purchased. The brief clips I saw in the Star Trek doc have me intrigued, especially seeing how different Nimoy's character is compared to Spock.

Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet is one of the most acclaimed sci-fi films of all time, and to be frank, I should've checked it out before I learned of its influence on Star Trek. It's fair to say almost all of the best sci-fi movies were inspired by this 1956 film. Based on William Shakespeare's The Tempest, it's centered around a starship crew visiting a "strange new world."

Forbidden Planet is available to watch right now on Tubi, which means it's absolutely free. If you can handle watching it with ads, what are you waiting for?

Master Of The World

The connection between Master Of The World and Star Trek may not be immediately clear at first, but after watching The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television And The World, I get it. Both projects feature a crew from all parts of the world/universe, and they're all united in their shared mission to help others. It all comes down to diversity being the key to unity, or IDIC, as Trekkies might say.

Readers can actually check this one out on demand if they have a YouTube TV subscription, so hop on it if you feel so inclined. I love the use of color, which is also something I appreciate about the early era of Star Trek.

These projects aside, I do encourage any Star Trek fan to check out The Sixty-Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television And The World when they get the opportunity. Screenings are quickly fading out after the release in the United States, but the doc is about to start its run in the UK. After that, I'm hoping it'll find a home on streaming.

When I tell you William Shatner has done everything in the 95 years he's been on Earth, I'm not exaggerating. I mean, just recently, the man performed with his metal band. Wildly enough, though, I just learned a very interesting fact about the beloved Captain Kirk actor. Apparently, he once sold a kidney stone to charity in order to buy a house for a family.

This kidney story is discussed the latest episode of Dropping Names With Brent And Jonny (my favorite Star Trek podcast that has little to do with the franchise). Shatner was a guest on the podcast, and amidst many other stories, they got on the topic of the pain of kidney stones. This prompted the legend to bring up the time GoldenPalace.com asked him for his kidney stone after it was removed, and had a strange reason for doing so:

GoldenPalace.com, as a Canadian betting site, is not allowed to legally advertise. So auctioning off William Shatner's kidney stone was a workaround that gained a lot of publicity for the sheer weirdness of what happened, but it wasn't technically an ad. The gambling site got what it wanted out of exposure, and Shatner pocketed $75,000 that he put to good use.

Using that money, plus some additional funds from one of his popular shows not named Star Trek, Shatner got to work with Habitat for Humanity. He shared how he used those funds to help change one family's life:

Captain Kirk may be one of Star Trek's best characters, but William Shatner is without question one of its best humanitarians. He does the little things, such as easing people's fears during COVID, and the big things, like raising funds to build a home for families. He may not be able to recite sci-fi information like the average Trekkie, but he embodies the spirit of the franchise.

I've said it so many times this year, but I cannot believe what a rich life Shatner has led in 90+ years. Just listening to this latest podcast appearance where he brings up hanging out with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and then talks about seeing Judy Garland perform not long before her tragic death. He's had a life well-lived, outside of never watching Star Trek, and I'm continually hoping I can live a life half as interesting as his.

On that note, I can't wait to see where William Shatner pops up next, and to hear whatever stories he tells along the way. Especially at this time when new Star Trek news is few and far between, it's great to hear former cast members sharing wild stories.

Some days it feels like we're further from Gene Roddenberry's utopian vision from Star Trek than ever before. When the stress of rising costs, worldwide issues, and parenthood gets me down, I've actually found comfort in a Picard quote I recently heard while watching with my Paramount+ subscription.

Picard is one of Trek's best characters for a reason, and it's because the writers often queued up the best lines for him. This includes this banger, which I've been leaning on in these hard times:

The line comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation, in an episode centered on yet another iconic character. Ironically enough, it was the most "perfect" person on the ship who needed to hear this, and learn an important lesson about being human.

When Did Jean-Luc Picard Say This Quote?

In a bit of irony, this heavy line delivered by Picard comes from a rather inconsequential moment in the Season 2 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Peak Performance." Picard said this to Data after he was unable to beat Sirna Kolrami, a grandmaster-ranked Strategema player, in a game. Data assumed the loss was due to a malfunction and, as a result, excused himself from duty.

The pep talk ultimately gives Data the confidence to ask for a rematch with Kolrami, with a different strategy in mind. Rather than advance, he forces a stalemate between them, which ultimately causes Kolrami to quit out of frustration. While he didn't win, Data took solace in the victory anyway, as he didn't lose.

How This Quote Is Helping Me In My Everyday Life

Just like some of the WTF moments the Enterprise crew have dealt with, there are so many things that happen in this world that are beyond my control. This applies to all facets of my life, and yes, sometimes life can present you with that no-win scenario, otherwise known as a Kobayashi Maru.

Captain Kirk may be able to cheat his way out of the Kobayashi Maru, but not everyone has been so lucky. More often than not, we're forced to accept situations that are out of our hands and hope for the best moving forward.

As Picard said, the outcome in those situations is not a sign of our weakness. It's life. These things happening all around us are not always our own failings or a reflection of what we did. Sometimes, life can just stink, and that has nothing to do with you or me. Larger global and economic forces are in play.

If it were true even in an era of post-scarcity, I would wager it's even more true for humanity now. Data was lucky to have Picard on his ship, as another Captain might've written off the android's ramblings and not given him the time of day. "Peak Performance" may not be on the list of best TNG episodes ever, but it's a good Star Trek episode, and it's one I'll definitely be thinking about for a while.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+. I don't think we'll get more new Picard quotes in the future on top of what we already have, but with Patrick Stewart refusing to admit he's retired from acting, there's always a chance! Hit us with some bangers, sir.

We've learned yet another detail about the upcoming Star Trek movie, and how we could have a "dark" film on the way. The screenwriters shared their latest opinion of their script, and I think I now have a read on the type of trope they're leaning into with this adventure.

With no active shows in development, it's all eyes on John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as they work to bring Trek back to theaters for the first time in a decade. We already know the movies it's based on, and that it will take place deep into the future, so why does this have me convinced we're getting a "Badmiral" story? Let's dive in.

The Star Trek Movie Writers Say Its Their Darkest Script Yet

Daley and Goldstein spoke to Empire recently about their Star Trek movie and hinted it's going to be darker than anything they've ever done. Daley, specifically, mentioned a military tie to it on a trip they took for their film Mayday (via TrekMovie.com):

It's good to hear there will be some levity, though I'm sure every Star Trek fan cringed at the idea of a "dark" movie. Typically, creator Gene Roddenberry wanted the franchise wanted to push more toward an optimistic future, but I'll just add that doesn't mean Starfleet hasn't faced some dark situations in its past. Personally, I'm not reading too much into it being a dark movie, but I do feel like I've zeroed in on the trope this movie will touch on.

I Think They're Writing A "Badmiral" Story

First, we learned that this movie is heavily influenced by Training Day and Crimson Tide. Now we're hearing it's going to be a dark movie, and John Francis Daley likened it to his experience visiting an aircraft carrier. Call me crazy, but I think it's clear they're working on a classic "Badmiral" Star Trek story.

For those unfamiliar with the term, "badmiral" is the name for when Star Trek does a story that features a high-ranking Starfleet officer with bad intentions. Maybe they're corrupted by outside forces, using Starfleet protocol to justify a personal vendetta, or just a standard villain. In any case, these episodes usually feature someone in a position of great power, and lower-ranked officers struggling with how to reconcile respecting the chain of command and doing what's right.

There are numerous Trek episodes one can stream with a Paramount+ subscription that have done this plotline over the years, with the latest being Strange New Worlds. There is a part of me that wonders how fans will respond to this storyline, seeing as it's something we've seen Star Trek cover quite extensively over the years.

Another part of me recognizes that the goal of this movie is to appeal to a mainstream audience. These people have not watched every Star Trek series, and they may never. Appealing to a broad audience is going to mean making something that may not be as new and inventive for the fans, but entertaining for the masses to watch.

Here's hoping the world at large embraces it, and it leads to many more years of Star Trek in both movies and television. As it stands, this is the only project for the franchise in active development, so until we have something else to focus on, fans are locked in on every update.

Former Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas may be busy with the upcoming release of Marvel's VisionQuest, but he's still up for returning to the classic sci-fi franchise. The man who brought the TNG crew and other stars back to the screen is ready again to make his pitch for a follow-up happen. Nevertheless, he also has one caveat.

Matalas caught up with TrekMovie.com at the premiere of The Sixty-Year Mission, a documentary about the history of Trek. In the lead-up to his upcoming Marvel show, the creator was asked about whether he still wanted to make his previously pitched Picard follow-up. Matalas confirmed that was the case and talked about how it'd need to change. Paramount, if you're listening, don't miss this opportunity:

For Star Trek fans out of the loop, here's the situation. As of this writing, there are zero Trek shows in active development, and Starfleet Academy and (possibly) Strange New Worlds will air their final seasons in 2027. Additionally, it seems as though Paramount will not renew its contract with Alex Kurtzman, who has led the franchise over the past decade. If ever there was a time to contact Terry Matalas about returning for his Picard follow-up, it's now.

At this point, it's public knowledge that Terry Matalas previously pitched this idea, but the franchise had a roadmap laid out for future shows that didn't allow for a new one to spring up. Matalas ultimately moved on, despite passionate pleas from fans for Paramount to reconsider.

It was also revealed by Jeri Ryan that she was later approached to do a follow-up for Picard, but she passed on it because she felt like it wasn't what fans wanted. Clearly, there was some interest in making this project happen, so I think the door is open to make another pitch.

The only detail we know for sure is that Paramount has made it clear the main goal is to get a new Star Trek movie in theaters. Spider-Man: Homecoming writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are writing a script, and have compared it to the Denzel Washington films Crimson Tide and Training Day.

Right now, there are no immediate announcements regarding what's next with Star Trek when it comes to TV, but why not scoop up Terry Matalas now before another big IP does? To me, it feels like a no-brainer of a decision, especially when Season 3 of Picard sparked mainstream interest in the franchise. The company already let Metalas get away once, they really shouldn't let that happen again.

All seasons of Picard are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription right now. Season 3 remains my favorite, though I find the series as a whole quite enjoyable and need to give it a rewatch.

William Shatner is speaking out about the rumors that he'll return as Captain Kirk, though I'm not entirely sure what he's referring to. The nonagenarian actor has restated his stance on returning as Kirk and why he still has not done so.

Perhaps word just reached him that Strange New Worlds' co-showrunners said they had a pitch for Shatner to play Kirk in an episode that never came to be. But as mentioned, I'm not sure where this started. It appears the actor heard some rumblings or whispers that he'll return, as he shared the following on his Instagram:

It sounds like William Shatner would only consider a return if he were playing post-Star Trek: Generations Kirk, who died in the movie. While it seemed as though Picard attempted to set the stage for something like that, I'm not sure there were ever explicit rumors claiming Shatner would be tapped for that role.

There was also a project in which Captain Kirk "returned" via the use of a stand-in and AI, and Shatner gave his blessing for Sam Witwer to serve as the body double. The actor wasn't officially part of that, but stated if there was something he approved of, he'd be up to return:

Quite a wild way to end the statement, saying you'd sooner die than commit to playing a Captain Kirk role you didn't sign on for, but hey, that's his right. When you hit ninety, you gain the ability to largely do what you please without scrutiny, so I can't say I fault him for wanting a return to Kirk to be on his terms.

At the moment, no one is talking about Captain Kirk returning to Star Trek, because there's no show for him to return to. Starfleet Academy will air its final season in 2027, and Strange New Worlds has wrapped filming on its final season.

It doesn't appear as though there will be a new series announced anytime soon, as Paramount seems to be in a holding pattern while it prioritizes getting the franchise back in theaters first. As for that movie, it's going to be set far away in the future and allegedly won't feature any known characters.

I'm not sure there's a Star Trek project William Shatner could appear in even if he wanted to, and based on what he said above, it doesn't seem like he's itching to reprise his role. I can sympathize with that, as he's already likely doing more on a day-to-day basis than the average person his age is doing. I can't imagine what life would be like if he tried to put a television role on top of that.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of William Shatner popping up at conventions or other places for those looking to see him. He's a joy to see talk live for those who get the chance, just don't get him riled up about potential rumors about returning!

John Cho recently joked he's entered a "deep depression" about the fact that Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek movie never happened. As the 2026 TV schedule closed out the latest Trek series, the Sulu actor from the Kelvin-timeline movies talked about being upset that we never got to see Tarantino's R-rated pitch for Trek hit the big screen.

The actor sat down with Variety to discuss a litany of topics, including Tarantino's pitch that reportedly took place on a planet based on Prohibition-era mob activity. The actor confirmed he'd heard about it at the time it was being discussed, and that he was really hoping it'd get made:

John Cho seemed to think that there was a chance this movie would include the Kelvin cast, and he was ready and hoping he'd get a chance to appear in a Quentin Tarantino movie. I can't say that I blame him, as that's a rare accomplishment only so many actors can claim. He also has a pretty stellar track record of quality movies, so this project could've been a hit.

Of course, there were more than a few diehard Star Trek fans who questioned whether Quentin Tarantino was the right fit for the next installment in the beloved sci-fi franchise. Cho admitted he understood why anyone would hesitate to greenlight the pitch, but that didn't make him any less eager to hope that Paramount would sign off on it anyway:

I can't say I disagree, especially since it now seems there won't be a fourth movie in the Kelvin timeline. Paramount has shifted its efforts to get Star Trek back onscreen elsewhere and is opting for a story centered far in the future with a fresh cast. As of writing, the in-development film doesn't have a cast, nor a release date.

As for Quentin Tarantino, we still haven't heard what his alleged final film will end up being. The director previously claimed that his final feature would be The Movie Critic, but he has since backed out of that project. He wrote the screenplay for The Further Mid-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, but will not direct the upcoming Netflix movie. It's a bit surprising to hear he won't be directing a direct sequel to Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, but I guess the point of this story is that Tarantino is always good at keeping people on their toes.

John Cho was hopeful the Tarantino movie would happen, while I remain hopeful that we'll see a new Star Trek movie in the next five years. In the meantime, I still have my Paramount+ account and access to a wide variety of past movies to keep me occupied for a while.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode "Tomorrow's Enterprise." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gave its fans a lot to chew on ahead of the final season, after a temporal distortion gave Nyota Uhura a look into her future. It soft-launched some big changes that are on the way as the series closes out, and I just learned a major fact about the episode. Apparently, it was initially written to be the last episode of the show.

I was so hung up on the hint that La'an might die that I tuned out everything else. Fortunately, I can always revisit the episode on Paramount+, and based on Akiva Goldsman confirming to TVLine that the Season 4 finale was written as a potential series finale, I think I need to go back and look for all these last-minute changes that took effect once they realized they'd get more episodes. Goldsman said:

The changes likely ensured the Season 4 finale did not prematurely reveal a look at the original TOS crew in Strange New Worlds, which the co-creators have long said was their plan for how the series ends. I'd love to go back and watch with that in mind, and see if maybe those changes are easier to spot now.

I'm now wondering if the actors who were cast as Sulu and Bones for the final season were originally in this episode and then written out for a reveal in the final season. The crew would only be short one Pavel Chekov of having the entire crew from the original series. Of course, given the age gap, Chekov would be too young to be on the Enterprise at this point.

Ultimately, I'm glad Strange New Worlds didn't have to end with its Season 4 finale, as that would've been a huge compromise compared to what was promised. Sure, it would've been better than Enterprise's infamous finale, but it still would've been a poor way to end what has been the franchise's best show of the modern era.

Fans are still waiting on details on when the final season of Strange New Worlds will air, but we do know it'll be an abbreviated six-episode season. The cast wrapped on filming late last year, so I think it's possible the final season will arrive in 2027, assuming there weren't any major hang-ups with post-production.

Here's hoping that extra time was enough to create a proper finale, and one that fans can continue to enjoy for years to come on streaming. In the meantime, revisit Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+, and continue to wonder alongside other fans why it seems unlikely it's going to get a spinoff.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 finale, "Tomorrow's Enterprise." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds hinted that a major tragedy may strike one of its beloved characters in the latest Season 4 finale. The episode jumped one year into the future and hinted that fans should certainly be worried about La'an Noonien-Singh as the final season approaches.

Uhura starred in "Tomorrow's Enterprise," where she worked with her future self to prevent Scotty's death. Of course, the crew soon discovered the two Uhuras had switched places in time, which led to some mild spoilers before the show closed out its run on the 2026 TV schedule.

La'an Is Not On The Enterprise One Year From Now

Captain Kirk was quick to notice Uhura wasn't herself, which led to her eventual confession that she was, but from a year prior. The captain lamented that he hated dealing with time anomalies, to which Uhura noted La'an told her as much.

The look of shock and sadness on Kirk's face at the mention of La'an was unmistakable. Uhura pressed and asked if the Enterprise's head of security was on the ship, but he changed the subject. Uhura let it go, but obviously, I can't.

Will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Final Season Kill Off La'an?

While it wasn't explcitly stated that La'an will die in the final season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, one has to wonder. The Season 4 finale already confirmed that Ortegas has transferred off the ship, but La'an and Una's fates are still a mystery. Is it possible they both died in some tragedy we'll see unfold in Season 5?

Perhaps what's more interesting is that Kirk was legitimately saddened at the mention of her name. While we know they've started a relationship of sorts, is it possible he's involved in her death in some way?

Spock wasn't around for the mention of La'an, and I would've been curious to see his reaction. While he's usually even-keeled, I feel his relationship with La'an and feelings for her could've brought out some of his human side, if only slightly.

Ultimately, it's looking like we're going to have to wait for the final season to see what happens to La'an, the descendant of the famous Star Trek villain Khan. It's a shame that co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman doesn't feel optimistic about this series getting a spinoff, as the episode only further convinced me how great a follow-up would be.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 is now available to stream in full on Paramount+. Unfortunately, we don't know for sure when the final season is coming, though I would wager we'll see it air sometime in 2027.

William Shatner is still trying new things at 95-years-old, and he's proven that he has a wide range of interests. So, when I heard earlier this year that he was planning to tour with a metal band, I was hardly surprised. After seeing their debut, however, I can say that it caught me off guard, mainly because I forgot what it means to hear the Star Trek icon "sing."

Shatner and his band, The *uckers, performed live at the Riot Fest aftershow in Chicago over the weekend. The actor and his bandmates performed covers of iconic songs previously performed by the late Ozzy Osbourne, Mötorhead and Metallica. It's quite a variety, and I was shocked to discover he had that kind of range until I watched the video below:

Not too long into the video, I was hit with the reminder that in all my years of following William Shatner, I've never actually known him to sing. Not in the traditional sense, anyway and that his performances are more like lounge-singing meets spoken-word beat poetry.

It's a distinct style, and one that couldn't even keep his identity a secret when he performed on The Masked Singer. I couldn't help but feel just a bit foolish that I assumed he was going to belt out "Ace of Spades" with full bravado. But hey, if Christopher Lee could belt out metal tunes, couldn't William Shatner?

I can't say I'm disappointed, because how many nonagenarians around the world are doing the same thing? Not only that, but Shatner has also been doing interviews in connection to Star Trek's 60th anniversary as well as a lot of convention appearances. I'd love to be doing a third of that at his age, assuming I ever get there.

For those sad they missed this performance, don't worry. William Shatner and The *uckers will perform again at Coachella 2027, which is scheduled from April 9th through the 11th and the 16th through the 18th. I'd love the chance to see him perform, even if it isn't a traditional musical performance.

As for whether he'll pop back into Star Trek anytime soon, I'm still upset that Strange New Worlds couldn't get him back in the studio for a one-off episode. The writers pitched bringing him back as an alternate version of James T. Kirk, but unfortunately, the stars didn't align and the series wrapped before it could happen.

Fortunately, the actor is great at making frequent appearances and going on side adventures, so we're never lacking in seeing him out in public. Here's hoping he has even wilder adventures planned, though between these metal band performances and traveling to space, I'm not sure what else he can do to top those endeavors.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is nearing the end of Season 4 on the 2026 TV schedule, but the series wrapped its final season in late 2025. While there was hope we'd get a spinoff chronicling Captain Kirk's first days on the Enterprise, EP and one of its biggest cheerleaders, Akiva Goldsman, has some bad news.

The co-showrunner of the series has long been banging the drum, saying a Paul Wesley-led spinoff of SNW would be easy to pull off. Sadly, he's changed his tune in a recent interview with Radio Times. He was prompted for an update on the pitch and explained that it doesn't seem likely to happen:

Akiva Goldsman has worked in Hollywood for a long time, so when he says he doesn't see something happening, I believe him. I'm crushed because I agree that the Year One pitch was an easy sell to Paramount+ fresh off of Strange New Worlds ending and the sets still being in place, but with them gone and actors taking jobs elsewhere, we might as well kiss it goodbye.

If that weren't bad enough, it sounds like Goldsman has also made his exit from whatever the future holds for Star Trek. While there is a movie in development and a promise that the franchise will continue in television form, he's made it clear he doesn't think he'll be around to help shape it:

I appreciate his optimism that the franchise will continue, but it's a shame to lose a talent like Akiva Goldsman. He was an instrumental player in the development of Star Trek: Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds, and he also wrote the TNG movie Nemesis. I can't say there was anyone more qualified to take the reins on the franchise as it prepared for the next reboot, but maybe there's another out there.

Honestly, it's a story that feels all too familiar when it comes to Star Trek as of late. Fans were excited about the possibility of Picard getting a follow-up spinoff after it ended, and the creators and cast were behind a pitch to get it off the ground. Paramount balked, however, and after some time passed, showrunner Terry Matalas left for Marvel, and the cast looked for jobs elsewhere.

Unfortunately, there's been a lot of bad news to report this year on Star Trek, which isn't ideal considering it's the 60th anniversary. At the same time, any franchise that's been around for over half a century has to find a way to evolve, especially if the company that owns it wants to survive to see the end of said century.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is about to wrap up Season 4, but all previous episodes are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. This season has been a thrill to watch, as sad as I am that we're now closer than ever to the end of the show.

Paul Wesley recently had a long-overdue conversation with William Shatner about playing James T. Kirk, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The actor talked to the sci-fi legend about what it was like playing the character on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and I can't stop laughing at how Shatner responded.

As Strange New Worlds approaches the end of its run on the 2026 TV schedule and prepares for its final season, Wesley spoke with Shatner in a piece for Interview about playing one of Star Trek's best characters. Paul Wesley talked about his struggles after The Vampire Diaries ended and wanting to find a role completely outside of that. Things changed when he heard that EPs Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Meyers wanted to talk to him, and they wanted him as Kirk for SNW:

It was a big deal. Because even when Chris Pine played Captain Kirk on the big screen, he was playing the character from an alternate reality. Paul Wesley's James T. Kirk is the Prime Timeline version, meaning he and William Shatner played the same character.

Not only that, but Wesley was also offered the opportunity to play Kirk on Strange New Worlds, where the character had yet to become a Captain, let alone on the Enterprise. His performance would set the stage for the events of TOS, so he'd be tasked with showing a character who ultimately falls in line with William Shatner's performance. Wesley continued his story and talked about the gravitas of it all:

Some background for Star Trek fans who don't know: Paul Wesley had a chance encounter with William Shatner soon after that Zoom call. The actor was under an agreement not to leak the news and, as such, couldn't talk to him about how he was going to be the next James T. Kirk on television.

Now he finally got to open up about playing Kirk with the legend, which is where it gets hilarious. After this long story about how he got the gig, Shatner follows up with this question:

I laughed out loud when I read that response, because, of course, William Shatner has no clue about anything concerning Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He doesn't watch Trek in general, and apparently doesn't follow it in the news either. Paul Wesley's been appearing as Kirk since Season 1 premiered back in 2022. The series wrapped filming on its final season last year, so Shatner is a little late to the news.

Fortunately, Wesley has earned the praise of fans and didn't need Shatner to see it for himself to sign off on the portrayal. There's even people who would love to see Wesley lead a spinoff to Strange New Worlds, that would essentially give us the original series with a newer cast.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams new episodes on Paramount+ on Thursdays. Tune in to see Paul Wesley, and maybe encourage William Shatner to give the series a try!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 is reaching the finish line, which means we have one more abbreviated season left before the series ends its run. While some fans are bummed that it's not a full ten-episode season like what we're watching on the 2026 TV schedule, EP Akiva Goldsman reminded fans it could've been worse.

We've previously heard that Paramount wanted Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to end with a movie, and that the EPs pushed to get six more episodes to appropriately close out the story and bring it up to the original series. Now, we're getting more details on that from Goldsman, who explained exactly how things went down.

Paramount Wanted Star Trek: Strange New Worlds To End With A Movie After Season 4

Akiva Goldsman mentioned in a recent interview with THR that when Paramount came to the showrunners about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the idea was to just outright cancel the series at the conclusion of Season 4. Rather than allow that to happen, Goldsman explained they began to negotiate with Paramount, which is where the idea for a movie came into play:

Two hours presumably wasn't enough time for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to end its run the way the creators wanted, which we've learned was to show James T. Kirk's first day on the job as Enterprise captain. Now, having seen a bulk of Season 4, I think I can confidently say the EPs were right to push for more episodes.

Fans Would've Turned On The Series Given Season 4 So Far

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to deliver bold storylines in Season 4, but its largely come at the expense of the character arcs we saw in the first two seasons. The episodes themselves are decent enough, I'd even argue some are great, but this wasn't a season crafted with the idea in mind it would be the final episodes of the series.

Perhaps, had this conversation happened before it was written, it might've been ok, but Season 4 of Strange New Worlds was not created to set up any movie or one-off that would effectively wrap up the entire series. If anything, it feels like a season from a series that felt it had more seasons left and could have some fun with some wacky premises and get back to business next time around.

Going from Season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds into a movie, I feel, risked ruining all the goodwill the series built with fans. I'd compare it to how Game of Thrones finished out its run, feeling too rushed, awkwardly paced, and like the show was unprepared to end as quickly as it did. Here's hoping that with six episodes, fans won't feel that way, though we won't know for sure until the episodes are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

While I have my concerns about the final run, I'm still loving what we've seen from Season 4 of Strange New Worlds thus far. Be sure to check it out for those who aren't caught up, especially for those who love when Star Trek leans into paying homage to other classic franchises.

Star Trek's 60th anniversary served as a time for fans to reflect on their love for Gene Roddenberry's beloved sci-fi saga. As that affection poured out from fans, two of the franchise's biggest icons -- William Shatner and George Takei -- were still engaged in a feud. And more recently, amid the milestone anniversary, Shatner spoke about his ongoing beef with his former scene partner.

Just recently, Shatner spoke to USA Today about the anniversary as well as his ongoing feuds with past cast members. Takei and Walter Koenig have both taken shots at the Captain Kirk actor over the years, citing his negative attitude on the set of the iconic TV show. However, Shatner has maintained that he never interacted with them and repeated this in the latest interview:

On the other hand, both Koenig and Takei have claimed that it was Shatner's arrogance and lack of compassion for lesser actors on the set that led to them going public against him. Admittedly, the feud has gotten petty in more recent years, with Takei roasting Shatner's space flight and the Shat-man trolling Takei on his birthday.

We've occasionally seen points in which the feud boiled over, such as when Takei alleged that Shatner and Nimoy had a quiet feud on the show. Shatner has fired back at Takei more than Koenig over the years, citing his former co-star's habit of bringing him up whenever he's promoting other projects.

It would've been great if, in the spirit of what Star Trek is about, these two put aside their differences and buried the hatchet. Of course, William Shatner has famously never watched Star Trek or kept up with the franchise, so his feuds and gripes with past actors are some of the things he can confidently speak on. Not that it hasn't stopped him before from commenting on Trek-related matters he didn't have full context on, but I digress.

Beyond some drama from the franchise's most high-profile actors, Star Trek's 60th anniversary came and went without much fanfare. Strange New Worlds Season 4 is currently releasing new episodes that are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. But, with the show set to end next season and Starfleet Academy ending after Season 2, there are many questions about the franchise's future as far as TV goes.

Fortunately, Paramount does have plans to bring Star Trek back to theaters, with a new movie written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. There's optimism on the studio's part that project will thrust the franchise back into the mainstream, and hopefully, it'll keep this franchise chugging for another sixty years.

As for whether there's hope for William Shatner and George Takei to make amends at some point, that seems unlikely. But, hey, more surprising things have happened. While fans ponder that though, they can celebrate Star Trek by streaming the series over on Paramount+. While Takei and Shatner may not get along, they're still very entertaining to watch in The Original Series.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' latest episode parodied the world of soap operas, and much like its bonkers puppet episode, the series didn't hold back. It welcomed Days of Our Lives icon Deidre Hall for a guest role as the ship's counselor, who shared her thoughts with CinemaBlend on how the sci-fi series handled her beloved genre.

Hall has been a fixture on Days of Our Lives for 50 years, just a decade short of Star Trek's existence. As such, she grew up watching Captain Kirk, but this episode of Strange New Worlds would be the first time she's experienced the series swerving into her genre. I had to ask how she felt about the episode overall, and if the actors needed any guidance to make it fit the acting style of soap operas more. Fortunately, Deidre Hall said she had no notes for the cast and really enjoyed it:

Hall referenced her character, Dr. Marlena Evans, and the infamous demonic possession storyline from decades ago. She noted that even when Strange New Worlds was doing a parody, things can always get weirder on Days of Our Lives. She even noted that even though the episode's parody felt heavy-handed, there might've been times when it didn't go far enough.

Parody can both delight and offend, and I was dying to know how Deidre Hall felt about the overall execution now that she'd seen the episode. Fortunately, the actress had only positive things to say, and lauded the largely tongue-in-cheek effort:

It's good to expose the fandom to other genres, especially with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ending after next season. We still have episodes left on the 2026 TV schedule to get through, and another abbreviated season coming after.

I did love that this latest episode centered on Captain Pike and the fallout from losing Batel and the family he raised with her in the alternate universe. While there was a happiness intended in giving Pike a life with his love, the loss when returning to his own time was devastating.

As we march toward the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and the creators lay out plans for a spinoff that could happen, I think it's important for this show to close the door on Pike. We know how his story ends after his horrible accident thanks to TOS, but it would be great to see him reach a relative peace with it ahead of the incident.

We'll see if that spinoff happens, and continue to tune in for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episodes in the meantime. I'm eager to see how Season 4 ends, and how it sets the stage for the final season.

Paramount wants to bring Star Trek back to theaters, and Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are working to make that happen. The Spider-Man writers are working hard on the new movie's script and will eventually direct it as well. They recently talked about their inspiration and name-dropped two Denzel Washington movies the script is inspired by. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic for this!

The duo spoke to Inverse about their Trek movie and how they'd like their movie to be compared to Training Day and Crimson Tide. It gives fans the best information yet about what this movie might be about, and how this adventure may involve The Federation and Starfleet.

What Crimson Tide And Training Day Have In Common, Besides Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington isn't the only connective tissue between Training Day and Crimson Tide, as both movies rely on the tense relationship between two individuals in which the stakes are high. Crimson Tide deals with a Captain and Executive Officer locked in conflict about launching a nuclear strike after receiving an incomplete message. In Training Day, a young cop spends 24 hours under the wing of a corrupt narcotics detective.

Both movies are centered on authoritarian jobs, in which there's a chain of command and high-pressure situations. It leads me to believe this upcoming Star Trek movie, for which a title has yet to be announced, will revolve around a character who has a superior officer with a stance they don't agree with. Both are great movies, and the stories behind them are equally as fascinating.

One controversial thing Star Trek fans will point out is that both movies feature law enforcement of some kind. While Starfleet does protect Federation planets, its primary purpose is exploration and defense. Look up any series with a Paramount+ subscription, and that much is clear, so I do wonder if Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are headed in a new direction with this story set far beyond the traditional Trek timelines.

Will Star Trek's New Movie Offer A Cynical Take On Starfleet?

Training Day is a movie that deals heavily in corruption, which makes me wonder, is this new Star Trek movie set to do the same? John Francis Daley offered a bit more on the subject in the interview and said the following:

This isn't anything entirely new to Star Trek, of course. Fans have seen traitors in Starfleet before, and the TOS episode "Balance of Terror" feels very similar to the plot of Crimson Tide. Both men, who claim fandom of the sci-fi franchise, likely know this, so no need to raise the pitchforks just yet.

There are a lot of eyes on this Trek movie, what with no active shows in production following a period in which there were two to three running at the same time. It feels as though Paramount Skydance is looking to reset things, at least on the movie side, and rather than embrace the Kelvin films, start fresh in a new direction under the guidance of some celebrated creatives.

We'll see if the effort pays off, and we're watching a new Star Trek movie in theaters here in the coming years. As someone who's seen a lot of these projects come and go over the years, I'm not holding my breath that it'll come out, but I'd love to see it happen, especially if Denzel Washington's films serve as a guiding light!

Tom Bergeron went from a fan to an actor on Star Trek: Enterprise pretty quickly, and it's all thanks to Whoopi Goldberg. As talk about a revival of the prequel is making the rounds on the internet, the former Americ'as Funniest Videos and Dancing with the Stars host shared the story behind his guest role on the sci-fi series.

As Trek continues on the 2026 TV schedule, Bergeron was a guest on Droppin Names With Brent And Jonny and talked about how a visit to the set of Star Trek: Nemesis inadvertently led to his appearance in Season 1 of the prequel. He jumped into the story and how he piggybacked on Goldberg's visit to Enterprise:

This was quite an offer to extend to Bergeron, and would doubtless be the dream of any Trekkie. What I would've given to be an extra, let alone a guest star on a Rick Berman Star Trek show! I don't want to speak for every fan, but I'd imagine that for anyone with the Trek know-all this would be a dream role, and there was only one thing standing between him and the guest spot. It's that pesky thing called "acting experience," and the host had very little of it.

Tom Bergeron was well-known in Hollywood as a host and anchor, but had pretty limited acting credits. He had an uncredited appearance in Gremlins, and a credit in which he appeared in an episode of The Nanny. Fortunately, Whoopi Goldberg's acting abilities were second-to-none, and she was able to fool Rick Berman into thinking they needed to take him on. What happened next is classic:

Whoopi was at least familiar with Tom Bergeron from their time together on Hollywood Squares, so she probably knew he could handle it. Now he's forever immortalized in Star Trek history, in an episode that's currently available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Those who look up "Oasis" won't need to search around long to see him, as he's in the opening scene.

It doesn't appear as though the Star Trek: Enterprise team ultimately felt deceived by his appearance, considering he was welcomed back in Season 4 as a different character. It's also good to see that getting in prosthetics didn't dissuade him from the role, as others like Jeffrey Dean Morgan nearly quit acting over it.

It's fun to see actors play multiple characters across Star Trek, as well as see people who love the franchise get a chance to join in the fun. Now I just wish Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes would have Tom Bergeron back on the podcast just to exclusively talk about his love of Trek.

Speaking of Whoopi Goldberg, she also has a pretty interesting story about how she got involved in Star Trek. It almost feels like that's a prerequisite, or actors might just be great storytellers.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode "Level-Five Transporter Accident." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet episode is finally here following lots of teases. It was probably a given that the fandom would have strong thoughts and, so far, the collective response is divided. Some hate it, and others love it, to put it simply. However, the common thread I've noticed is that those who love it also seem to mention Jim Henson and the Muppets.

For those unaware, the puppets created for "Level-Five Transporter Accident" were made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. In the episode, the crew is transformed due to an accident with the transporter and is tasked with defending the Enterprise from invading Orions. It all ultimately ends up being a weird dream Spock is having, and those who did enjoy the episode had some passionate thoughts:

• Crazy once in awhile. We are lifelong trekkies. - LindaHowiler
• Level six is where they turn into "Pigs in Space". 😂 - fifimetz
• Jim Henson’s Shop is pure magic. Loved the design of the puppet crew - mzofchak
• So inventive and fun, what a joy to see a jim henson creature shop star trek crossover!! i had a blast watching this episode - sorayanaviadesign
• 😂 Amazing episode! Missed opportunity for Miss Piggy on the Enterprise though 😭 - phxnerd92
• I'm ok with a fully muppet ST from now on - no_one.man

Many loved the episode, and I would argue that with Seth Rogen's Muppet Show special airing earlier in the 2026 TV schedule, now was the perfect time to chase it with this. Plus, there is some pre-existing connective tissue between Muppets and Trek, as fans pointed out with the popular parody "Pigs In Space."

Of course, there were also fans who despised the episode, with the consensus that it was too silly for Star Trek. Whether it was Spock's dream or not was of no importance; they didn't like it:

• Come closer to my punches. - TheReverendPuck
• Gene Roddenbery would be disgusted - KevinVerhees1
• I've been a Star Trek fan for 55 years. This episode was the worst I've ever seen in all the different versions of Star Trek. I turned that crap off after 10 minutes. - klaus_47053
• Rumors continue that Season 5 will just be the Enterprise crew living in the Brady Bunch house with ALF. Special appearances by LEGO Batman and Patton Oswald. - saganbaby
• I don't even care enough to watch anymore. And yes I need to write about it - mortaupt

I can understand the frustration of some Star Trek fans. Strange New Worlds' stories have embraced "strange," but are generally lacking as of late in the type of space adventures that made the series so popular. This season, in particular, seems to embrace the theme of each episode feeling like a parody of some other popular franchise, and storylines and arcs of characters have fallen by the wayside.

Personally, I enjoyed the episode but, with the final season approaching, I do have concerns. Co-showrunners Henry Alonso Myers and Akiva Goldsman have made it clear they intend to set the stage for Kirk's first day on the Enterprise in the finale, which means writing out a good deal of characters before that happens.

Puppet episodes are fun but are probably more ideal for series that don't have strict limits of ten-episode seasons. Star Trek fans are hungry for traditional franchise adventures, especially now that Strange New Worlds is one of the only remaining live-action shows in the franchise. Could this episode have done better had it aired a few years ago? I imagine that would be the case, unless there's just a huge chunk of fans who don't care for Jim Henson's Muppets.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 continues on Paramount+ with new episodes on Thursdays. Puppets aside, there are some great episodes for those not into that, and one of them stands as star Babs Olusanmokun's favorite to film.

CinemaBlend was lucky enough to ask Babs Olusanmokun about his favorite episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and if you've been keeping up with the sci-fi series available with a Paramount+ subscription, you won't be surprised by one of his choices. His first pick, I would wager, is many fans' favorite by a long shot, but his second was certainly a surprise.

With Strange New Worlds currently in the midst of Season 4's run on the 2026 TV schedule, I wanted to know which episodes the M'Benga actor considers to be his favorites, now that the series has completed filming. As mentioned, I wasn't shocked by his first choice, especially since many would regard it as M'Benga's best episode of the series:

"Under The Cloak Of War" was one of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' darkest stories, as M'Benga struggled to reconcile with the fact that the Klingon ambassador aboard their ship was a rehabilitated war criminal from the days he fought in the Federation-Klingon war. The episode ended with a fight between the two that ended in the ambassador's death, and it was left up in the air whether M'Benga killed him in self-defense or in cold blood.

Babs Olusanmokun's second choice was the Season 4 episode "A Case of Chiaroscuro." The actor clarified that it wasn't so much watching the episode, but the process of making it:

The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode paid homage to the noir genre, as Una, M'Benga, and Celia found themselves on a planet in which the people were trying to free themselves from Klingon occupation. The episode even makes a Casablanca reference, though it has little in common with the heartbreaking movie aside from the fact that they're both filmed in black and white.

I can totally see why Babs Olusanmokun would love "A Case of Chiaroscuro," from an acting perspective, especially since most of his scenes take place either in the Med Bay or elsewhere on the Enterprise. In that regard, it's cool that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has allowed its actors a lot of different scenarios to play with throughout its run, rather than falling into a rut with the same space adventures week in and week out.

Of course, there are some fans who are questioning if we need so much variety in Star Trek, especially when the noir episode was followed by an episode where everyone turned into puppets. Whatever fans may feel is null and void at this point, seeing as Strange New Worlds is wrapped and already has its final episodes in the can. I do wonder, however, if this growing trend of the show embracing the "strange" and less of the "worlds" part of its title will have a lasting impact on its legacy when it comes to the fandom.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues with new episodes on Paramount+ on Thursdays. Stream new episodes as the celebration of the franchise's 60th anniversary continues, and we keep our fingers crossed for more updates on what's coming up in the future.

The Star Trek and Supernatural fandom collided recently thanks to some playful ribbing between William Shatner and Misha Collins. While neither is currently working within their famous franchises, they're hard at work on the convention circuit and taking potshots at one another as part of a playful feud.

As new shows hit the 2026 TV schedule, fans of two of the best sci-fi franchises are quibbling on the internet over photography fees for stars at Comic-Con Scotland. There, Supernatural's Jensen Ackles will be charging the equivalent of $245 dollars plus a booking fee for fans who want to take a picture with him. Conversely, William Shatner is a steal at only $129, and when a fan pointed this out online, the 95-year-old actor had this to say:

Misha Collins, who is also appearing (and similar to Shatner charging between $115 and $149), caught a stray from the Trek star there. Supernatural fans needn't worry about him, however, as he was prepared to throw a playful jab right back at the icon:

For those who aren't familiar, or are reading between the lines thanks to that picture above, Collins and Shatner have been celebrity friends for quite a while. IGN posted about their friendship way back in 2014, back when Shatner was live-tweeting CW shows to support Collins. He's also been a participant in Collins' famous charity scavenger hunt, GISH, which is to say there's no bad blood between these two. This is a celebrity faux feud at its finest, similar to Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

As for Jensen Ackles' photography price, it's fair to say his star power is still pretty high in Hollywood. Beyond Supernatural, he joined the cast of The Boys, and even has a recurring role on the CBS series Tracker. Suffice it to say, there are a lot of fandoms he's a part of now, and that high price may be to dissuade some, so he doesn't spend an entire day snapping photos.

Meanwhile, Shatner's past episodes of Star Trek are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, and he's done a few other shows with fans who may pay to take a picture with him. I should also note that while the price is lower, it's also reflective of the fact that Shatner's been traveling to conventions for around fifty years and makes tons of appearances around the world. People are still lining up and taking photos, so maybe the lower price point doesn't matter to him as much as landing the gigs in the first place.

Hollywood is obviously a place where actors can network, but we need to appreciate how conventions have brought actors together to where interactions like this can happen. Not to mention fans in Scotland will soon get to see both William Shatner and Misha Collins under the same roof. Who knows, maybe they'll troll each other again at the convention? Doubtless, we'll have more to talk about here soon enough.

Watch William Shatner in Star Trek over on Paramount+, while Misha Collins and Jensen Ackles' Supernatural is available on Peacock. I can confirm they're great watches, as someone who indulges in both, but I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone reading this that.

Just on the heels of learning the Star Trek: Picard spinoff would've centered on Worf's son Alexander, we're getting another story about how The Next Generation star Michael Dorn accidentally impacted a major storyline involving the character. It turns out Dorn had a role to play in the death of K'Ehleyr, Alexander's mother, and it all happened because of a joke.

The actor told the story during a recent appearance on Dropping Names With Brent And Johnny, and lamented that he got actress Suzie Plakson "fired" from what could've been a long-running role as Worf's former lover and Alexander's mother. She only lasted two episodes on TNG, as Dorn said he made a poor joke to a writer that led to K'Ehleyr getting killed off:

K'Ehleyr died in "Reunion" (currently available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription), and Alexander was sent to live with Worf's adopted parents but would return to spend time with his father. It does make me wonder what might've happened had the show kept her around, and if Worf would've eventually gotten back together and had his entire family on the Enterprise.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about K'Ehleyr was her dual Klingon and human heritage, which was later explored with the Voyager character B'Elanna Torres. WhatCulture states that K'Ehleyr actually served as an inspiration for B'Elanna, as the writing team wanted a Klingon on the ship but did not want to create a character who felt too similar to Worf. That's not a bad legacy to have, considering a lot of people would rank B'Elanna among Star Trek's best characters.

Michael Dorn felt bad about Suzie Plakson losing her role as K'Ehleyr, but it is worth noting the actress played other roles in the franchise. She played a Vulcan in TNG, a Q in Voyager, and an Andorian in Enterprise. Sure, those weren't as meaty roles as the one she had playing Worf's former fling, but it's not like he put her out of a job for good!

She may not make the list of most memorable guest stars of The Next Generation, but Dorn made sure to shout her out during his appearance on Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes' podcast. It's always great to hear these actors get together, as it feels there is a limitless number of stories they could tell from the set of their acclaimed sci-fi series. For example, I don't think I could ever hear enough about how the actors used to wrestle in between takes.

The best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and many other shows are available to stream on Paramount+. This is one of those shows where you can throw on any episode and have a blast watching, so don't feel like you have to start with Season 1!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has its long-awaited puppet episode coming to the 2026 TV schedule, and even knowing about it in advance, nothing could've prepared me for this. This whole episode just looks so silly, and these photos make me all the more eager to watch it ASAP with my Paramount+ subscription.

A "Level-Five Transporter Incident" will turn the crew into puppets, though based on these photos and the synopsis, Spock will be unaffected. Check out the situation, which I'm sure the Vulcan will struggle with, below:

I'm always shocked at how Ethan Peck can keep a straight face when filming such ludicrous scenes. It certainly has to be the most challenging part of the role, especially on a show as silly as Strange New Worlds.

There's been a lot of talk about the puppet episode, which was brought to life in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company. Strange New Worlds is no stranger to pushing the envelope of what the franchise has achieved over the years, and this might be the wildest attempt to subvert what Trek is yet.

Whether it'll be embraced by the fans at large or rejected, I'm eager to see. Personally, I welcome Strange New Worlds throwing just about everything at the dart board at this point, as there are currently no active television shows in development. If ever there was a time to experiment with what Star Trek can be, this is it.

I can understand the whiplash Star Trek fans might be experiencing, however, as Season 4 has radically changed themes for the past few weeks now. We've gone from a ghost story to Una singing in Klingon in a story inspired by The Hangover, and we're just coming off a noir episode. Now we have puppets, so if anyone is feeling a bit overwhelmed by how quickly the genres are shifting, I totally get it.

Perhaps it's Star Trek: Strange New Worlds getting it all out of its system, as we wait for the final season coming up in the future. After all, the series will have to write off a number of characters in its final episodes, and add a handful if it hopes to work up to James T. Kirk's first day on the job as Captain of the Enterprise. All this to say, I can imagine those final six episodes could be more serialized, so maybe we should embrace Season 4's wild twists and turns while that's still a part of the show.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 continues on Paramount+ on Thursdays. Get pumped for the puppet episode, and be sure to check back in after all the fans have had a chance to see it.

Star Trek is bringing its classic movies back to theaters this year, but that's just an appetizer to the brand new film that's on the way. Jonathan Goldstein and John Frances Daly are deep into making a new movie unlike anything fans have seen, and while some may be concerned by that, they think fans will be "surprised" by their take.

CinemaBlend had a chance to speak to the duo at San Diego Comic-Con, and after they publicly shared some details on the movie during a panel at the event, they gave us just a bit more. To start, Goldstein revealed his credentials for writing a Star Trek movie and talked about geeking out at the con after a chance encounter with an icon:

Meeting George Takei is quite an honor, especially if you're someone who grew up with an appreciation for the original Star Trek. I also appreciate the love of The Next Generation, especially since its best episodes represent the gold standard that Trekkies expect when watching other content.

The filmmakers were quick to acknowledge, however, that TOS and TNG don't account for the entirety of Star Trek. Goldstein explained their job is to make something that both pays homage to every Trek series available with a Paramount+ subscription while still coming up with an entirely new premise fans haven't seen before:

It's a bold gambit, and one that Star Trek has only embraced in part in its new era. Even Star Trek: Discovery, which took the franchise further into the future than it had ever been previously, originally started back in the TOS era. Namely with Burnham being the adoptive sister of one of Trek's best characters, Spock.

I do believe that the best way to bring in new fans while catering to the existing fan base is to re-introduce Star Trek with new characters. I think we've seen by now that bringing in ties to previous entries makes a general audience apprehensive about tuning in, as there's history and background they're missing.

There's a lot riding on John Frances Daly and Jonathan Goldstein's Star Trek movie, as it'll be the first new feature film to hit theaters for the franchise in over a decade. I'm sure that Paramount would like to get one of its biggest sci-fi IPs off the ground again, and in a position where it can churn out movies at a bigger clip in the future.

While we wait for the new Star Trek movie, keep in mind that there's plenty of Trek waiting for readers over on Paramount+. Strange New Worlds is airing Season 4 at the moment, and if you're looking to see Rebecca Romijn sing 80s power ballads in Klingon, you should totally check it out.

Before Star Trek returns to theaters with a new movie, its previous classic movies are returning to the big screen. AMC and Cinemark will be bringing a series of episodes and movies back to theaters, and of course there's a must-have popcorn bucket to accompany it.

From September 4th to the 8th, the best Star Trek movies are headed back to theaters with a twist. Each classic installment will be a "double feature," with a TOS episode attached that matches the themes or story of the accompanying movie. Here's what is being paired up, via Inverse:

• "The Changeling" and Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• "Space Seed" and Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
• "Amok Time" and Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
• "The City On The Edge Of Forever" and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

I can't help but notice Star Trek V was left off the list, though given William Shatner's opinion of the movie, along with the general public, that's understandable. I'm excited to head to theaters and see these episodes and movies, as well as pick up these collectibles showcased by AMC:

In a time when studios are not that concerned about the functionality of these novelty popcorn buckets (looking at you, Trojan horse), I'm glad whoever designed this didn't insist on jamming popcorn in through the Enterprise saucer. Putting the popcorn in the 60th anniversary tub isn't just functional; it's more "logical."

As someone who first watched The Wrath of Khan immediately after viewing "Space Seed," I'm eager to experience that all over again. In my opinion, that's the only way to fully appreciate the movie, though it is one of the most acclaimed movies of the franchise.

I also can't help but be a little disappointed we're not seeing the Kelvin movies make a comeback as part of this celebration, especially since it's the 10th anniversary of Star Trek: Beyond. Perhaps there's apprehension on Paramount's part to bring those movies back to theaters, lest they get the fans all up in arms about a fourth movie never happening.

I'm curious to see what the fan turnout will be for this event, and if it will have any impact on Paramount Skydance's ongoing efforts to bring the franchise back to theaters. Perhaps if a lot of fans show up for this event, there will be more urgency in getting new Trek projects in the works than what we've seen.

As it stands right now, the 60th anniversary has arrived, as there are no active shows in development. It is good to see there are some things to celebrate as this anniversary happens, and ways to celebrate for fans that continue to hold the line while we wait for more announcements.

I'm ready to return to theaters to see Star Trek, and will be on the lookout for more details as the dates approach. Fingers crossed we get even more surprises before the year is up, and maybe even some other classic movies returning to theaters.

Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas is finally opening up about the pitch he made for the sequel series codenamed Legacy, and of course, characters from The Next Generation are involved. I wasn't surprised by that detail, but I was shocked to hear the follow-up series would've featured Worf's son Alexander Rozhenko in a story heavily centered around the Klingons.

Matalas, who previously hinted the Klingons were involved in his pitch, spilled more details at the latest Star Trek Las Vegas convention. First Flight Podcast shared the details with the rest of the world not in attendance. And while we won't see it on the 2026 TV schedule or likely anytime in the future, I'm hoping I'm wrong about that.

Worf's Son Alexander Was At The Center Of A Klingon Conflict

As Terry Matalas explained it, Star Trek often used Klingons as a mirror for what was happening with Russians. Star Trek: Legacy would've followed suit, introducing the idea that the Klingons were dealing with "unstable elements" and that Worf's son, Alexander, would be one of those elements in the story.

Matalas didn't get more specific than that, but one could speculate Alexander was a revolutionary of some sort calling for major change in the Klingon Empire. He was, after all, very different from his father. Although later appearances in Deep Space Nine would show he tried his best to assimilate into Klingon culture.

I'm fascinated to hear more about the pitch and in which way Alexander was disruptive. Part of me wonders if he'd gone back to embrace his identity as a child raised largely by humans, and tried to introduce more human concepts to Klingons. The other part thinks maybe Alexander, desperate to prove his belonging, leaned so extremely into Klingon tradition that even his own father wouldn't recognize him. In any case, it would've been great to get another Worf story, especially with lots of Klingons involved.

Could Star Trek: Legacy Still Happen?

Fans are making the most out of Star Trek's 60th anniversary, despite the fact that there are zero shows in active development. One has to imagine that Paramount Skydance will put more shows into production, however. When that happens, could Star Trek: Legacy be greenlit?

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 was one of the new era's most acclaimed seasons, as it featured the entire bridge crew of The Next Generation and other big callbacks. Fans immediately called for a spinoff, and while Terry Matalas had a pitch ready to go, Paramount already had its roadmap planned for what was on the horizon for the franchise.

Eventually, Matalas was offered a job by Marvel and is now the showrunner for the upcoming VisionQuest series. I suppose there's always a possibility he could come back to Star Trek after and make this series if asked, but then it's a matter of pulling in all the actors required to make this series possible. Then again, with the former cast remaining passionate about the project long after it seemed probable it would happen has me wondering if that would actually be as hard to pull off as I imagined.

The good news is that Star Trek: Picard is still available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, and there's always a chance that watching it could nudge decision-makers into giving this spinoff another chance.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler Alert: Bert is Magic." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe had another great episode and brought back a wonderful guest star from The Big Bang Theory days. Wil Wheaton appeared as an enforcer for the Magic Guild, and while his time was short-lived, it now has me eager for him to return for a potential Star Trek crossover.

Wheaton is one of Star Trek's biggest cheerleaders, and I almost wonder if he's already pitched the franchise crossing over with the new HBO Max series. In any case, this latest episode on the 2026 TV schedule has me hoping we'll get a crossover, and it would be easier to do than you might think.

Wil Wheaton Could Totally Appear As Wesley Crusher In Stuart Fails To Save The Universe

Seeing Wil Wheaton blast magic out from his fingers had me thinking about how Wesley Crusher joined the Travelers in Star Trek, and how Wesley could totally land in Stuart Bloom's universe. Travelers are not bound by the traditional laws of time and space, as we saw a ton when the character was featured in the animated series Prodigy.

Stuart Bloom is a comic book guy, but he generally seems to be an expert on all things that are nerdy in pop culture. No doubt he'd recognize the value someone like Wesley Crusher could bring to his quest to save the universe, provided he could get over the obvious paradox of Star Trek being a fictional franchise in his universe.

Outside the show's universe, it's no secret that Warner Bros. Discovery is in the midst of a merger with Paramount Skydance. With Paramount being the one with the rights to the Trek franchise, it feels like it would be easy, maybe even preferred, if Stuart Fails To Save The Universe gave the storied sci-fi franchise a rub.

The TBBT Franchise Has Long Referenced Star Trek, So A Crossover Would Be Amazing

Wil Wheaton appearing as himself on The Big Bang Theory shows just how much Star Trek DNA is in the franchise. Sheldon Cooper regularly viewed Spock as his hero, rightfully so as one of Trek's best characters.

To have Stuart and friends step aboard the Enterprise or any other revered ship of Star Trek, it'd be a huge moment for the franchise. Plus, given the Star Trek alumni who have appeared on TBBT over the years, it could make for reunions that wouldn't otherwise happen on a traditional Trek show.

Whether it'll happen, we'll just have to wait and see. It certainly seems possible within the premise of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, in which the team gets caught up in just about every situation imaginable. This includes some scenes from the trailer which appear to show Stuart trapped in The Matrix, and battling Mr. Freeze from Batman.

Until that Star Trek crossover comes, I'll continue to enjoy Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which streams new episodes on HBO Max on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This season is off to a great start, so I'm eager to see where else Season 1 leads.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode "Human Best Friend." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

The latest Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode to hit the 2026 TV schedule features the most impressive feat I've seen in the franchise's modern era, especially after learning how much effort it took. That's right, while "Human Best Friend" was a goofy episode featuring the crew on shore leave, Rebecca Romijn told CinemaBlend that singing in Klingon was no vacation.

I spoke with Rebecca Romijn about the latest episode, in which we saw Una sing the late Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" entirely in Klingon. It wasn't dubbed or made up; Romijn actually learned the song in alien language, and as she explained, it was quite difficult:

I like to think this was Star Trek: Strange New Worlds apologizing for the Klingon boy band scene, but that's just my opinion. I do love, though I am not surprised, that the show ensured Romijn sang a translated version of the song accurately, especially since the setup for that scene likely took way longer than what we saw onscreen.

Filming has wrapped on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but even then, Rebecca Romijn said she'd like to commit that performance to memory. I confessed I'd love to see it become a party trick she performed at future Comic-Cons and fan appearances, and it seems like that's a possibility based on how she responded:

On the heels of a scary episode that had Kirk questioning his role as a father, I'm thrilled Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had the sense to give us something as light as "Human Best Friend." It definitely felt like the premise was "What if Star Trek was The Hangover," but that's not to say it was a bad thing.

Plus, it was another Ortegas-heavy episode, which fulfilled the promise of highlighting characters who will not be a part of Kirk's Enterprise. These are the types of episodes we'll appreciate should the spinoff that Strange New Worlds' showrunners are hoping for happen, as Erica, Una, and La'an will ultimately not be a part of that adventure. Hopefully, there will still be opportunities for them to appear as guest stars!

I guess I should first hope that there are plans for Star Trek television shows to continue, as San Diego Comic-Con came and went without any new show announcements to speak of. It's looking like Paramount Skydance is waiting to announce what's on the way for the franchise, or putting all its efforts into making sure a new movie for the franchise can finally hit theaters.

In the meantime, we still have more episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to get through, with new episodes airing on Thursdays on Paramount+. After Season 4 wraps, we can assume Season 5 is coming in 2027, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Star Trek marks its 60th anniversary on 6 September, and a new book explores the franchise’s history from an interesting perspective. A riff on the popular “let’s condense a subject into 100 things” subgenre, Ben Robinson’s The Star Trek Archive tackles items such as Gene Roddenberry’s original pitch document for the series, Kirk’s command chair, Mego’s ‘70s action figures, Geordi LaForge’s visor, and Seven of Nine’s shiny silver jumpsuit, using these iconic props and ephemera as jumping-off points for discussion. (The salamanders from infamously duff Voyager episode “Threshold” get a look-in too!)

Significant behind-the-scenes figures from the world of Trek, like designer Michael Okuda and writer/showrunner Brannon Braga, also pop up to talk about their favourite items. Crammed with trivia, anecdotes from cast and crew, behind-the-scenes photographs, and concept art, it’s a fun read.

The Star Trek Archive: 100 Objects And Stories From The Final Frontier is out on 17 August (RRP £39.99), but thanks to Titan Books we have five copies to give away. To put your name in the hat for the chance to win one, simply answer the question below. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO UK ENTRANTS ONLY.

Star Trek has impacted generations of viewers and spawned numerous films and series over the years, with the franchise continuing to this day. So, it's shocking to learn that it wasn’t always a success, and William Shatner shared what really happened when Star Trek: The Original Series went from rags to ratings riches.

Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966 on NBC and ran through 1969, capping at 79 episodes. It wasn’t exactly a ratings success, but it had a dedicated fanbase, and the network stayed with it for a bit. However, Star Trek met an unfortunate end after the third season. It wasn't until years later that it became a hit, as Shatner, who portrayed the iconic Captain James T. Kirk, recalled to People:

Star Trek fans already proved themselves during the show’s original run, as they were campaigning for its continuation and even sent letters to NBC to keep the show going, according to CBR. However, it was how people showed up when the show was in syndication that really saved the franchise.

Shatner praised the fans for keeping Star Trek going, noting all of the “beautiful stories” they were able to tell because of them and the sci-fi writers who were contributing. The actor went on to star in seven Star Trek movies between 1979 and 1994, and direct 1989’s Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. While he won't be returning to the Star Trek franchise any time soon, his love for it and the fans will never go away. Even if he still isn't happy about Captain Kirk's death:

Based on what was said here, it feels like if Star Trek didn’t eventually go into syndication, the franchise wouldn’t exist. Or perhaps it just would’ve taken a lot longer to get back up again. Star Trek fans are dedicated; they even complain about the franchise’s direction, so I have to believe they would have helped bring The Original Series back on everyone’s radar, even if it took a little longer.

I’m still surprised that ratings didn’t hold up when the fans were certainly showing up, but at least syndication proved to be a winner for the Star Trek franchise. Now, those with a Paramount+ subscription can watch practically everything that has come out because of this remarkable ratings rise.

Jerry O'Connell is such an advocate for the Star Trek universe, you'd forget he's only been a part of it a relatively short time. In fact, he joined in 2020 after his wife was first introduced as Una in Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, so it's funny she wasn't the first to congratulate him when he landed his role in Lower Decks.

The actor voiced Jack Ransom in Lower Decks throughout its run, with the character eventually becoming a Captain in the finale. He's held his Starfleet rank over the head of his wife, Rebecca Romijn, for years, and maybe that's because she wasn't even the first to congratulate him when he joined the Star Trek world, at least via text. He explained to EW that it was actually an old co-star, who is also a part of the sci-fi universe:

I'm not surprised to hear it was Wil Wheaton, because he might be the only bigger advocate for Star Trek and its fans than Jerry O'Connell. Despite this complex history with Trek via his run as Wesley Crusher on The Next Generation, Wheaton's remained a notable face who feels like the ambassador for the brand, and I can imagine he was legitimately excited to have O'Connell join Lower Decks.

That text might've just helped Wheaton secure a cameo role on Star Trek: Lower Decks, though I'd like to think creator Mike McMahan was already a fan. It's a shame we never got an episode in which Ransom and Crusher had a chance to interact a ton, but who knows what's in store for the future?

It's the question all Star Trek fans are interested in, as the 60th anniversary yielded no announcements thus far about future shows, and only minimal updates on the upcoming movie. The ending of Lower Decks opened the door for both characters to appear in a spinoff series exploring the various universes of Trek, but who knows if we'll ever get to see a follow-up happen.

If not, at least we still have new episodes with Rebecca Romijn's Una to enjoy, as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to air Season 4. Who knows, maybe before this season or the final season ends, we could see Wil Wheaton back as Wesley Crusher as he's become a Traveler. I'd love to see Jack Ransom, but unfortunately, Jerry O'Connell doesn't look like his character in the series:

I'd be willing to suspend my disbelief, if only to see Jerry O'Connell act in Star Trek alongside Rebecca Romijn. There was an opportunity to pull that off when Lower Decks had its crossover with Strange New Worlds, but only Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome appeared as live-action counterparts of their characters. Fingers crossed there's one more crossover planned for the future that could make this happen.

Watch all the Star Trek you can handle right now on Paramount+. Strange New Worlds is currently running Season 4, with new episodes dropping on Thursdays. This season is already off to a great start, so anyone who hasn't watched yet needs to catch up.

It's the tenth anniversary of the release of Star Trek: Beyond, and Simon Pegg paid tribute to the last theatrical release for the storied sci-fi franchise. Now, as recent headlines detail plans for the next Trek movie, Pegg has me in my feelings with his bittersweet message celebrating his film's release.

Of every actor involved in Star Trek's Kelvin universe, Pegg has been the most optimistic about a fourth film happening. Unfortunately, amidst celebrating its anniversary, his latest comments feel like a white flag admitting we'll likely never see that movie happen. Check out the caption he attached to his Instagram post that featured several photos from behind the scenes:

He went on to reflect on what's happened since the film's release, and the potential for more, saying:

I didn't need to hear it from Simon Pegg that the fourth Kelvin movie likely wasn't happening, but it stung just a bit more. Many Star Trek fans would've loved to see this movie happen, and we've been strung along for years as scripts came and went with no forward progress.

While this post is meant to be celebratory, it also feels like a eulogy, celebrating what might be the end of the Kelvin universe in Star Trek. However, I do love seeing all the pictures he shared from filming, all of which can be found below:

As a Star Trek fan, this has me a bit emotional. And I think it's hitting extra hard right now because there is so much uncertainty in the franchise as of late, with no new shows on the horizon, and stars saying the franchise may be taking a break. Overall, it's been hard to stay optimistic.

Star Trek: Beyond stands as evidence of that challenge, as we never saw a fourth movie despite critical acclaim. The underperforming box office returns might've been a factor, but it's not like it was a flop. Even if it was, Simon Pegg was one of the first to say it was poorly marketed.

"Beyond" that, the star power of the ensemble only grew over the years, and interest in seeing a new Star Trek movie remained high. Unfortunately, none of those ideas ever panned out, and now ten years later, it feels more impossible than ever that we'll see a movie with them happen simply because of how much time has passed. It's bittersweet, but at least we got three special films out of it.

Star Trek will return to theaters eventually, though we don't have a release date yet. Watch Beyond on Paramount+ right now, and reminisce on how great this movie was. Also watch it for Anton Yelchin, whose unfortunate death will always be tied to this release.

Star Trek: Enterprise star Scott Bakula recently shared an update on the previously reported pitch for a spinoff starring Archer, and he really didn't hold back about whether it could really happen. While his comments more or less state we shouldn't expect to stream it with a Paramount+ subscription anytime soon, there is some hope.

The star spoke to TVInsider in connection with Star Trek's 60th anniversary. With that in mind, and with this being a year when no shows are in active development, he was asked if there was a possibility the pitched Star Trek: United spinoff was any closer to becoming a real series. He said the following:

While Paramount Skydance is going full steam ahead with planning for Star Trek's return to theaters, the television side has stalled. Both Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy will presumably end in 2027. And with no new announcements for shows at San Diego Comic-Con, it seems the company is waiting for Trek head Alex Kurtzman's contract to expire at the end of 2026 before entertaining ideas for new shows.

I can't help but feel a bit rattled by what Scott Bakula said in regard to this latest period for Star Trek, specifically because he likened it to when Enterprise ended. I don't think any Trekkie right now wants to hear that we might be in for another five-year gap before we get a new project, but who knows if that's just him sharing his personal speculation or something he's heard while helping pitch Star Trek: United.

For those in the dark about the aforementioned spinoff, it was revealed that Bakula and Star Trek: Enterprise writer/producer Mike Sussman had pitched a series that follows Archer after he assumed his role as President of the United Federation of Planets. The series was described as a mix of political and espionage drama, which sounded pretty intriguing to some.

There's also an argument that in the wake of diminishing interest in Star Trek, the last thing Paramount Skydance needs to pursue is more shows that cater to diehard fans and require past knowledge of other shows. While we have no idea how the company will feel or approach upcoming Trek shows, it's worth noting the movie is set up to highlight an entirely new cast and time period.

Doing this creates a jumping-on point for newcomers to Star Trek, who don't need decades of knowledge to appreciate or understand what's going on. As much as I would personally appreciate a follow-up to Star Trek: Enterprise, making a sequel series to a show that struggled to find an audience during its run on television feels like a recipe for failure, and likely not something the franchise would indulge in at this time. Of course, I'm no executive, so maybe we'll be surprised by the time we do get an announcement for the next Trek series.

So, with all that said, I'll keep a shred of hope alive. Now, as we wait for more information on new Star Trek, Scott Bakula's Enterprise series is available to stream over on Paramount+.

We finally have some details on the upcoming Star Trek movie that's been touted as the franchise's grand return to theaters after a decade away. Writer/directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley were at San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend to share an outline of what they've been working on. Thanks to this update, Trekkies now have some vague idea about the movie's characters and setting.

Star Trek Will Not Rely On Past Characters For Its Upcoming Movie

Daley and Goldstein were panelists for Collider's Director's On Directing panel, and confirmed that their script for the unnamed Star Trek movie is still a work in progress. Given that, fans likely won't see the film until far beyond the 2026 movie schedule. It was previously revealed that Daley and Goldstein's movie would not take place in the Kelvin timeline, but that was about all we knew. Now, we have confirmation from Goldstein that the movie will feature an original cast of characters, which defies the trend we'd seen in past movies.

What's worth mentioning is that even the Kelvin timeline brought in Leonard Nimoy's Spock. So I'm intrigued to see how this film progresses with a group of fresh faces.

I also question how Star Trek fans will respond. Thus far, the most successful TV shows have thrived by leaning on nostalgia and familiarity. It's strange to hear the hard pivot for the franchise in this new direction, especially when just a couple of years ago, Patrick Stewart claimed a Picard-led movie was in the works. So who will be the new stars, and will this story be centered around Starfleet? Those questions remain unanswered.

The Movie Is Set In The Far Future, For One Big Reason

Jonathan Goldstein also confirmed that the new Star Trek movie would be set in the future, perhaps further than we've ever seen. Here's what Goldstein had to say about that, specifically:

With unfamiliar characters and a new timeline, the motive behind the new Star Trek movie are clear. The goal is to create a new entry point for the mainstream, and hopefully ,one that the diehard (but dying) fandom can support as well. It's a bold gambit, but they have the creatives who brought Spider-Man back to audiences writing the script.

Star Trek is clearly on the cusp of a new chapter, with zero shows in active development as it continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Season 4 of Strange New Worlds is currently airing and is streamable for those with a Paramount+ subscription, with a final abbreviated season scheduled for a later date. Then there's one final season of Starfleet Academy, which was greenlit before its cancellation.

This upcoming movie could tell us a lot about Paramount+'s future direction for Star Trek as a whole, though we don't know that for sure. Obviously, there's going to be effort on the film side to draw in new fans, so I'm curious to see if that will be happening on the streaming side as well with shows.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds kicked off Season 4, which means we officially only have fifteen more episodes until the series ends. Granted, we won't see the final six episodes until after the 2026 TV schedule is over, but with San Diego Comic-Con coming and going without any major franchise announcements, it's hard not to wonder what's next. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers have anything planned, but that could change.

I had a chance to speak to the duo ahead of the premiere being available with a Paramount+ subscription, and had to know what both men have planned for the future. Perhaps sensing I was trying to find a subtle way to ask if their pitched sequel for the series was happening, they said this:

It's the big question on everyone's mind as there are currently zero Star Trek shows in active development, despite it being the 60th anniversary. Based on the latest Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, it would appear that the franchise is in a holding pattern, at least for television, until Alex Kurtzman's contract expires later this year.

Either that, or the priority is to get Star Trek back on the big screen, which is a noble cause. It's been a decade since the franchise had a theatrical release, and while Section 31 was a Trek movie made for streaming, it wasn't well-received.

For now, fans have been burned so often with promises of a movie that it's just not top of mind for some. Many would rather see a stronger lineup of shows for streaming on the horizon, as we've seen in the past number of years.

Here's hoping that Paramount+ has the same plans, and that it's just waiting to name a new head of the franchise before we start seeing more shows put in development. Maybe with a new face running the franchise, projects like Star Trek: Year One could actually see the light of day.

Some might point to the fact that Star Trek: Picard never got a follow-up as evidence that a Strange New Worlds spinoff is dead in the water, but I think the situation is different. When fans were begging for Star Trek: Legacy, Paramount already had different projects in the works. Now, with a potential clean slate, it feels like a Paul Wesley-led spinoff could almost certainly happen with fewer hurdles to jump through.

Unfortunately, we can only speculate, which remains a point of frustration for fans. It feels like there are so many questions surrounding Star Trek, and zero answers. I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be a different story when New York Comic-Con rolls around in October.

Before that, check out the preview shared with those in attendance at SDCC.

We have new episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to enjoy on Paramount+ on Thursdays. Season 4 is widely cited as one of the best by the cast, so I'm eager to see if the fans agree!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds just premiered on the 2026 TV schedule, but the fun doesn't stop there. That's what stars Rebecca Romijn and Anson Mount believe, anyway, as the two stars and childhood fans of the franchise have me convinced we'll be watching new franchise entries via Paramount+ subscription before too long.

Before Rebecca Romijn moves on to reprise her role as Mystique in the Marvel universe, I had a chance to speak to her and Mount ahead of the Season 4 premiere of Strange New Worlds, which is currently streaming on Paramount+. When I asked the stars whether they could say anything to ease the minds of fans worried about what's next for Star Trek, seeing as no shows are in active development, she said this:

In no way does she sound worried about the future of Star Trek, and feels confident it'll still be around years from now, and as she mentioned above, it'll continue to be relevant to new generations.

Anson Mount agreed, and dropped a fact that blew my mind in the process. He couldn't claim it as his own, but I appreciated him passing it along during the interview all the same:

Translation: Star Trek is as American as apple pie. Perhaps more so, because apple pie actually originated in England. I guess the math does check out that if America is celebrating its 250th birthday, and Trek its 60th, that is somewhere in the ballpark of 25%.

Rebecca Romijn and Anson Mount's thoughts echo those of other prominent names of Star Trek, many of whom don't believe it will ever fully go away. I tend to agree, especially with Paramount still making efforts to bring it back to the big screen with a movie on the big screen.

Star Trek will continue, but I think there are solid fears from fans about how it will continue. How long will fans have to wait for a new television series, and who will be put in charge of making it happen? As it stands, it seems the company is ready to move on from Alex Kurtzman running its television department, leaving the door open for fresh blood to take the reins. Kurtzman did tell CinemaBlend a while back that fans shouldn't fear this transition period, merely because there's just so much Paramount has to tackle to complete its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

All this to say, it doesn't sound like anyone in charge is worried about Star Trek ending. So we'll continue to play the waiting game and remain optimistic that positive updates on the franchise are on the way. Beyond that, watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 on Paramount+ with new episodes streaming on Thursdays!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 4 return amid the 2026 TV schedule is just around the corner, and I've been excited for a while. However, comments from series co-creator Akiva Goldsman already have me nervous for the fifth and final season's run. The producer spoke about the ending of the beloved series and shed some light on the plan that he and the creative team have in place.

Goldsman spoke to TV Insider about charting out Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' endgame, which track with what he told CinemaBlend about SNW about his goals for the finale. The goal is for the series finale to bring us right up to Kirk's first day as Captain of the Enterprise, which means the final season will need to take care of some other things first. He explained below:

It's not anything unexpected, considering we've learned Sulu and Bones have been cast for the final season. However, I do have concerns. Namely, I worry about what this means for the final season and whether this specific direction will lead to the final episodes feeling drastically different from the rest of the series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Has A Lot To Tackle (And Not A Lot Of Time Left To Do It)

Assuming that Season 4 doesn't get a jumpstart on writing off its characters that aren't around in the original Star Trek, Strange New Worlds is going to spend a lot of time handling that in its abbreviated season. There will only be six episodes in Season 5, as that was the number co-creators Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers told Paramount+ they needed to close out the show after Season 4.

I worry that's a tight window to work out all the changes needed to make the bridge look like Kirk's Enterprise. But, presumably, the co-creators had a plan.

Will The Need To Resolve Storylines Hurt The Flow Of The Series?

Something Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has thrived on since its debut is great way it balances its characters' story arcs with the "adventure of the week" format. Now, based on what I'm hearing, it almost feels necessary for the series to adapt heavier serialization in order to get to the point where it can set up Kirk's first day on the Enterprise.

It's important to me that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has a great final season because, quite frankly, a bad final stretch has tainted the legacy of many shows (Trek or otherwise). Let's not forget that when people bring up Enterprise, one of the main elements talked about is how bad the ending is.

If SNW's final season feels like too much of a deviation from what worked before, I fear people will feel like it's less than everything that came before. Granted, the series hasn't steered fans wrong so far, and Season 4 has been largely acclaimed by the cast, who say it's among the best of the series. Whatever was filmed, the series is already wrapped for good, so I guess I just need to have faith (of the heart) that the final season won't be too far off course from what we've seen.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns to television on Thursday, July 23rd. Tune in to see Captain Pike's crew take on some new adventures and tackle a wild scenario in its Season 4 premiere.

Star Trek fans are hoping for some big announcement at San Diego Comic-Con regarding what's ahead for the franchise, as we're not sure what's on tap after the 2026 TV schedule wraps up. It's the 60th anniversary, after all, and while there are things planned for the upcoming Hall H panel, I wouldn't hold my breath for anything big.

Fortunately, we have Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returning for those with a Paramount+ subscription ahead of the convention, and the cast will be at the event. There are also some familiar faces set to appear, but I remain skeptical that any of it amounts to a new series or footage of a movie that is just around the corner.

What Star Trek Has Announced For Its Hall H Panel

Star Trek is planning to take the iconic Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25th, at 3:30 p.m. ET. It's been announced by Variety and others that a Strange New Worlds panel will take place, featuring the bulk of the cast. After that, there will be a 60th anniversary celebration panel, with a list of attendees already lined up.

Star Trek' Hall H Panel Guests

• Rod Roddenberry (EP and son of Creator Gene Roddenberry)
• Michael Dorn (TNG, DS9, Picard)
• Robert Picardo (VOY, Prodigy, Starfleet Academy)
• Connor Trinneer (Enterprise)
• Cirroc Lofton (DS9, Starfleet Academy)
• Doug Jones (Discovery)
• Michelle Hurd (Picard)
• Jerry O’Connell (Lower Decks)
• Christina Chong (Strange New Worlds)
• Karim Diané (Starfleet Academy)
• George Takei (TOS)

It's a great lineup of people, and I'm happy to see Star Trek: Starfleet Academy get some representation despite its quick cancellation. I'm sure it'll be a great panel, but will it result in a new series or movie announcement? Again, I'm skeptical.

Why I'd Be Shocked If We Get A Movie Or TV Show Announcement

A panel celebrating Star Trek is great, but nothing about that lineup suggests to me we'll be getting a new scripted series or an update on the upcoming movie being developed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. I could see something being announced in line with a retrospective look at the franchise or a documentary, but nothing beyond that.

Star Trek seems to be in a holding pattern, and with shows planned through 2027 and franchise head Alex Kurtzman's contract set to expire at the end of the year, it doesn't seem Paramount+ is in a hurry to announce anything else. It feels as though the franchise is prepping to bring a new face to guide Trek into a new era, though that has not been explicitly confirmed.

As Jonathan Frakes and others have pointed out, it's a bummer that the 60th anniversary of Star Trek has come and gone with so little fanfare. Here's hoping I have it wrong about the upcoming panel at San Diego Comic-Con, or possibly New York Comic-Con is going to yield some more details about what to look forward to when it comes to the future.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, July 23rd. Get hyped for the upcoming episodes, especially since we don't know when we'll get new episodes of any Trek series after it wraps.

The Star Trek franchise is well known for bringing back franchise veterans, and it seems that may now be the case with one of its actors. A Star Trek: Discovery star seemingly shared that he might be returning to a series soon, only to delete the post from social media quickly. More specifically, it looked like James Frain jumped the gun a bit when hinting that his Sarek could be returning, and the moment is made even more iconic due to the caption shared with the post.

Frain, who played Spock's father and Michael Burnham's adopted father in Discovery, dropped a picture of himself in full Vulcan makeup on Instagram. As previously mentioned, though, the post didn't stay up long. Fortunately, I was able to get a look at it before it was taken down and can share the caption that Frain attached to the selfie of himself as Sarek:

The timing comes just as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is set to debut Season 4 on the 2026 TV schedule, though none of the footage released so far has shown Sarek. That said, it's not wild to think he'd make an appearance, given that Spock is on the Enterprise and has had a few adventures involving family throughout his time on the series.

If Sarek doesn't pop up in Season 4, fans should also consider that filming wrapped on Season 5 in late 2025. Based on what James Frain said, maybe he was hinting that he was featured in the final season, and I would love that. What if this means we're finally getting the payoff to the storyline with Angel, which soft-launched Spock's eventual showdown with his half-brother Sybok?

While we know Sybok and Spock cross paths in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, the character was mentioned after the Enterprise crew encountered his romantic partner, Angel. It seemed like the show was setting something up but, as of the end of Season 3, there's been no closure on that front.

There's also other ground to tread with Spock and Sarek, as Star Trek has shown throughout its history. Sarek disapproved of his son joining Starfleet over the Vulcan Science Academy and, while they would later reconcile, they often butted heads due to Sarek's more Vulcan mindset.

The father and son never really had a heartfelt exchange in an episode until The Next Generation episode "Final Days," which is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. In the episode, Spock is able to visit his father on his deathbed, and the two have a long overdue discussion about their feelings for one another. It's a heavy episode, especially considering Vulcans suppress their emotions.

As for other ways Sarek could reappear, I suppose it's possible he's featured in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as a hologram, or there's some secret project from the franchise that's on the way. I don't think the latter is in the cards, but I guess if it is, maybe we'll find out at one of the upcoming Comic Cons in San Diego or New York. In any case, I'm excited about the prospect of James Frain's Sarek returning.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 premieres on Paramount+ on July 23rd. We'll have to wait and see if Sarek pops up but, in the meantime, I'm just happy to have new Trek to watch after a long hiatus in programming.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is switching up things with James T. Kirk's character, but fans can lower their phasers because this sounds like a great change. With Season 4 set to stream for those with a Paramount+ subscription on July 23rd, I was surprised to learn that we'll get an appearance by a Wrath of Khan character I didn't see coming.

David Marcus, Kirk's son, will appear in Strange New Worlds Season 4, as revealed by SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend in its cover interview. Henry Alonso Myers revealed the writing team wanted to do an episode that will show Kirk as a father to a younger David. He talked about the reason for the episode, hoping to add to, rather than retcon, the story of Kirk's son:

David Marcus was the love-child of Kirk and Dr. Carol Marcus, both of whom only occasionally saw each other due to their long-distance and on-and-off relationship. Rather than invite the implication that Kirk didn't really have a role in David's life until he was an adult, he was killed off in the third Star Trek movie, so we get robbed of a ton of father/son time.

So, when it comes to Strange New Worlds, what they're doing is not a retcon; instead, it's giving attention to something that the original series hadn't tackled during its run. Let's be real, Star Trek already has a history of showcasing imperfect fathers, with characters like Worf never getting to fully redeem their shortcomings as a dad. That won't happen with Kirk, as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will supplement what we know about him as a dad with more in this upcoming episode:

The goal of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was always to talk about what came before Kirk's captaincy on the Enterprise. While there's questions of whether Paramount+ would consider announcing a sequel to the series before the 2026 TV schedule ends is still up in the air, I think episodes like this could ultimately help show fans and executives why such a show should exist.

In that, Star Trek: Year One, or whatever it is eventually called, will never actually replace the original series. At the same time, it can strengthen and modernize it by introducing story arcs that help connect the dots for certain things shows made in the '60s weren't as focused on.

In addition to that, Strange New Worlds has plans to show us dinosaurs and an episode in which the crew is turned into puppets. Honestly, I'm just thrilled they're finding ways to give us something abstract and fun, while adding more emotional beats as well. The premiere can't get here soon enough!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is coming to Paramount+ starting on July 23rd. I can't wait for the new episodes, even if it moves us one step closer to the abbreviated final season.

It's been months since the rumor first cropped up that Patrick Stewart was retiring from acting following the release of Avengers: Doomsday. Now we're finally hearing from the actor, and it appears that whether he announced his retirement or not on the set of the upcoming Marvel movie, he's not planning on hanging it up.

Stewart spoke to TVInsider about a litany of topics, and eventually the topic of his rumored retirement came up. The actor clarified where things stand with his career, suggesting that it's not so much retirement as it is a lack of available roles:

It's totally understandable that Hollywood only has so many roles for the 85-year-old English actor. This is especially true when the franchise that helped bring him to prominence, Star Trek, is not currently producing any shows.

I'm not surprised to hear Patrick Stewart is not retired after all, as he has a track record of jumping the gun with statements. It's unclear if he actually said that on the set of Avengers: Doomsday, but he also very publicly said he'd never play Professor X again almost a decade ago. Now he's going to reprise the role in the biggest blockbuster on the upcoming 2026 movie schedule.

Of course, it's not like I expect to see Stewart suddenly cropping up all around Hollywood and starring in a lot of movies, but it's good to know the possibility is still there. I'm sure there are plenty of other voice acting roles he can still do without the stress of having to be on the set of a show or movie.

It's always difficult as a fan when actors reach an older age. Part of me is already plotting out his next Star Trek appearance, but at the same time, who knows what Patrick Stewart wants to do? The three seasons of Picard were supposed to be his farewell to the franchise. The last thing I want to do is prod him into continued appearances if he's not into the idea, or content with what he has coming his way at the minute.

In any case, it's nice to dream. And now that we know he's still taking jobs, we can do just that. As much as I preach about tempering expectations, I'm already envisioning him on the Enterprise once again, having one final adventure as Jean-Luc Picard with the entire crew.

Fans can see Patrick Stewart in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th. I'll be thrilled to see him and all the other cast members in this adventure, in which I think their characters have met their match when it comes to Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Star Trek is known for bringing back notable characters in some form or another, and I'm excited that another is poised to reappear. Jake Sisko is returning to Trek, though we won't see Cirroc Lofton's character appear on a show airing amid the 2026 TV schedule. Sisko is returning by way of a novel, and I'm hopeful that after his surprise appearance in a Season 1 episode of Starfleet Academy, we'll get some additional context on an aspect of Jake's personal history.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Peacemakers is now available to pre-order on Amazon and, if you're someone who still watches Benjamin Sisko and the gang deal with drama on the promenade, you'll want to pick it up. Sure, it's not a series we can stream with a Paramount+ subscription, but it could give us some additional context on something Jake said in regard to his father during my favorite Starfleet Academy episode.

What Is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Peacemakers About?

The Peacemakers hails from prolific Trek author Una McCormack and follows Jake Sisko five years after the Dominion War. In an attempt to escape everyone from Starfleet intelligence to the Bajoran people, he accepts an invitation to attend an arts festival on Cardassia Prime. Strange events soon start to occur and, with death surrounding him, he's thrust into an adventure.

It's an adventure I'd love to see play out in a limited series, but with no active Star Trek shows in development, I'll settle for this. Jake is a great character, and I'm as amped to see him return as I was to see Wesley Crusher in his own novel.

What Jake Sisko Says About His Father In Starfleet Academy

As mentioned, this upcoming novel has the opportunity to address something we learned from Jake Sisko in the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode, "Series Acclimation Mil." In the episode, SAM does a deep dive into the life of Benjamin Sisko, finding similarities between his responsibilities as an emissary of the Prophets and her being an emissary to her homeworld of Kasq.

Ultimately, SAM becomes convinced that if she can find definitive answers to what became of Benjamin Sisko and whether he was dead or alive following the Dominion Wars, she can justify her attending Starfleet Academy to the people of Kasq. She ends up speaking to a hologram of Jake Sisko, who tells her that his father was "around" after the war but cannot provide her with definitive proof that he was.

This opens the door for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Peacemakers to explain how Jake felt Benjamin's presence in his life, even if he didn't physically appear to his son after the end of the series. I would love if this book has a moment in which there's some supernatural event or unexplained phenomenon that backs up what Jake said to SAM. I have a feeling there will be, but I guess we'll just have to wait and read!

Unfortunately, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was canceled, though Season 2 is still expected to stream on Paramount+ in 2027. I'm excited for more episodes as well as this new adventure with Jake Sisko!

The late Roger Ebert is one of the film industry's most notable critics, and while he's no longer with us, many of his opinions live on via the internet. We're all familiar with the classic movies he hated, and that he had some occasionally radical opinions, such as his radical distaste for fandoms and the role they hold in Hollywood.

While I hold reverence for Ebert and the road he paved as much as other past critics, I have to say I was shocked by this quote from his book, A Horrible Experience of Unbearable Length: More Movies That Suck, traveling the internet. In it, he goes on a rant that serves as a takedown of fandom culture, and doesn't mince words on how he feels about it. Read it below:

It's pretty rough stuff to read, especially if you're someone excited about upcoming Star Wars movies or bummed about the lack of new shows on the way for Star Trek. I find myself in both of those categories, and as a proud member of many fandoms, I have to talk about my problems with what Roger Ebert said so long ago.

Fandoms Are Not Full Of "Socially Inept" People

Roger Ebert made a lot of generalizations about fandoms, and I think the rudest is calling people who are dedicated fans "socially inept." Speaking personally, some of the biggest Star Trek fans I know are not only plenty capable of talking about things outside of it, but they've also managed to turn that fandom into a career.

In fact, many of Star Trek's recent showrunners, like Mike McMahan, started out as fans, and they used their encyclopedic knowledge of The Next Generation and other shows to pay homage to them or even come up with new ways to enjoy them. Some of them even became actors on the series, like Tawny Newsome. Go to one of her panels, and you'll realize she's forgotten more Trek knowledge than you may know.

These are just high-level examples, and say nothing to scores of fans I've met over the years who thrived in their job fields as engineers, scientists, doctors, or content creators. To generalize "fandoms" as nothing but a place for social outcasts to amass and spew facts at each other is not only rude, it's widely incorrect in my opinion. Fans across all across the human spectrum, which is part of what makes it so special.

Roger Ebert Forgets The Personal Attachment Many Have To Fandoms

Another thing Roger Ebert fails to understand about fandoms is that an intense love of any franchise can often start from an earnest place. Maybe we love a particular show or movie because we watched it with a loved one, or we experienced it through a particularly remarkable time in our lives. Entertainment can be therapeutic or comforting, and in those moments a fandom is born.

The way Ebert talks about it, it's like a person who is effectively a blank slate found a show and used it to shield the world from just how boring they were. Again, that's very rarely the case, and sounds like a comment from someone who was never really a part of one. Had he actually participated in a fandom, I think he might feel differently, but I guess we'll never know.

All this to say, I still admire Roger Ebert, and his right to have an opinion that still makes people feel things even from beyond the grave. Even if I think his opinion is wrong, I have to respect that!

With the news of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's cancellation dominating the first half of the 2026 TV schedule, some might've forgotten it still has another season on the way. Season 2 will air sometime in 2027 for those with a Paramount+ subscription, and while we wait on that, star Robert Picardo shared a hopeful wish for the series' future.

Picardo was recently doing some post-production work on Season 2, and hyped up anyone waiting on these episodes when they drop. While it's bittersweet that there are only so many episodes left, I'm in my feels to hear how proud he is of them. Check out his message he posted on X alongside a BTS image:

When CinemaBlend talked to Robert Picardo back in 2025, asking if he believed Paramount+'s merger with Skydance would impact Starfleet Academy, he felt positive that it wouldn't. Now, as another merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is imminent, and the franchise's future looks more uncertain than ever, I can't help but be bummed out that he seems less sure in his latest comments.

On the flip side, I'm happy that he feels proud of the work he and the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy put in on Season 2, and hopes it will impact the future of the franchise going forward. At a time when no active Trek shows are in development, I think it's important for fans and stars to stay clear about what they want when it comes to any potential return.

It's a question many will have to figure out following Starfleet Academy's cancellation, which promised a lot of original stories and new developments in the Star Trek universe. Unfortunately, some fans preferred sticking to the past, with Picard Season 3 and Strange New Worlds seeing some of the best viewership numbers of this new era.

It's clear nostalgia resonates with a large number of Star Trek fans, but we've also heard Paramount fears the fandom is dying. The franchise is stuck between a rock and a hard place, in which it needs a show that will serve as an entry point for new fans, but will also be embraced by the existing fandom.

If the answers for how to solve this problem were simple, I don't think Paramount would've let one of its most-revered franchises get in this position. Unfortunately, it's in a jam, and while we're seeing plans for Trek to go back to theaters, we're left twiddling our thumbs and wondering what's next on the television side.

Until then, we still have Star Trek left to enjoy over on Paramount+. As mentioned, Starfleet Academy will likely return in 2027, and I can't wait to see how the final season plays out.

Showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers are talking about missed opportunities ahead of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, and it's bumming me out. Not long after revealing they were close to getting William Shatner in the series, we're now hearing the fabled Doctor Who crossover was also close to happening.

While both shows nodded at each other in recent years, Goldsman recently told AwardsRadar during an interview that he was actively working with recently departed Who showrunner Russell T. Davies on making the crossover a reality. Here's what he said:

As a fan of Doctor Who and Star Trek who loves the new era of both, this is just another gut punch. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already wrapped filming on its final season, and Doctor Who is on indefinite hiatus for the time being. We were so close to having The Doctor on the Enterprise in live-action, and now we're presumably back to square one and may never see it happen. That situation could change a year or two from now, but as it stands, it feels there's no chance.

Of course, I say live-action crossover because we've seen The Doctor and Jean-Luc Picard cross paths in comic books thanks to IDW Publishing's crossover. I should also point out that in addition to Pelia's mention of traveling with The Doctor in Strange New Worlds, the series also showcased the TARDIS in a background shot of a Season 3 episode.

As for Doctor Who, The Doctor implied to companion Ruby Sunday that Starfleet is a real organization when she likened his technology to something out of Star Trek. It had me jazzed back then and hoping I'd stream a crossover one day with my Paramount+ subscription, but it just wasn't fated to be. Here's hoping both franchises find a way to cross paths again down the line, and it's all we hoped for and more.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 premieres on Paramount+ on July 23rd. As for Doctor Who, we're not sure when we can expect to see the series return, but I'm crossing my fingers and toes we don't have to wait too long.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped a trailer ahead of its return on the 2026 TV schedule, and we got a better look at what to expect in Season 4. I also got a reason to believe that a spinoff fans really want should happen. So, after seeing more of the dinosaur and other exciting moments, I need to talk about a simple scene between James T. Kirk and Spock that made me confident a spinoff is a good idea.

While we still have one more season of Strange New Worlds to enjoy with a Paramount+ subscription after Season 4 wraps, there are no in-development shows on the horizon. There is, however, a pitch from the showrunners to do a spinoff centered around Paul Wesley's Kirk as head of the Enterprise, and I'm officially sold on the idea after seeing he and Peck's Spock gel in the latest trailer, which you can see below.

Paul Wesley And Ethan Peck's Moment In The Season 4 Trailer Sold Me On The Year One Spinoff

Spock and Kirk have had some moments on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but this show isn't really about their relationship. We've seen stronger interactions between Spock and Captain Pike, which makes sense, considering that it's necessary to explain why Spock risked his Starfleet career and life to deliver the incapacitated Pike to Talos IV in the original series episode "The Menagerie."

Star Trek: Year One would be where we'd see Spock and Kirk properly form their brotherhood, which was made iconic thanks to the chemistry Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner had on the original series. I wasn't confident Paul Wesley and Ethan Peck could have that same dynamic, but after seeing Kirk tease Spock with the following line, I think they can pull it off:

The line itself is the work of writers, but it's the delivery between the two that sells it. Paul Wesley shines with some classic dry sarcasm that walks the line between teasing Spock, while Ethan Peck remains stoic-faced. However, it feels so clear that there's a small part of Spock that is both amused and "fascinated" by his Starfleet colleague. These guys get it, and I need more of that in a spinoff, should Paramount+ decide to move forward with one.

What Is Star Trek: Year One?

At its core, Star Trek: Year One is meant to be the early days of Kirk serving as Captain on the Enterprise, after Pike accepts his promotion and hands over his command. This would further bridge the gap between Strange New Worlds and the original series, showcasing how the bridge crew grew into their older and more experienced selves.

The argument for Star Trek: Year One being greenlit is simple. The Enterprise sets for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds can be recycled for the spinoff, and SNW is doing the heavy lifting in setting it up by bringing in characters like Sulu, McCoy, and others who aren't currently on the show.

While Anson Mount and other stars of SNW would appear sparingly or not at all, the spinoff already has its most important roles cast. With the bridge crew largely in tow and showrunners Henry Alonso Myers and Akiva Goldsman campaigning for the spinoff, one would think the decision would be easy for Paramount+ given the series' success.

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Paramount Skydance's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery could present some shakeups for all IPs on both sides, including Star Trek. With Strange New Worlds ending, Starfleet Academy canceled, and Alex Kurtzman's contract with the franchise set to expire at the end of the year, it feels like Paramount+ is leaning toward shaking things up with a new creative, rather than continuing the latest era of Star Trek television. If that's the case, it's hard to imagine the Year One spinoff happening, but we'll just have to wait and see.

For now, we just need to watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 when it premieres on Thursday, July 23rd, and remain optimistic that there is a plan for the franchise when it comes to streaming. If a Kirk-led spinoff isn't on the table, then I'm even more bummed that Strange New Worlds wasn't able to make that William Shatner cameo happen.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is returning to the 2026 TV schedule in July, but understandably, its fans are looking ahead to the future. With filming on the final season already wrapped, there's curiosity as to whether the proposed spinoff starring Paul Wesley's James T. Kirk will happen. Wesley recently shared the latest, though it seems there's not a whole lot of progress on that front.

The spinoff, codenamed Star Trek: Year One, was advertised as a soft reboot to the original Star Trek series that would depict the early years of the Enterprise bridge crew under Kirk's command. Wesley was asked about it during the FanX Comic Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana (via Collider), and the actor, who's wrapped his time on Strange New Worlds:, cracked a joke about Paramount+, saying:

That's a kind and non-confrontational way of stating what Trek veteran Jonathan Frakes mentioned a while back: there are no Star Trek shows in active development at this time. As such, there's nothing for him to say when it comes to the existence of Star Trek: Year One, and there may be no new show announcements for a while.

If there's any good news, it's that Paul Wesley remains as committed to returning as James T. Kirk for a spinoff as he was when CinemaBlend asked him about it back in 2023. He's ready to make a spinoff happen, but it's going to require Paramount+ to give it the green light first:

Who knows when or if that call will come, as Paramount is still in the midst of finalizing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. While there are plans for Star Trek to return to theaters, it seems as though we're in a holding pattern with television, with Paramount+ potentially waiting for the end of Alex Kurtzman's contract to pick the next person to lead Star Trek's next era of television.

Additionally, Paramount+ has a window of time before it's without Star Trek content on the streaming side. Strange New Worlds Season 4 is out this year, and then 2027 will presumably bring the final season as well as Season 2 of the already-cancelled Starfleet Academy. It could be a minute before we find out what's next for Star Trek, but hopefully, we'll get some answers sooner rather than later.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns with Season 4 on Thursday, July 23rd. Thus far, we've had no real indicator one way or another that there will be big announcements about new shows before the year is up, but if there are, fingers crossed Paul Wesley is involved.

Right now, Star Trek fans have to do a bit of waiting for a new series to hit the 2026 TV schedule. All the while, though, they're now being treated to some big news. In a shocking turn of events, a character from The Next Generation is returning in a pretty unexpected way. Michelle Forbes will reprise her role as Ro Laren in a video game that promises to go full horror, and I'm beyond pumped!

A trailer dropped for Star Trek: Shadow Frontier this weekend, and it shows Ro making her way through a spooky and foreboding planet. Meanwhile, a voice can be heard speaking to her and, by the end of it all, I had full-on chills. Check out the teaser for the game, which is set to be released on all major gaming platforms:

Star Trek: The Next Generation has plenty of WTF moments, but nothing quite as scary as this! I just have so many questions. For example, why is Ro by herself, and whose mysterious voice is that? We only know a bit so far, but I'm intrigued by what I've learned.

What Is Star Trek: Shadow Frontier About?

While Ro Laren made her Star Trek debut in The Next Generation, fans saw her return in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. Based on the official plot description for Shadow Frontier, I'm willing to bet this game takes place closer to Ro's Picard appearance than TNG, and the story sounds great:

The game is a collaboration between Paramount Games and Bloober Team, the latter of which is known for making high-quality psychological horror games. Anyone familiar with Layers of Fear, the newest Silent Hill games or Cronos: The New Dawn can probably tell any of the uninitiated that this Trek game is in good hands.

Who Is Ro Laren?

For those who need a refresher, Ro Laren is a celebrated character in Star Trek, best known for her arc in The Next Generation, in which she defects to The Maquis during a deep-cover mission for Starfleet. Anyone who used a Paramount+ subscription to check out Picard's final season learned that Laren was later captured, rehabilitate, and put back to work for Starfleet, and it seems this is where her story picks up.

I think the biggest question is regarding whether there will be cameos from other notable Star Trek characters, seeing as Ro interacted with Jean-Luc Picard quite a bit in her TV appearances. Patrick Stewart did mention something a long time ago about reading a script tied to Picard but, at the time, many assumed it was for a movie or series. Could he be lending his voice to the game for a quick cameo? We'll have to wait and see.

Even if that isn't in the cards, I'm thrilled for some positive Star Trek news after the wave of cancellations and the current situation in which there are no active shows in development. Fortunately, it appears things are looking up and, hopefully, Shadow Frontier will be released soon. That way, fans can celebrate the franchise's 60th anniversary with a quality horror game.

Keep an eye out for more updates on Star Trek: Shadow Frontier, and watch old episodes of The Next Generation over on Paramount+. I'm still in shock that we're actually getting a game in which Ro Laren is the star, and I hope we get similar games with other more obscure characters taking center stage!