Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Begins Production

Paramount has revealed that production has officially begun on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4. The news comes with an on set picture of Anson Mount, Ethan Peck and Celia Rose Gooding in their character costumes. Season 3 does not have a release date but the assumption is it coming before the end of the year. My guess is around middle of the year.

Star Trek: Section 31 Coming to Home Video

Paramount Home Video has announced that Star Trek: Section 31 movie is coming to home video on April 29. You can pre-order now on Amazon - DVD | 4k Blu-ray | Steelbook

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Art Squad - Production Designer Paul Kirby and Set Decorator Summer Gaal take us through the sets designed for Section 31. (available only on UHD, Blu-ray and Digital)
• Alpha Squad - A breakdown of each of the six members of the Section 31 Squad: Alok, Quasi, Zeph, Rachel Garrett, Melle and Fuzz.
• Stunts Squad - Stunt Coordinator Christopher McGuire and his team take us through the prep and execution of many of the stunts designed for the film.
• Gear Squad - Prop Master Mario Moreira gives a look inside the prop closet and all the gadgets
• Georgiou - Philippa Georgiou is one of the most complex characters in Trek history. Sometimes a villain. Sometimes a hero. The producers, screenplay writer Craig Sweeny, the team that created her look, and the Emperor herself, Michelle Yeoh, talk about further developing this fascinating character.
• Gag Reel

R.I.P. Roberto Orci 1973 - 2025

Writer and producer Roberto Orci died February 25 at the age of 51 after a battle with kidney disease. Orci along with his writing partner Alex Kurtzman co-wrote and produced Star Trek (2007), Star Trek Into Darkness, Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, jump starting those major franchises in the 21st century. 

Those were not the only movies as co-wrote The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and more. On the television front, he got his start working on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, later writing for and producing Alias, Fringe, Transformers: Prime, Sleepy Hallow, Hawaii Five-O and more. 

His other producing projects including the Now You See Me movies, Scorpion tv show and more. If you are a bit of a geek, he probably was far more influential on your interests than even aware. 

“He was a visionary storyteller with a boundless heart and a beautiful soul,” Orci’s brother, J.R. Orci said to Deadline. “But beyond his creative talents, he was a compassionate friend who would put his life on hold to help a stranger and find room in his home for the most overlooked pup at the shelter.” 

A long time Trekkie, in another world Roberto would have been in charge of the franchise instead of his ex-partner Kurtzman who was dragged by Orci into the franchise. Orci participated in Trek conventions, commented on the franchise online and in social media.

He even named the captain of the USS Kelvin in Star Trek (2009) after his uncle Richard Robau who introduced him the series as a young boy, commenting on TrekMovie saying "How much do I care [about Star Trek]? My late best wonderful uncle introduced me to this world. I would never do anything to hurt Trek. I will always care. For my Captain Robau."

Condolences to his friends and family on their loss.

William Shatner Confirms Pitch To Reprise Kirk

At a panel at Fan Expo Vancouver on Friday, February 21, William Shatner indicated he may have another chance to return to the role of James T. Kirk at the young age of 93.

"I have been asked to come back as Kirk so many times. If Kirk is going to come back, it has to mean something. It has to be the show. But I was so impressed by this writer, so I said let's talk after I'm done in Vancouver. So I'm awaiting a pitch to make it the show, it should come on Monday or Tuesday."

Shatner, via the use of body doubles and CGI, participated in "returning" to the role for non-canon Unification short that received critical acclaim but last true canon appearance was in Star Trek: Generations. The short proves it possible to have him return in a way that will not physically tax the actor, so the idea isn't out of the realm of possibility.

As for whether this will actually happen? To be blunt - no. I suspect this is a writer putting together a treatment, meeting with Shatner for verbal agreement to participate and then hoping to sell this idea to Star Trek head Alex Kurtzman. 

Shatner wants his role to be important and significant and not a simple cameo. Nothing wrong with that but the current trajectory of Star Trek TV suggests nothing like that is in the works and with the Paramount/SkyDance merge not completing until summer 2025 (assuming Trump administration doesn't block it), I doubt the franchise has the budge for another TV series or even a direct to video short.

Also Kurtzman really hates having to deal with Star Trek canon and seems to want to actively avoid it as much as possible so anything with Kirk wouldn't actually create problems depending on story but don't see Kurtzman even wanting to find out one way or the other.

Starfleet Academy Season One Wraps Production

The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has completed production after nearly six months of filming. The show is lead by Holly Hunter with Paul Giamatti playing the main villain. Other cast members include Tatiana Maslany, Voyager’s Robert Picardo and Voyager alumni Oded Fehr, Mary Wiseman and Tig Notaro. As that casting indicates, the show takes place in the 32nd century where the Voyager series left off when the series ended. 

Starfleet Academy has already been greenlit for season 2 which will start filming at some point later in the year. As for when season one premieres, it will likely be 2026 since Star Trek shows tend to require a whole lot of post-production work with a six month filming schedule indicating the show will have more CGI than the concept would have suggested.