Paramount+ has dropped the first trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds which showcases stunning production design, great CGI, and a welcome sense of humor. The Discovery spin-off series follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) who reprises his role as the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Pike was originally captain of the Enterprise before James. T. Kirk took over the helm in Star Trek: The Original Series. The new series also stars Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley aka Number One, the ship’s first officer, and Ethan Peck as Spock. All three actors are reprising their roles from Star Trek: Discovery alongside a cast of fresh faces joining the franchise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is set in the decade before Star Trek: TOS. Paramount+ has already cast Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) as Captain Kirk, who is expected to join the series in its second season, which is currently filming in Toronto.
While many modern incarnations of Star Trek take on a more serious tone (and a heavy dose of complex mythology) there’s a levity to this trailer that harkens back to TOS. SNW has a buoyant sense of humor, along with plenty of flirtation and onboard hook-ups. And the mission, namely exploring new planets and making contact with new aliens, is a welcome throwback to the Star Trek we know and love. If this is an indicator of a lighter, sillier Trek, then its a welcome addition to Paramount+’s ever-expanding Star Trek franchise.
Strange New Worlds also features Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel, Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh, Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas and Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M’Benga, and features recurring guest star Bruce Horak as Hemmer. The series premiere was written by Akiva Goldsman with the story by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet.
The official trailer kicks off a week of First Contact Day celebrations. The Star Trek holiday, which takes place on April 5, 2063, is the day that human inventor Zephram Cochrane made his first warp speed flight on his ship, the Phoenix. His maiden voyage drew the attention of the Vulcans, which led to humanity’s first contact with an alien race. This led to Earth joining the greater galactic community and the creation of the United Federation of Planets. To celebrate First Contact Day, Paramount+ and CBS will donate $1 for every Tweet (one per handle) sent that uses the hashtag #StarTrekUnitedGives from Monday, April 4th through Sunday, April 10th.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on May 5th on Paramount+.
(image: Paramount+)
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