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Star Trek 4 Development Details And More

J.J. Abrams rebooted the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, and since then, the three films in the new Kelvin timeline have been a smashing success. Altogether, the first "Trek" reboot, 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," and 2016's "Star Trek Beyond" have grossed more than a billion dollars at the global box office. They've also done fairly well critically. With all that love, it seems pretty obvious that Hollywood would want to get "Star Trek 4" to theater screens at warp speed.

However, the road to "Star Trek 4" has not been a smooth one. In fact, it's been filled with starts and stops, various creatives coming and going, and a release date that keeps getting beamed all over the place. What do we actually know about the fourth installment of the "Star Trek" reboot series, and what will it look like when it finally makes first contact? Read on for everything we know so far about "Star Trek 4."

What is the release date for Star Trek 4?

"Star Trek 4" has been in the works for a long time ... a really long time. In June 2015, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Chris Pine (Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) had signed up for "Star Trek 4." But Pine and Chris Hemsworth (who was said to be returning as Kirk's dad) allegedly left a potential fourth project over pay disputes in 2018, and in 2019, it was announced that the film had been shelved. Eventually, the project started moving again and earned a release date of June 9, 2023, but that got kicked back to December 22, 2023 ... before vanishing from the release slate completely.

We have reason to believe "Star Trek 4" is still in the works, however. Speaking with Collider , former director Matt Shakman (who left the project to direct "Fantastic Four") said, "I think what they're still working on is a version of what I have been working on for the time that I was involved." In August 2023, Quinto added his own take on the likelihood of a fourth outing. "I think there's a lot of other stuff, creative things. It's complicated," the actor remarked (via TrekMovie.com ). He continued, "I don't know if and when it will happen ... And if coalesces again and we come back and we're able to do it, wonderful. If not, we had a great run."

In a September 2023 piece on the end of the Writers Guild of America strike, Variety reported that Paramount was looking to polish a "Star Trek 4" script. Another promising nugget of info emerged around this time, when writer-director Lindsey Anderson Beer, who co-wrote a prospective "Star Trek 4" script, told Collider , "It's still on the tracks." So, "Star Trek 4" isn't dead in the water, and with the 2023 Hollywood strikes ended, a major obstacle is gone. But that's pretty much all we know.

What is the plot of Star Trek 4?

At this point, no plot details for the upcoming fourth "Star Trek" movie have been revealed. Some proposed paths forward have been rumored to involve alternate timelines, or even another reboot — especially Tarantino's attempt — but they've all fallen by the wayside. For now, we can probably assume "Star Trek 4" will take place after the events of 2016's "Star Trek Beyond," which was directed by Justin Lin of the  "Fast and Furious" franchise .

In "Star Trek Beyond," Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise see their beloved ship crash on the planet Altamid after an ambush by a pre-Federation human soldier, Idris Elba's Captain Balthazar Edison. When Kirk and the gang discover Edison's plans to use an ancient bioweapon to destroy the Federation, they're forced to stop him — without the help of their ship. That film also explores the death of Leonard Nimoy's Ambassador Spock, as well as relationship troubles between Spock and Uhura.

One story we know "Star Trek 4" won't be exploring is a reunion between Captain Kirk and his father George, courtesy of time travel. Chris Hemsworth briefly played George Kirk in 2009's "Star Trek," but turned down a chance to reprise the role in a bigger story in 2018. "Star Trek 4" also won't tie into any of the current "Star Trek" TV series, like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" or "Star Trek: Lower Decks." Those series take place in a universe separate from the Kelvin timeline.

Who is starring in Star Trek 4?

You'd expect a "Star Trek" movie set in the Kelvin timeline to feature the return of the ol' gang, right? Why, yes, you would. However, nothing has been easy about getting "Star Trek 4" off the ground, and that includes bringing back the original cast. In 2018, Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth reportedly walked away from the project over pay disputes. In February 2022, when producer J.J. Abrams announced that "Star Trek 4" was finally moving ahead, new behind-the-scenes drama erupted. While Abrams said the original stars were returning, none of the actors had officially agreed to the project.

In March 2022, Pine told Variety about his reaction to the "Star Trek 4" announcement: "I think everybody was like, 'Did you hear about this?' We're usually the last people to find out, but I do know we're all excited. Whenever they want to send us a script, we're ready for it." Karl Urban had a similar stance, telling the U.K.'s Radio X (via TrekMovie.com ) in May 2022, "I have heard that it is happening, but I've been hearing that for the last three years ... All I know is they are developing it, they're writing a script, and I know 100% that we all want to come back and do it. So I think it's all just a matter of logistics and timing at this point."

Sofia Boutella — who played Jaylah in "Star Trek Beyond" — also expressed interest in returning, saying (via Fandom Spotlite ), "I would love to see [Jaylah] evolve with all of the guys ... I would do it in a heartbeat." However, Zachary Quinto seems a bit wary of the whole thing. During a November 2022 interview with The Independent , the actor said, "At this point, I honestly have very little attachment to it. All of us would like to come back and make another movie, but I've learnt to only get excited about things I know are actually real. And there's nothing about a fourth 'Star Trek' movie that feels real right now."

Will Star Trek 4 recast Chekov?

One of the most classic and beloved "Star Trek" characters, Pavel Chekov was memorably played in the first three Kelvin timeline movies by Anton Yelchin. Yelchin was killed in a car accident in June 2016, just one month before the release of "Star Trek Beyond." His passing has definitely been felt by both fans and his "Star Trek" cohorts.

In March 2022, when the movie was still moving forward under director Matt Shakman, Uhura actress Zoe Saldaña told Entertainment Tonight about the project. "Obviously, it's bittersweet," she remarked, "because we are coming together for a fourth time and one of us is no longer with us with Anton's passing, but we honestly feel that going back and keeping the 'Star Trek' family together is a way to really keep him alive in our thoughts and our hearts because he was such a fan. And he was such a devoted artist to the craft and also to 'Star Trek.'"

Of course, that particular version of "Star Trek 4" is no longer moving forward, but if you think Saldaña's comments indicate that Paramount won't be recasting the part of Chekov, you're probably right. In a 2016 interview with Postmedia Network , shortly after Yelchin's death, producer J.J. Abrams explained, "I would say there's no replacing him. There's no recasting. I can't possibly imagine that, and I think Anton deserves better."

Granted, emotions were high when Abrams said they wouldn't replace Yelchin. However, there's been no indication in the years since the actor's death that a new Chekov will show up on the bridge of the Enterprise.

Who is directing Star Trek 4?

Perhaps the main reason that "Star Trek 4" hasn't happened yet is that Paramount Pictures is having a difficult time finding a director. For a moment, it looked like Quentin Tarantino was going to boldly go where he'd never gone before. J.J. Abrams was super excited about Tarantino's time-traveling concept of sending Kirk and co.  to a world of 1930s gangsters, similar to the classic "Trek" episode "A Piece of the Action." Screenwriter Mark L. Smith of "The Revenant" fame was set to pen the script, but sadly for Trekkies who wanted to see Spock quoting Ezekiel 25:17, Tarantino's vision never came to pass.

Then, it looked like S.J. Clarkson was going to make history as the first woman to helm a "Star Trek" movie. But after Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth left the project in 2018, the movie was subsequently shelved. Noah Hawley of "Fargo" fame was also working on a "Star Trek" movie — one that would've been about a brand new group of heroes — but Paramount eventually stepped in and shut things down because it wouldn't have featured the famous Enterprise crew.

The closest that "Star Trek 4" has come to happening was when Matt Shakman took the captain's seat. After he directed the entirety of the smash hit MCU series "WandaVision," the world was Shakman's oyster, and he intended to shepherd the newest entry in the "Star Trek" universe to theater screens. However, Marvel Studios was keen on working with Shakman again, and after director Jon Watts decided to step away from 2025's "Fantastic Four," the folks at Marvel asked Shakman to come back to the MCU — which he did. As a result, at the moment, "Star Trek 4" is floating through space without a captain.

Where to watch the previous Star Trek movies

While we all wait for news about "Star Trek 4," it might be a good time to go back and revisit previous installments in the "Star Trek" reboot series. If you want to watch the film that started it all and introduced us to new versions of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and the rest of the Enterprise crew, you can stream 2009's "Star Trek" on Paramount+ . You can also rent it for $3.99 on Google Play ,  Amazon Prime Video , Apple iTunes , Vudu , and YouTube .

If you're ready for the 2013 sequel where Benedict Cumberbatch definitely doesn't play Khan Noonien Singh, you can stream "Star Trek Into Darkness" on Paramount+ . You can also rent it for $3.99 on Google Play , Apple iTunes , Vudu , and YouTube . Amazon Prime Video offers it for $4.29. If you're looking for the third film, where our heroes learn the true power of the Beastie Boys, you can stream "Star Trek Beyond" on Paramount+ . You can also rent it for $2.69 on Google Play and $3.99 on Amazon Video , Apple iTunes , Vudu , and YouTube .

Star Trek 4: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

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Star Trek 4 is shrouded in mystery and apparent defeat. The sequel to Star Trek: Beyond on J.J. Abram’s Kelvin timeline is currently stuck in dry dock. There have been plans for Paramount to make the movie for years , and sometimes, it even seems like they’re going to do it. Fans were hopeful in 2022 when it looked like things were about to go ahead, but when the stars aligned, director Matt Shakman stepped down from the project to work on Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot instead.

Trekkies everywhere were heartbroken. Although Paramount continues to produce good Star Trek series like Strange New Worlds and Discovery , it doesn’t look like we’re going to get that big blockbuster film any time soon. That being said, hope still exists. Star Trek 4 is one of Paramount’s biggest, untapped titles, and the stars are still up for another journey into the final frontier. Things are looking dark, but somewhere, out there in the vastness of Hollywood, there is a way to make this movie. Fans still whisper, and celebrities still talk, and time and time again, it appears as if Star Trek 4 is emerging from the water.

Updated January 22, 2024: This article has been updated by Jessica Peerez with more recent information regarding Star Trek 4, the development hurdles of the film and the plans that Paramount Pictures appears to have for the franchise.

Star Trek 4: The Plot

There were a lot of rumors about the plot coming up to Star Trek 4 ’s removal from Paramount’s release slate. When Paramount first announced the sequel, the intention was to have it bring back Chris Hemsworth, who, since his small role in the first film had blown up as a Hollywood superstar thanks to his role as Thor in the MCU, they wanted him to reprise his role from the 2009 film as George Kirk, James T. Kirk’s father. This version of the script made it far enough through development to actually reach the actors. The pitch was to do Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade but with Star Trek , where when the Enterprise investigates the wreckage of the Kelvin, they find that an exact copy of George Kirk was stored in the ship transporter so he is able to return to life at the exact moment before his death and much of the movie would have been how the two Kirks do not get along as neither of them is what the other expected before needing to accept one another for who they are. In an interview with Josh Horowitz , Hemsworth explained how he felt about the story:

"It wasn’t what I was thinking it would have been or could have been. And I thought, ‘Oh, cool, let’s figure that out and keep going’ and then I think everyone just got busy and so on. It’d be a bit weird now to flash back to your father and ‘Why is he so much older than when he died?’"

Not only did Hemsworth pass on the project, but negotiations broke down in terms of pay with both him and star Chris Pine. Paramount then decided to pivot, bringing on Noah Hawley ( Fargo, Legion ) to write a new Star Trek film with a new cast of characters. J.J. Abrams was even having conversations with Quentin Tarantino about giving him an opportunity to write a Star Trek movie . While Tarantino did begin work on a script, he eventually passed on the project as he plans to retire after ten movies and he did not want Star Trek to be his final movie. Meanwhile, Hawley's pitch was scrapped as the story involved a plague, and following the COVID-19 pandemic, Paramount was not keen on that idea. It was then decided to make a direct sequel to Star Trek Beyond and bring back the original cast.

In July 2021, Matt Shakman was hired to direct Star Trek 4 . Then, in February 2022, when Paramount Pictures made the big splashy announcement that the original cast of the three previous Star Trek movies would return after it appeared years of contract negotiations had held them up, they had nothing. Even the stars and their agents were surprised that they were going ahead with the movie when, apparently, they hadn’t told a soul. The plan was to secure investors first and sort the details out later, which they did, eventually. When writers started sitting down at their laptops, there was much talk about where a story could go.

Related: Star Trek: The Funniest Episodes in the Franchise, Ranked

The studio seemed confident in the film and dated it for December 23, 2023, to take the slot that was previously held by Star Wars: Rogue Squadron , which had recently been vacated due to creative differences between Lucasfilm and director Patty Jenkins. While it felt like they would have little time, many fans were hoping they could make the release date. But in August 2022, Shakman would drop out of Star Trek 4 in favor of directing Fantastic Four , and Paramount removed Star Trek 4 from their release schedule.

Despite the stumbles in its journey, repeated delays, and the dismay of hopeful fans, Star Trek 4 appears not to have been fully scrapped yet. In September 2023, screenwriter Lindsey Anderson Beer confirmed that Star Trek 4 is still moving forward. The fourth film will reportedly be the final chapter of the main series. With no new information to dispute the claim as of January 2024, it appears that the fourth installment might still make it to screens. However, with the lack of information regarding a concrete plot or cast and Beer having since left the project , Star Trek 4 might have a long road ahead before viewers can once again join the USS Enterprise on an adventure as now Paramount Pictures is shifting to a new prequel film.

Star Trek 4: The Cast

The original hope for the movie — no matter which way the plot went — was to get as much of the original cast back on board as possible. Although talks fell through with Chris Hemsworth and his part in the film, Chris Pine ended up making a solid deal to return as Captain James T. Kirk . Zachary Quinto had been confirmed as Spock, and John Cho would come back as Sulu. Simon Pegg, even though he helped write Star Trek: Beyond and played Scotty, made no commitments either way, but it would be likely that he would return due to his major involvement with the films.

Karl Urban, who plays Bones, said that he had some scheduling conflicts due to his work on The Boys , but now that the schedule has changed, his participation remains to be seen. Zoe Saldaña has commented on some frustration for working in so many franchise films, but she would return if the movie was able to pull itself together. Of course, due to the untimely death of Anton Yelchin , Chekov's character would not be recast but instead respectfully written out of the movie.

Star Trek: Everything Else

It has now been nearly eight years since the last Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond, came to screens. Uncertainty has continuously clouded the fourth film, and despite its status as still being in active development, Paramount looks to be moving ahead with a brand-new film. According to Variety , the new film has Andor 's Toby Haynes in the director's seat, with Seth Grahame-Smith penning the script. J. J. Abrams's Bad Robot will be produced.

Details regarding the plot and cast of the new movie have not been confirmed yet. However, it is set to be an origin story that takes place decades before the events of 2009's Star Trek. It has been confirmed that the new film will also be an expansion of the Star Trek universe.

Related: Star Trek 4 Should Be Directed by Michael Giacchino, and Here's Why

The status of a prequel film is interesting, as Star Trek 2009 begins with the timeline being split off, forming the new Kelvin timeline. So, any prequel to Star Trek would also technically exist in the original timeline canon, and there have been plenty of those recently, including Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , and, of course, Star Trek: Enterprise . This would mean the events of the film would have to line up with both timelines before the splinter point of the 2009 film.

Release Date

The production and development journey for Star Trek 4 has definitely not been easy. The film was initially set to start production in 2022 and was slated for release on December 23, 2023 , before being scrapped. That release date vacancy allowed for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to become the big release of the holiday movie season for 2023 that Star Trek 4 hoped to accomplish.

The film now has no release date. However, despite the lack of an end to their anticipation in sight, fans can find some consolation in the fact that Star Trek 4 is still very much alive and kicking.

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Star Trek Beyond continues the franchise's post-reboot hot streak with an epic sci-fi adventure that honors the series' sci-fi roots without skimping on the blockbuster action.

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Everything we know about Star Trek 4

Will captain kirk and co return for one more outing.

It looks like the only thing trickier than surviving a mission into deep space is getting all of your starships in a row long enough to send Star Trek 4 speeding into production.

The last time we saw Captain James T. Kirk and his pointy-eared pal Spock in action was in 2016 threequel Star Trek Beyond . Ever since then, updates on their next adventure have been sporadic at best, with news of stand-alone spin-offs from critically acclaimed talent and even a new prequel story drifting in and out of focus like passing asteroids.

Multiple writers and directors have boarded Star Trek 4 only to hit eject before any meaningful progress has been made, leaving this sci-fi tentpole franchise lost in space. However, a promising new update suggests that the crew of the USS Enterprise could be gearing up for a new mission in the not-too-distant future.

With that in mind, here’s everything we know about Star Trek 4 so far…

When will Star Trek 4 be released?

Star Trek 4 is currently without a release date. In fact, the film hasn’t even entered production so we’ll likely have to wait a few years before we can see the Enterprise crew back on the big screen.

What is the plot of Star Trek 4?

As it stands, we don’t have any details of what adventure Star Trek 4 will send audiences on. That said, we do know that the fourth film in the franchise is set to be the final outing for this particular chapter of the Star Trek story that J.J. Abrams started in 2009.

To say that Star Trek 4 has had a long and varied gestation process so far is a bit of an understatement. Initially, talk of a fourth film began before the release of its predecessor Star Trek Beyond and not long afterwards, auteur filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was reported to have pitched his own idea to Abrams in 2017.

This new take on the Star Trek story was being developed separately from Abrams’ primary universe and was reported to have an R-rated tone thanks to its violence and language. Despite gathering a group of writers to work on the project, Tarantino’s Star Trek ultimately hasn’t come to fruition just yet.

Madame Web helmer S.J. Clarkson was the next person to be hired to direct but dropped off of the film when negotiations surrounding the return of Kirk star Chris Pine and his on-screen father Chris Hemsworth fell apart.

Fargo’s Noah Hawley was then enlisted to take the franchise forward in a new direction that would’ve been starkly different from what had come before but involved the franchise’s same ensemble cast however his plans fell apart too, leading him to start work on the new Alien series instead.

Prison Break writer Kalinda Vazquez was the next person to be linked to Star Trek 4 before she was replaced by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s long-time director Matt Shankman. He was set to direct a new story written by Pet Sematary: Bloodlines scribe Lindsay Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, writer of 2018’s Tomb Raider reboot.

Unfortunately, cast negotiations dragging on hampered the development process and it wasn’t long before Shakman left the project to tackle Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot instead. Despite this, Beer offered an update in September 2023 that suggested that her and Robertson-Dworet’s story was still in active development.

“It’s still on the tracks,” Beer told Collider . “I love that project, and it was another one that I had to hop off of to direct [Pet Sematary: Bloodlines], and that was a hard thing to do. But I love everybody involved with that project.”

The franchise experienced some promising signs of life in March 2024 when The Flight Attendant screenwriter Steve Yockey was enlisted by Bad Robot and Paramount Pictures to write a new Star Trek 4 script. While story details are non-existent, it’s believed that Yockey’s story is still planned to be the final outing for Abrams’ crew.

Responding to the news of Yockey joining the project, star Chris Pine said : “I thought there was already a script, but I guess I was wrong, or they decided to pivot. As it’s always been with Trek, I just wait and see.”

Who will be starring in Star Trek 4?

If Star Trek 4 does finally come together, the project will have to reunite the crew of the USS Enterprise. That includes Pine’s Captain James Kirk, Zachary Quinto’s Spock, Karl Urban’s Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Zoe Saldana’s Nyota Uhura, Simon Pegg’s Montgomery “Scotty” Scott and John Cho’s Hikaru Sulu.

Pavel Chekov star Anton Yelchin tragically passed away following a freak accident in 2016 and it is unclear how the sequel might address his absence.

Bringing the movie’s crew together on deck might be harder than it sounds, with Quinto recently describing the process as “complicated.”

“I think there’s a lot of other stuff, creative things,” he said during a convention appearance in summer 2023. “The fact that anything good gets made is kind of miracle.

“I think it’s about different people having different agendas and ideas about what it will be. And I don’t know if and when it will happen... And if it coalesces again and we come back and we're able to do it, wonderful. If not, we had a great run.”

Meanwhile, Pine has also shared his frustrations surrounding delays and being able to see up-to-date scripts. He even called the sequel “cursed” following its trouble getting off the ground.

“After the last one came out and didn’t do the $1 billion that everyone wanted it to do, and then Anton [Yelchin] passed away, I don’t know. It just... feels like it’s cursed,” he told Esquire .

“I know costume designers that have read scripts before the actors. I would say it's frustrating. It doesn't really foster the greatest sense of partnership, but it's how it's always been. I love the character. I love the people. I love the franchise. But to try to change the system in which things are created – I just can’t do it. I don’t have the energy.”

Speaking to ComicBook.com in January 2024, Saldana said she would be “grateful” for one more outing with her galaxy exploring colleagues.

“I mean, I heard what you heard in the trades. I just heard they’re gearing up to do a new one with a younger, sort of, take on it... I don't know if it’s from the before or the after, but that they really still hope to grab all of us veterans and bring us back for one last round.”

“Listen, I know it’s a lot to wrangle a whole bunch of people with busy schedules,” she added. “But working with J.J. Abrams, and for J.J. Abrams at Bad Robot, was always just a wonderful and beautiful experience for me. So, if I get to do that one last time, I would be so grateful.”

Saldana reiterated these thoughts during a chat with The Discourse podcast in April 2024, saying: “I still have hope”. She added that Star Trek “should live for a very long time, whether or not us as the original remake cast can come back. I don’t know, but I certainly hope so.”

If the crew of the USS Enterprise manage to get their act together, only then can then start to discuss who might be playing their new big-bad plus anyone else who may return – or be introduced – in Star Trek 4.

Is there a trailer for Star Trek 4?

Unfortunately, there’s no trailer or footage available for Star Trek 4 just yet.

Will there be a Star Trek prequel movie?

Yes, a stand-alone Star Trek prequel movie is also in development from Abrams’ Bad Robot production company.

Set decades before the 2009 Star Trek reboot, the project is described as an origin story that will be written by Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’s Seth Grahame-Smith and Andor director Todd Haynes.

In May 2024, it was revealed that Simon Kinberg will produce the project following his success overseeing the majority of the X-Men universe.

The new report confirmed that the film is set amid Star Trek's primary timeline and not the revised Kelvin timeline established in Abrams’ 2009 reboot and will take place shortly after humanity’s first contact with aliens.

Star Trek 4 is still in development.

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‘Star Trek’ Origin Story Movie Set From ‘Andor’ Director, ‘Star Trek 4’ Still in the Works as ‘Final Chapter’ of Main Series

By Michaela Zee

Michaela Zee

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A new “ Star Trek ” film is in the works at Paramount with “Andor’s” Toby Haynes on board to direct and Seth Grahame-Smith penning the script, Variety has confirmed.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, the upcoming feature will be an origin story that is set decades before 2009’s “Star Trek,” as well as an expansion of the “Star Trek” universe. J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot is producing.

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During a Paramount Global investors day presentation in February of 2022, Abrams announced that a new “Star Trek” movie would begin shooting by the end of that year with the Pine-led crew. Pine and his co-stars reportedly had no idea Paramount was moving forward with another “Star Trek” film, which was eventually removed from the studio’s film slate in September of that year.

Haynes recently directed six episodes of the “Star Wars” series “Andor,” starring Diego Luna as the titular role. He also helmed the “Star Trek”-inspired episode of “Black Mirror,” titled “USS Callister.” Haynes is repped by WME and attorney Peter Nelson.

Grahame-Smith is best known as the author of the best-selling novels “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” He also wrote and produced 2017’s “The Lego Batman Movie.” Grahame-Smith is repped by WME and attorneys PJ Shapiro and Wendy Kirk.

Deadline was first to report the “Star Trek” news.

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A new Star Trek movie looks like it's finally happening – with an MCU director

WandaVision's Matt Shakman is making the movie

Ever since Star Trek : Beyond hit theaters in 2016, the series hasn't been seen on the big screen – which is a shame, but has been somewhat remedied by the sudden volley of Trek shows on streaming services, like Discovery and Picard . 

Now, a new Star Trek movie is finally moving ahead, according to a new report, with WandaVision director Matt Shakman behind the camera.

Previous efforts to make a new Star Trek film have stalled. At least three different versions of a follow-up to Beyond have existed, and not all of them were sequels. Quentin Tarantino famously pitched a take on Star Trek that never really seemed like it would materialize into an actual film – and indeed it hasn't so far, with the director saying in 2020 that he decided not to move ahead with it, though a script was written by The Revenant's Mark L. Smith. 

A direct sequel to Beyond was once down to be directed by SJ Clarkson (Jessica Jones), and was written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay. That was due to bring Chris Hemsworth back into the movies – he'd previously played Kirk's dad in the memorable opening to 2009's Star Trek movie, but that version never ended up happening.

Now, five whole years after Beyond, this one sounds like it'll really get made. Shooting starts on Shakman's movie in 'Spring' 2022, according to Deadline , so some time in the second quarter of next year. The movie is written by Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

It's unclear if the movie will star the cast of the previous trilogy. Back in December, the rebooted movies' Captain Kirk, Chris Pine, told Comic Book that he was unclear on the series' future – but sounded positive about returning to his most famous role. "But I love the character, I love the universe, I love my friends in it, you know, to have a Quentin take on it would be tremendously interesting and entertaining. You know, look, whatever happens, if I come back or not, it's a great universe, it deserves to have a future, and I hope that is the case."

We'll let you know when we know more about this new movie. 

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Does Star Trek need to return to the big screen?

At its '90s height, Star Trek was releasing movies and TV shows concurrently – a testament to just how popular the franchise was. Then, by the early '00s, the demise of Star Trek: Enterprise and the box office failure of Star Trek: Nemesis put the series on ice for a few years.

Now, Star Trek has three shows running on the streaming service Paramount Plus – with a fourth, Strange New Worlds, set to join it. Featuring movie-quality effects, it's harder to delineate the shows and the films than it used to be. A Star Trek movie, then, needs to show us something we can't get on TV.

Shakman seems like a great fit. The visual imagination of WandaVision made it unlike anything else we've seen on the small screen, as it transitioned between replicating the style of different classic sitcoms – according to Deadline, this was just one of the projects he was offered after WandaVision. Clearly, he must be excited by what he saw on the page.

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Samuel is a PR Manager at game developer Frontier. Formerly TechRadar's Senior Entertainment Editor, he's an expert in Marvel, Star Wars, Netflix shows and general streaming stuff. Before his stint at TechRadar, he spent six years at PC Gamer. Samuel is also the co-host of the popular Back Page podcast, in which he details the trials and tribulations of being a games magazine editor – and attempts to justify his impulsive eBay games buying binges.

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‘Star Trek’ Sequel Removed From Release Slate a Month After Director Matt Shakman’s Exit

Shakman is now set to direct “Fantastic Four” for Marvel

The upcoming “Star Trek” sequel originally scheduled for December 2023 has been undated and removed from Paramount’s upcoming release slate, TheWrap has confirmed.

No further information about the decision has been disclosed, but the move comes almost exactly a month after director Matt Shakman exited the project.

The untitled follow-up to 2016’s “Star Trek Beyond” was announced at a Paramount investor day early this year by producer J.J. Abrams. Alongside Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, stars Karl Urban, Zoe Saldaña, Simon Pegg and John Cho were all expected to return. Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson-Dwore were set to write the movie, which had been slated for a Dec. 23, 2023, release.

The film would have continued the so-called “Kelvin timeline” film series, a reboot of the franchise starring Pine as James T. Kirk that launched in 2009 with the Abrams-directed “Star Trek.” The series is set in an alternate continuity in which an elderly Spock traveled back in time, accidentally creating a divergent timeline in which everything from the Federation to the lives of “Trek” luminaries like Captain Kirk turned out very differently.

No word on whether Paramount will revive the film at a later date, but given how busy the cast is — particularly Pine, who is soon to make his feature directorial debut with the mystery comedy “Poolmen”; Saldaña, who is busy with both the “Avatar” sequels and Marvel films; and Urban, who stars in Amazon’s monster hit “The Boys” — that may prove a challenge.

Not that “Star Trek” fans have reason to worry. When “Star Trek” came out, the franchise was at a low point, with the two biggest recent projects fizzling out — the final film featuring the “Next Generation” cast, “Star Trek: Nemesis,” flopped, and the TV series “Star Trek: Enterprise” failed to find a strong audience and was canceled after four seasons, making it the first show since the original series not to last a full seven.

But it’s been six years since “Star Trek Beyond,” and the situation as it existed in 2009 is now reversed: The original “Trek” continuity is much more visible and celebrated and, yes, very much alive and well on Paramount+ thanks to hits like “Star Trek: Discovery,” “Picard,” “Strange New Worlds” and “Lower Decks” – with even more shows to come. This particular five-year voyage may be over, but the frontier has a long way to go before we reach “Final.”

Deadline first reported the news.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

First trailer for new Star Trek movie with Michelle Yeoh

Emperor Philippa Georgiou is back.

Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny, Star Trek: Section 31 sees Yeoh return to the role of Emperor Philippa Georgiou, having previously played Georgiou in season one of Star Trek: Discovery .

Per the official synopsis, Emperor Philippa Georgiou "joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past."

Related: New Star Trek movie starts filming as Ted Lasso and Power stars join cast

Joining Yeoh on the cast are Power star Omari Hardwick and Ted Lasso actor Sam Richardson who star alongside former EastEnders actor Robert Kazinsky, Barry star James Hiroyuki Liao, Hannibal 's Kacey Rohl, Humberly González and Sven Ruygrok.

As the teaser trailer shows, Georgiou, who appears to be the manager/owner of a glamorous club, is recruited by Starfleet for a secret mission.

"Philippa Georgiou, you're a tyrant who murdered her own people by the millions. The past always catches up with you," says Hardwick's character to Yeoh's Georgiou.

Related: Chris Pine was surprised by new Star Trek 4 update

The trailer, which is set to a remix of Beyoncé's 'Formation', sees Georgiou join the Federation spy group known as Section 31 and a whole host of action ensues.

It looks like we'll also get a look at Philippa's past as the trailer shows a young Georgiou, played by Miku Martineau.

Previously speaking about her return to the Star Trek Universe , Yeoh said: "I'm beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I've loved for so long."

"Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of Star Trek launched," she added.

"To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that's shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can't wait to share what's in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)."

Star Trek: Section 31 has no official release date yet. Star Trek: Discovery seasons 1-4 are streaming on Paramount+ . A fifth and final season has been confirmed, and is expected to premiere in early 2024.

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A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre. 

In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.

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Starfleet Academy: An Updated Cast List For The Latest Star Trek Series

There are a lot of people involved.

Starfleet Academy is arguably the most exciting upcoming Star Trek series on the way, and a lot of that is thanks to the spectacular cast involved. We have Oscar winners, Emmy winners and people who rank among the best Trek characters of all time coming together to tell a story centered on the education system all members of Starfleet must go through to find their way to service.

From Holly Hunter to Robert Picardo, we'll travel down the list of big stars in this series, and also highlight the young actors that will almost surely go on to be in the future of Star Trek . Here's a breakdown of who we'll see in the new series, which takes place in the 32nd century, around the same timeframe as the final seasons of Star Trek: Discovery .

Holly Hunter

Starfleet Academy casting Holly Hunter was the first sign this series was seeking big names to bring in, and who better to announce first? The Academy Award-winning actress has a large body of work for readers to watch to prove she's up to the task of chancellor of the prestigious academy.

Paul Giamatti

Starfleet Academy delivered a one-two punch fresh off the casting of Holly Hunter by announcing an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee will also join the cast: Paul Giamatti . Not only is Giamatti has consistently been one of the top names in Hollywood in his career, but he's also a pretty big Star Trek fan. Word is he'll be playing a villainous role in this show, but we'll have to wait and see exactly what that means.

After wrapping up her time in Star Trek: Discovery , Jett Reno is joining Starfleet Academy as a series regular. This means we'll likely be seeing more of Jett than we did in Discovery , similar to when Miles O'Brien went from The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine . Jett is kind of a jack of all trades and will make for a great instructor, though I expect she'll be overseeing the future engineering crews of Starfleet.

Robert Picardo

Robert Picardo became one of Star Trek: Voyager 's most beloved characters as the EMH, and he had a wonderful return arc in Prodigy Season 2. Being a hologram has its disadvantages, but one advantage is you can be around 1000 years into the future and no one bats an eye. Picardo will play his EMH/The Doctor as an instructor in the new series and bring a wealth of Starfleet knowledge along with him.

Mary Wiseman

In what was perhaps the most obvious addition to the cast of Starfleet Academy , Mary Wiseman will reprise her role from Star Trek: Discovery as Sylvia Tilly. It seemed obvious considering she had joined the Academy as an instructor in Discovery , and even had an episode with her cadets that felt like a backdoor pilot for the spinoff. Her role is recurring, so we'll likely see her as an instructor every so often, and maybe she'll welcome some old crewmates to the classroom as well. Hopefully now that the news is out, Wiseman can forgive us for putting her on the spot about the casting.

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As the Fleet Admiral of Starfleet, it's of little surprise that Oded Fehr's Vance is going to be involved in Starfleet Academy . He's been one of the biggest faces of Starfleet we've seen in the 32nd century, and a way of showing what's happening in the universe at large while these students are training at the facility. Fehr is a great actor, so it'll be nice to see more of him in the Star Trek show.

Gina Yashere

Gina Yashere may not be a name Star Trek fans are familiar with, but she's been a big part of CBS primetime for a while. She was the co-creator and a supporting character on the acclaimed comedy sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola , and has had recurring guest roles on shows like The Neighborhood as well. Now she joins Starfleet Academy in an undisclosed role, and I'm wondering if it will be comedic given her past work.

Kerrice Brooks

Actress Kerrice Brooks is one to watch for Starfleet Academy . She's set to be a part of the Aubrey Plaza -led movie My Old Ass later this year, and is a dancer who has appeared in music videos for Kelly Rowland and Billie Eilish. Unfortunately, we know nothing about her incoming character, but I'd love to see her dancing skills incorporated into the cadet.

Bella Shepard

We don't know much about Bella Shepard's character in Starfleet Academy , but she's no stranger to appearing on a show available with a Paramount+ subscription . She played Blake Navarro in the canceled Sarah Michelle Gellar series Wolf Pack , and while the show didn't last long, Shepard left a strong enough impression to snag a role in the Star Trek series.

George Hawkins

George Hawkins joins Starfleet Academy as one of its hopeful cadets looking to make a splash and join a ship by the time his education ends. He's no stranger to a series centered around cadets, as he was part of the ITVX series Tell Me Everything . I can't wait to see him in this role and wonder what he may be doing.

Karim Diané

A couple years after appearing on the streaming series One Of Us Is Lying , Karim Diané is now on Starfleet Academy . There's no word as to what his role will be on the series, but considering he first rose to prominence in the United States through fame on the series X Factor , I would hope there's some singing involved in his performance. Who knows, maybe there's a species that exclusively communicates in song in the 32nd century?

Zoë Steiner

Zoë Steiner is rolling right off of a performance in Significant Others right into Starfleet Academy , and rounds out the list of cadets we'll see in this series. As if it needs to be said at this point we have absolutely no clue what she'll be doing beyond being one of the characters featured in the series, but I do hope that all of these cadets interact with each other in some meaningful way.

Starfleet Academy is getting ready to start filming, but we don't have a release date for it just yet. Stick with CinemaBlend as we wait for more details on the series and, of course, report on all the 2024 TV shows that people should watch in the meantime.

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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After “reobtaining” the Infinity , the crew finds themselves on a long road trip. Perfect time for a sonic toilet mention (I have so many questions!) as frustration with the close quarters kicks in. Zero (Angus Imrie) reviews their flight plan (on a beautifully detailed LCARS map) and finds a way to shorten what is scheduled to be a 61-day journey: a transwarp conduit. It’s great to see the long distances in space acknowledged and even better that they find a work-around that is plausible within the boundaries of the Trek universe. It’s also a great callback to last season’s thriller “Let Sleeping Borg Lie” as they debate whether or not to use Borg tech at all, knowing what they might be getting themselves into.

The animation of the transwarp conduit is among the best of the show, with great detail shots as they approach. The perspective from inside the conduit looking out at the Infinity , the internal mechanics on full display, makes it feel almost sentient and beckoning. The profile shot, showing nothing on the other side makes it seem eerily magical. And then it activates, with a really satisfying green glow — spinning rings covered in green lit symbols. It comes alive with a sublime blend of mechanical and electrical wonder both visually and through sound. We can hear both the gears creaking and the electricity crackling as our crew and their little ship cross over into the unknown.

They are enjoying the view in the green transwarp tunnel until they are knocked off course and onto a planet by a piece of tech that attached itself to the Infinity . Upon closer examination, they discover it’s Kazon tech. Prodigy has used the Kazon to great effect so far in the series. It makes sense as a Voyager callback, but it also gives our crew a unique villain connection, as it was a Kazon who sold them to the Diviner.

Zero and Murf (Dee Bradley Baker) elude capture while the rest of the gang get marched off by what appear to be Kazon soldiers. Dal (Brett Gray) and Zero telepathically work out a strategy. I really enjoyed seeing them communicate this way again, as their connection was a part of what made season one great.

Some great Kazon continuity as well here. The leader Ekthi (James Mathis III) introduces himself as First Maje, and he speaks of Kazon warriors earning their Oglamar names. He demands payment for passage through the transwarp hub and as an alternative for our latinum-less crew he offers a wager: a race. He says he has a pilot who is looking for some worthy competition and if they beat him they can be on their way. A classic race or die. Dal of course jumps at the chance to “go fast.”

Gwyn (Ella Purnell) enters as well to improve their odds, but Dal doesn’t get the teamwork memo and instead of forming a strategy just bulls headfirst into the race. It feels like a plot we should have gotten with Dal back in Season 1, as it seems a little bit out of phase with the character growth we’ve seen since then.

The race itself had all the trappings you could possibly want to see out of this type of action sequence. Cool vehicles, a great course with bright neon checkpoints, a ship blowing up, falling stalactites, and the floor is literally lava. Nami Melumad’s score shines here, adding to the excitement and grandeur of it all. “This should be a video game!” was the consensus from my kids, which appears to have met the intent of the whole enterprise anyway.

While Gwyn is busy saving Dal from himself, Zero and Murf are uncovering the truth about the First Maje. He isn’t the one in charge at all; turns out he is being controlled by an evil supercomputer. Ok! The actual details behind the evolution of this entity is a pretty cool idea: the Kazon racing computer basically got assimilated by Borg tech from the transwarp hub and is now chasing that Borg perfection in the form of the perfect racer. Neat. But this is all just said in exposition and if you aren’t paying close attention you could miss it’s motivation.

But it doesn’t matter because the whole situation exists for Zero to stretch their hero muscles again. We’ve seen it before in “A Moral Star, Part 2” and “Let Sleeping Borg Lie”: Zero giving a bold proclamation of love and friends — always magnificently delivered by Angus Imrie — before unleashing their inner beast with a glorious finishing move. This is easily one of my favorite Prodigy hallmarks. I love a character who is soft-spoken and gentle until you mess with their friends and then they selflessly do what needs to be done. Zero rules!

Zero bravely saving their family, the Kazon, and who knows how many other ships worth of people who would have gotten caught in the trap is, unfortunately, not without consequence. Their protective suit is damaged beyond repair. While I am sad for Zero, I can’t say I’m upset by the loss of this suit — it made them look like a generic Apple product.

Luckily for Zero and for us, we don’t have to wait long to get some resolution on Zero’s mobility problem. “Is There In Beauty No Truth?” begins with Zero getting a psychic communique from another Medusan that leads them to a planet colonized by non-corporeal beings — who all have bodies. Their leader, Ion , voiced with aplomb by Christine Rose Schermerhorn (an actress who is also a transgender woman), explains that the planetary rings decay into the atmosphere, delivering nourishing hydrocarbons to their bodies. Sure! Don’t really need a justification for this one. This concept isn’t about the science, it’s about the idea. And it’s a really thought-provoking idea. Handled both with the care and straightforwardness it deserves.

Zero wants to experience this and they are tucked into a cocoon-like bed. They awaken in a new body — a striking, androgynous, lanky alien body — moving at first like a baby gazelle fresh on their new legs. Any hint of uncanny valley, mostly around the swirling eyes, is offset by a smile that could light up the whole quadrant. The crew is thrilled for their friend and very supportive of the change they have undergone. The group hug that ensues is heartwarming.

The Infinity crew has arrived at the perfect time: it’s “Feast of the Senses” night. I would normally laugh at the trope of them happening to arrive on a special night, but I get the feeling every night is “Feast of the Senses” night here as these beings really enjoy experiencing everything a corporeal form has to offer. Angus Imrie is outstanding as Zero experiences all types of new delights in the form of eating and belching and dancing.

The playfulness of it all channels Leonard Nimoy’s performance also as a Medusan experiencing corporeal delights for the first time in the original series episode “Is There In Truth No Beauty?” in a way that similarly portrayed the joy of the moment. It connects the two episodes in a special way that goes deeper than just the titles.

During the feast, my daughter asked “So are these people evil, or what?” and I had to laugh at her television instincts as I was, of course, also waiting for the other shoe to drop as planets that seem too good to be true always are in Star Trek . But unlike other recent turns in somehow both Strange New Worlds and in Discovery , children aren’t being sacrificed for the good of the society here. Rather, it turns out, they are just adrenaline junkies who lied by omission to Zero about the fact that without the influence of the planetary conditions, their bodies would degrade.

While I was devastated for Zero, I was very relieved that the reveal was so mild and kid-friendly and the gang running with the nazamon crowd to let Zero know became another wonderful supportive moment between the friends. Even the nazamon scooping up Dal and Zero just became a moment of natural beauty and wonder. Just lovely.

While the Infinity crew is off exploring these strange new worlds, the Voyager crew is at first none the wiser. Their pretty decent plan — the 24th century equivalent of shoving pillows under their sheets and sneaking out the window — appears to be working, even despite the little snag of the hologram appearances and personalities not matching up.

Can’t fool Maj’el (Michaela Dietz) though, and she can sense something is off. She trails Gwyn (who has Murf’s personality) and as she knocks on the door to confront her, time literally stops. Everyone is frozen. Maj’el frozen at the door, the Gwyn hologram frozen in her quarters. In a lovely nod to one of Voyager’s finest hours, “Blink of an Eye” — where Janeway appears frozen in time as Neelix pours her a cup of coffee — Tysess is handing her a cup of her beloved dirtwater.

This is all incredibly jarring and unexpected in the best way. Even more so when a tentacled creature seems to appear out of nowhere to attack the Gwyn hologram. This was at the end of “The Fast and the Curious” and the seemingly non-sequitur was the best “cliffhanger” ending yet. This show is just full of surprises.

The jig is up, though, in “Is There In Beauty No Truth?”, as Maj’el uses a game of Parrises Squares to demonstrate to Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) how strange the Protostar gang are acting. What an unexpected delight to finally catch a glimpse of the often-mentioned-never-seen sport of choice of so many of our Star Trek heroes. Moving platforms, ramps, and ion mallets (What a satisfying “clink” sound they make!) are all present and it’s a fun reveal that this is what we are seeing with an offhand “Computer, end Parrises Squares program,” from Janeway.

Robert Picardo is pitch perfect as the EMH humorously realizes both what is happening with the Protostar gang and that his holonovel gave them the idea. He then recreates the Gwyn hologram where they learn of the gang’s message from whom they believe is Captain Chakotay. The EMH also discovers a missing eight minutes in the ship computer, which we know was them getting frozen. The Gwyn hologram then recalls the memory of being attacked by the tentacled creature. What intriguing mysteries lay ahead to be solved!

“The Fast and the Curious” and “Is There In Beauty No Truth” are the first episodes this season that seem geared more towards kids than adults, and I’m glad for that. That’s one of the reasons we’re here. They are also the first episodes that stand almost apart from the season’s main objective. I’m glad for that as well. It’s much more interesting to slow down a little and let a season ebb and flow instead of just hurdling through the plot at warp speed.

I love getting a chance to live and breath with these characters again and through whatever changes may come for them. And the little tidbits of the time paradox stuff we did get made me thirsty for more of that as well.

Stay tuned for our next  Star Trek: Prodigy review, covering Season 2’s “The Devourer of All Things,” in a few days!

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 is available to stream now on Netflix globally (excluding-Canada, Nordics, CEE, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Belarus, and Mainland China). The show can also be viewed on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe.

• Is There in Beauty No Truth
• PRO Season 2
• Star Trek: Prodigy
• The Fast and the Curious

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Why terry farrell's dax left star trek deep space 9 after season 6.

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Star Trek: Deep Space 9’s 20 Best Episodes Ranked

Star trek: killing off jadzia dax was ds9's biggest mistake, 10 cruelest deaths in star trek history.

• Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax's departure from DS9 was permanent and shocking, resulting from behind-the-scenes issues.
• Terry Farrell's decision to leave stemmed from fatigue and a desire for a reduced role in the final season.
• Despite her departure, Farrell expressed interest in returning to the Star Trek franchise in the future.

Debuting in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's first episode Emissary, Lt.. Commander Jadzia Dax was one of the show's most popular characters, so why did she leave? The Science Officer, ally of Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) and eventual romantic partner to Worf (Michael Dorn) was played by Terry Farrell for 5 years before her shocking departure at the end of season 6. Her death sent shockwaves through Star Trek fan circles.

Deep Space Nine 's era in the Star Trek timeline was one marked by war, and death was a frequent part of the long-running storylines. Some of the most prominent deaths of DS9 cast members - like that of Miles O'Brien and Benjamin Sisko - can be put down to time travel shenanigans, but Jadzia Dax's death was permanent and came thanks to behind-the-scenes issues.

Deep Space Nine is one of the most acclaimed Star Trek shows, thanks to its mature direction, and many of its best episodes reflect this darker tone.

Why Did Terry Farrell Leave Deep Space Nine?

The real reason why Terry Farrell left Star Trek: DS9 is the subject of some debate . In 2011, Farrell told Star Trek.com that her contract came to an end, discussing her immediate casting in Paramount's Becker:

My contract had ended, so I didn’t feel like I left the show. I felt like my contract had ended and there wasn’t a negotiation (for another year). It was ironic that Becker also let me go, as a person, I was really fortunate to have the experience of working on a half-hour show as well. That also took me a few years to get in the trenches and really wrap my brain around where I was at. The first year was terribly difficult because I was so used to being a hero. It’s very hard, then, to go be on a sitcom where your character is so neurotic and can’t get anything right. I had no break in between — I died one day (on DS9) and the very next day I tested (for Becker) for the same executives at Paramount. It was a lot.

She told Star Trek.com in the same 2011 interview that her decision to request a lessened role was linked to self-care:

I did not want to die. I would have been so happy if they just would have let me be a recurring (character) the final season, so I didn’t have to be in every episode. I was just really tired. I was tired of waking up at four in the morning. I was tired of all the minutiae. I’m sure a lot of the other actors feel this way, too. When you’re number five (on the call sheet), you’re waiting for that schedule to arrive and it becomes frustrating. You want to feel like you have your life again, and I’d definitely put my life on hold because I didn’t know how to balance a schedule constantly changing all the time. It was really hard for me.

As recounted in Star Trek oral history, The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, Farrell wanted to drop her role down to a recurring character, meaning she'd appear in fewer episodes for the seventh and final season of DS9 . Farrell revealed that she felt the producers were trying " to bully me into saying yes [to signing onto a full season 7 schedule]. "

The problems with my leaving were with Rick Berman. In my opinion, he’s just very misogynistic… Basically he was trying to bully me into saying yes [to signing a new contract]. Rick said I was hardballing him and I said ‘I’m not. I just want to have a conversation. You’re giving me a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and I’m not okay with that.’ So, finally I did have a conversation with him and asked to cut down my number of episodes or just let me out.

DS9 executive producer Rick Berman refuted her claims that he was behind her dismissal in The Fifty-Year Mission, and offered context on why the decision was made to kill her off:

To say that this woman was let go is absolutely ridiculous. She was not fired. She requested to not be in all the episodes... to be a recurring character. The studio basically said "no way"... She's a regular character, and she does all twenty-six shows or nothing... She ended up departing. It certainly was not my choice. It was the loss of a character, and it was difficult for us.

Deep Space Nine showrunner, Ira Steven Behr subsequently revealed his frustration at how events played out: "Let me put it this way, if I had known what was going on, I would have stopped it."

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine killed off Jadzia Dax in season 6, the unfortunate result of backstage tensions between Terry Farrell and Paramount.

How Star Trek DS9 Killed Jadzia Dax

Star Trek has never shied away from killing characters for effect, but main characters tend to avoid the most final of fates. Notable exceptions, of course, include the likes of Tasha Yar on The Next Generation , Hugh in Picard , and Trip Tucker in Enterprise . Captain Kirk himself has died, more than once, and Spock temporarily crossed the veil in Star Trek II , before dying for real in Star Trek: Beyond .

Jadzia Dax joined that grim list of crew members at the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6, in a shocking twist that left an indelible scar on the fandom. She was murdered during "Tears of the Prophets," by Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo), as the most prominent casualty of the Dominion War , cementing his status as the show's most despicable villain. It came just as she received the news she could conceive children with her partner Worf (Michael Dorn), adding a particularly cruel note.

After her mortal wounding in the Bajoran Shrine, Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) did manage to save the Dax symbiote inside her, but he was unable to save Jadzia. Ezri Tigan became Dax's new host, who joined for DS9 's final season, played by Nicole de Boer.

Star Trek may depict a utopian future, but death still catches up with even its most beloved characters. Here are 10 of Star Trek's cruelest deaths.

Terry Farrell Revealed She Would Like To Return To Star Trek

Despite the seemingly acrimonious nature of her departure from DS9 , Farrell did later express her enthusiasm at the idea of returning to the Star Trek franchise. At the 2022 Star Trek Las Vegas convention, she pointed out that death in Star Trek didn't necessarily have to be final:

I was actually thinking about how Spock died. Didn’t he melt, basically? He saved everyone’s life. And then he just came back… and there he was. And Kirk kind of went, “Oh, there he is.” And everyone nodded and said, “Yes, he’s back!” I want that moment for me… Exactly how you bring her back, it’s no big fucking deal.

Since her departure from DS9 , and after retiring in 2002, Farrell appeared in fan project Renegades , as a thinly-veiled clone of Jadzia Dax, called Jada. The fan film and subsequent series were forced to remove all Star Trek branding after the introduction of official fan production guidelines. She is also now a co-host on Star Trek rewatch podcast the Delta Flyers alongside former DS9 co-star Armin Shimerman.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Not available

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

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SDCC: New Ongoing ‘Lower Decks’ Comic Series Coming This Fall; IDW Extends Star Trek License

| July 29, 2024 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 4 comments so far

Star Trek: Lower Decks may be wrapping up with its fifth and final season this fall, but it will live on as an ongoing comic series from IDW, as revealed at San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday. The publisher also announced they are extending their commitment to the franchise.

Lower Decks, Lower Decks!

The biggest news announced by IDW during Comic-Con was the new Star Trek: Lower Decks comic series debuting on November 13, about three weeks after the premiere of the show’s fifth and final season on Paramount+. The series is being written by Ryan North, who wrote the IDW 2022 Lower Decks miniseries as well as the upcoming Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way interactive novel, which arrives in October. North said in a statement:

Lower Decks is my favorite Star Trek, and I have seen every single Star Trek there is to see, except for one episode I will never reveal. This raises the obvious question: will something in this comic contradict something that I missed in that one episode I never saw? Thankfully the answer is no, because the entire Lower Decks team—both at IDW and Paramount—has been so amazing—supportive, clever, brilliant. We’re making a big funny heartfelt book with huge sci-fi ideas, important character developments, tons of that Trek flavor, and a bunch of jokes, too. If you love Lower Decks , you’ll love this comic!

Issue #1 cover A by Derek Charm

The ongoing series will feature episodic storytelling with each tale presented by a different artist. The art for the first volume is being provided by Derek Charm, who worked with North on the Eisner Award-nominated Star Trek: Day of Blood – Shaxs’ Best Day one-shot.

Issue #1 cover B by Megan Huang

IDW Group Editor Heather Antos said of the new series:

Just when you thought we couldn’t go lower… we’re BACK with the first ever ongoing  Lower Decks series. Just like the fans out there, we too want more Lower Decks and this time we’re giving it to you tenfold! Ryan North is showing us just how deep of a Trek nerd he is with these stories, and paired with the comedic geniuses of Derek Charm, Jack Lawrence, and more on art duties for a rotating cast of ‘episodic’ issues, this series is a mission so fun that even the Lower Deckers themselves won’t want to miss it!

Issue #1 RI cover by Chris Fenoglio

IDW extends Star Trek partnership

IDW Publishing has been ramping up its Star Trek comics output over the last couple of years, and at San Diego Comic-Con they made it clear that is only going to continue into the future with the announcement of a renewed commitment to the franchise. IDW Publishing and Paramount Global have officially extended their partnership to “continue their mission of exploring the vast and imaginative Star Trek universe in the comic book medium.”

IDW CEO Davidi Jonas said in a statement:

Star Trek is not just an iconic franchise, but a universe that celebrates diversity and creativity. The Star Trek community is one that we’re proud to serve and be part of. The team at Paramount share our love of storytelling, universe expansion, and delighting fans. We are humbled and excited to renew our commitment, and plan on years of going boldly forward with our partners and fans.

IDW publisher Mark Doyle added:

I have always loved Star Trek for its positive vision of the future. It’s been such a joy to watch and support the editorial and creative teams as they tell bold new stories in this universe that have really resonated with audiences old and new.” From Eisner nominations to glowing fan praise, the Star Trek community has really embraced the stories we’re telling and I cannot wait for them to see where we go next!

IDW began publishing Star Trek comics in 2011, and released dozens of different series, mini-series and one-shots over the years. In September they will celebrate with a special “Star Trek #500” anthology issue, which includes a prelude to their next big event as well as a short story co-written by Patton Oswalt.

IDW’s Star Trek #500 cover A by Joëlle Jones

You can pick up Star Trek comics and pre-order upcoming issues at TFAW . Or pick up individual  digital editions at Amazon/comiXology .

More Star Trek SDCC 2024

Check out our  SDCC category  for more of our Star Trek coverage from San Diego Comic-Con. And there is more to come so check back during the week.   

Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews, and reviews in TrekMovie’s comics category .

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This takes some of the sting out of the show ending, though I still hope it will be revived some day.

I might add this to my comics subscription.

I hope they don’t have the narrator’s comments at the bottom of the page like the previous Lower Decks miniseries had. Those were terrible.

Same writer (Ryan North) so they will likely be there. Shaxs’ Best Day had them too.

While I didn’t like all of them, most were pretty funny. They’re easy to skip if you don’t want to read them.

Marvel and 'Star Wars' take note. 'Star Trek' is now Hollywood's ultimate shared universe

From 'Discovery' to "Strange New Worlds' via 'Lower Decks' and 'Prodigy', 'Star Trek' is leading the way.

Shared universes go back way further than Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and co sitting down for some post-Chitauri shawarma. Superheroes have been moonlighting in each other's comic books for decades, while Cheers regulars frequently paid Frasier a visit in Seattle. It wasn't until Marvel Studios launched the MCU ( Marvel Cinematic Universe ), however, that the concept started to gain serious mainstream traction. 

By incorporating the contrasting adventures of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Black Widow into one gigantic, overarching narrative, Marvel successfully blended cinematic spectacle with the "must-watch-every-episode" ethos of serialised TV. The MCU's famous end-credits stings also had the unexpected side-effect of convincing us all to stick around until the end of the closing titles of every movie, y'know, just in case. 

From a business point of view it's one of the shrewdest creative decisions ever made in Hollywood, a move that helped turn the MCU into the most lucrative franchise in history, while spawning an army of imitators. Some fell quickly by the wayside — Universal's planned Dark Universe didn't survive beyond its first release, "The Mummy" — while others (most notably DC's original answer to the MCU) simply felt tired in comparison. But with apologies to box-office behemoths Marvel, Star Wars and the Monsterverse home of Godzilla and King Kong, the most exciting shared universe of them all is currently located somewhere on the final frontier.

It's not quite "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" (sorry, Mr Spock), but " Star Trek "'s guiding principle since "Discovery" brought the franchise back to TV in 2017 has been variety. "Discovery" started out as an "Original Series" prequel, before warping off to the even-more-distant future of the 32nd century. That left a gap in the timeline for the less serialized voyages of a pre-Kirk Enterprise in " Strange New Worlds ". "Picard" picked up the story of the ageing Jean-Luc Picard two decades after "The Next Generation" crew's final voyage, while a pair of animated series — kids' show " Prodigy " and all-out comedy "Lower Decks" — were given freedom to take the most daring swings in "Trek" history. 

Throw upcoming spy adventure " Section 31 " and cadet-themed "Disco" spin-off " Starfleet Academy " into the mix, and it's clear that — beyond the obligatory warp drives, phasers and frequent violations of the Prime Directive — the main element unifying these very different series is their shared universe. Even their settings are far enough apart — geographically and chronologically — that there's little danger of storylines colliding in Spacedock. 

The contrast between the Alpha Quadrant and a certain galaxy far, far away is stark. Until " The Acolyte ", every canonical "Star Wars" movie and TV show had been set within a few generations of the Skywalker family tree. But even ignoring the limitations of that brief timeline, there's a creeping homogeneity to much of the saga's storytelling and dialogue. 

Scenes from "The Acolyte" (set around a century before "The Phantom Menace") feel interchangeable with moments in " Ahsoka " (several years after "Return of the Jedi"), while the powers-that-be at Skywalker Ranch seem more preoccupied with plugging holes in existing lore than telling stories for their own sake. What was the final episode of "The Acolyte" season one if not a prequel to the prequel trilogy?

"Star Wars" should be an exhilarating interstellar playground capable of supporting any story you can imagine, but it's increasingly constrained by strict rules that must, it seems, never be broken. "Star Wars" is calling out for its own "Lower Decks"-style comedy" , while the upcoming "'Goonies' in space" " Skeleton Crew " could be the kid-oriented launchpad that Prodigy has been for "Trek". "Star Wars" arguably needs both because right now, all that canon could easily feel daunting to anyone eager to take those precious first steps into a larger world.

Not that the current iterations of "Star Trek" deny the franchise's rich past. The glorious final season of "Picard" was a nostalgia-fest from start to finish, bringing back familiar friends and foes to give the "TNG" crew the send-off they deserved — if it's possible to replicate your cake and eat it, that season showed the way. "Prodigy" also goes big on the deep cuts, but crucially, it doesn't matter if you have no idea that the name of the USS Voyager-A's resident whale (Gillian) is a reference to "Star Trek IV". Or that a mention of the "dysfunctional" crew of the Cerritos is a callback to "Lower Decks". All of the in-jokes are simply window dressing holding the universe together, without excluding newcomers. 

That's the genius of the modern "Star Trek" universe, whose guiding lights clearly understand that expecting every viewer to be up-to-speed with the more than 900 episodes and 13 “Star Trek” movies in the back catalogue would be a surefire route to failure. The MCU and "Star Wars" lived charmed lives when they were built around a relatively small number of movies, but both franchises are now too vast and unwieldy to demand that even casual viewers become completists. 

Nobody should have to watch everything , so surely it's better for everyone if we accept that some people will set their targeting computers on "The Mandalorian" but avoid " Andor ", just as some "Discovery" fans can skip "Picard" without feeling they're missing out. 

Besides, we probably shouldn't be surprised that it's "Trek" leading the way, because this isn't Starfleet's first away mission to a shared universe. Back in the ’90s "The Next Generation", "Deep Space Nine", "Voyager", four movies and even prequel series "Enterprise" shared characters and plotlines, to the extent that after hundreds of hours of TV, planet Earth was losing interest in shows that were becoming increasingly formulaic. Sound familiar? The franchise's latest overseers have boldly taken note — now "Star Wars", the MCU and the rest should follow in their warp trails.

"Discovery", "Picard", "Strange New Worlds" and "Lower Decks" are all available to stream on Paramount Plus, along with "The Original Series", "The Next Generation", "Deep Space Nine", "Voyager" and "Enterprise". "Prodigy" is available on Netflix.

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Richard's love affair with outer space started when he saw the original "Star Wars" on TV aged four, and he spent much of the ’90s watching "Star Trek”, "Babylon 5” and “The X-Files" with his mum. After studying physics at university, he became a journalist, swapped science fact for science fiction, and hit the jackpot when he joined the team at SFX, the UK's biggest sci-fi and fantasy magazine. He liked it so much he stayed there for 12 years, four of them as editor. 

He's since gone freelance and passes his time writing about "Star Wars", "Star Trek" and superheroes for the likes of SFX, Total Film, TechRadar and GamesRadar+. He has met five Doctors, two Starfleet captains and one Luke Skywalker, and once sat in the cockpit of "Red Dwarf"'s Starbug.  

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• Mars Tafts I have been a Star Trek fan since 1966 and even I don't believe this article. Reply
• Amin Abakery Is this some kind of Joke? Paramount did worse to Star Trek than they did to Halo, than Disney ever did to Star Wars, its an insult not just to science but to morality and human decency. I used to grow up watching star trek, proud that it was written by scientists and good people like her. Now it seems to be written by your average twitter user. With an adulterer Spock and mushroom drive spinning ships. Reply
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