‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Delights Comic-Con With Upcoming Episode, Teases All-Puppet Installment
Fandom has always been an important aspect of Trek — the original show famously became a cultural force long after it went off the air after being canceled — and the showrunners made a point to give a nod to the fans.
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'We think of you all the time when we are in the writers room and we always talk about what would the fans want and love,' said exec producer Akiva Goldsman.
The ensuing banter with the cast led to a Trekkie's delight, a screening of the fourth episode of Strange New Worlds current third season, which doesn't hit Paramount+ until next week. And it was one that was tailor-made for fans.
Titled 'A Spaced Adventure Hour,' the episode was a period murder mystery. But that belied all the callbacks that made what was shown resonate. The setting is 1969 Hollywood with the suspects all being actors and makers of a sci-fi series, one that just got canceled, and one that bears a massive resemblance to the original Trek. Strange New Worlds actor Paul Wesley even plays a Captain Kirk-type of character in a funny recreation of the show within the show, and a star with a massive but fragile ego off-screen
Also resonating to the Hall H crowd was a speech by Celia Rose Gooding who, in the murder mystery, plays a Hollywood agent who has a monologue about how important of an impact a sci-fi show could have on the world and on making someone watching it feel seen and included.
'I've been acting for 25 years and that was the most fun I've ever had shooting anything,' Wesley said on stage after the episode screened. 'I'm trying to do everytihng I can to pay respect and homage to what William Shatner created.'
'I wonder if he'll see it,' asked Jess Bush, who plays Nurse Chapel, standing on stage with Wesley.
'I hope so,' the actor said, quipping, 'I'll DM it to him.'
Lead Anson Mount, who plays Captain Pike on the series, wasn't on stage as it was revealed his wife had recently given birth to a baby daughter, Violet. However, in a very short video, Mount made an appearance… sitting in the Enterprise's captain's chair in puppet form. Thus it was teased that in the fourth season, there will be an all-puppet episode, continuing the show's playing around with form, genres and conventions.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop will be supplying the puppet work for the episode which is being directed by Jordan Canning (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock). Watch the teaser below.
The panel also featured the release of a trailer for the audio series Star Trek: Kahn and the first teaser trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Based on the reactions of Hall H, the latter showed that the producers will have to work on building enthusiasm for what essentially introduces a crop of new and young characters into the Trek universe. Starfleet Academy is due to premiere in 2026.
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